What do I do if my rabbit wont eat or drink?
When to contact your vet Contact your vet immediately if you notice your rabbit not eating properly. It’s important to have them examined as soon as possible to prevent them developing any further complications. Emergency – if your rabbit has stopped eating, it’s important to contact your vet as soon as possible.
How many days can a rabbit go without food and water?
If they go even 12 hours without food, then they have a high chance of developing a potentially deadly condition called GI Statis. At most, a rabbit will typically live for around 3-4 days without eating.
What does it mean when your bunny doesn’t drink water?
If your rabbit is dehydrated, something is preventing him or her from drinking. Rabbits can be finicky about the taste of their water; if this has changed, they may stop drinking because they do not like the “flavor” of the water, even though failure to drink water might make them very ill.
What causes loss of appetite in rabbits?
What is Loss of Appetite? Anorexia in rabbits is a symptom of an underlying condition, the most common causes are dental disease and gastrointestinal disorders. As anorexia is often caused by pain you may notice your rabbit showing other signs such as hunching, refusing to move or increased respiration.
How can I make my rabbit drink water?
In those cases a water bottle is a good option.
- Give your rabbit a bowl and a bottle.
- Leave water on their daily greens.
- Add a few drops of unsweetened fruit juice.
- Give your rabbit fresh water multiple times a day.
- Add fragrant herbs to the water bowl.
- Avoid warm water.
- Try purified or bottled water.
How can I encourage my rabbit to drink water?
How can you tell if a rabbit is dehydrated?
Your rabbit may be dehydrated if you see any of these problems: thick sticky saliva, crusty eyes, poor appetite, small amounts of dark colored urine, or hard dry fecal pellets. In order to correct dehydration, extra water must be given to your rabbit. Sometimes this can be done by helping the rabbit drink.
What happens if a rabbit doesn’t drink enough water?
I f the rabbit doesn’t drink enough water won’t be able to create cecotropes so overall without the proper amount of water, the rabbit’s digestive system cannot work well. In less than 24 h without water, rabbits may develop a life-threatening condition called GI stasis – rabbit’s gut stop working.
Why is my rabbit not eating any food?
The most common reason for a loss of appetite in rabbits is a gastrointestinal problem called ileus. Ileus occurs when normal peristalsis—the contractions in the intestines that push food through the gastrointestinal tract—decreases or stops.
How can I get my Bunny to drink water?
If your bunny is still eating fine but refusing to drink water, you can use this to your advantage. Increasing the number of leafy greens will help increase your rabbit’s water intake. Choose veggies with high water content. Also, wash the vegetables and leaves them wet to sneak some more water into your bunny.
How can I Help my Rabbit who has stopped eating?
How can I help my rabbit who has stopped eating? The first thing to do is to take your rabbit straight to a rabbit-savvy vet. Gut stasis is extremely painful and they will need pain relief in order to start to eat again. They will likely also need some gut stimulants, and some rabbits may need fluids.