Increased but odd activity

[sidney_bunny]

Hello,

I am accustom to a sick rabbit exhibiting varying degrees of lethargic behavior. Has anyone seen the opposite?

We're going through some GI problems right now. However, my rabbit is leaving his cage to explore the rest of the house far more often than normal. He's also doing this at times of the day where he normally just sleeps.

His cage door is normally open and he can leave whenever he wants. He typically just goes back and forth between different levels of his cage. Hi might go out to explore/play once in the morning and once in the evening. I would estimate his activity has increased 5-6X.

The important question is: is this anything to worry about in connection with our GI issue?

Thanks

 

[JBun]

Rabbits can exhibit signs of increased restlessness with any health problem that makes them feel uncomfortable. Common types of increased activity could be things like excessive chewing, digging, grooming, and frequently changing positions. They do it in an attempt to relieve their discomfort.

Whether or not it is something to worry about may depend on the type of GI problem he has, it's cause, and a combination of any other changes of behavior. I would think that his increased activity will be helpful in keeping the gut moving, but it also could indicate that he is still not feeling his normal self.

 

[sidney_bunny]

Thanks. We had a problem in the winter with a slightly impacted cecum. There was lots of hair in his poop - all strung together. I found a better way to brush him during the molt and my vet also had us flavor his water to get him hydrated better. The problem went away.

One negative is that we got him addicted to the apple juice in his water and have been reducing it gradually to prevent him from going on a water strike.

The molt is back but we haven't seen any hair in the poop yet. On Sunday we had an odd situation where he would not eat anything at breakfast time. He would not even take a treat. All of the sudden at 10AM, he ate his food and started playing like nothing was wrong. I am thinking it might have been pain from gas or something else that resolved itself. There was a lot of extra activity that day as well as today.

I hate to stress him out with the vet particularly since he's eating fine except that one morning.

 

[PaGal]

I would keep a close eye on him. You may want to get some baby gas drops (simethicone) to keep on hand for future use. It is safe for rabbits.

How long have you had your bun? Is it possible he is just now feeling comfortable enough to venture about? Maybe he is just enjoying himself if he is feeling better after not feeling so well.

My one bun will at times beg to be let out of the bun room. Half the time I let him out he will just occasionally make a quick sweep through the other rooms and other nights he will run back and forth playing for quite some time.

 

[sidney_bunny]

Thanks for the tip on the simethicone.

He's a little over three years old now but he's not very shy or cautious for some reason.

It's the same thing here with him making a quick sweep through the other rooms. It's really out of the ordinary for him to do that a half dozen times a day. I am probably overreacting because we lost a rabbit not long ago and he was acting extremely erratic hours before the end. It's a night and day different situation now and I am probably overreacting.