Why is my new bunny not eating or drinking?
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.
Is it normal for a new bunny to not eat?
Sometimes rabbits won’t eat because they don’t trust the new food, but sometimes it’s because the new food is causing problems with their digestive system. It’s important to change a rabbit’s diet slowly over a few weeks in order to avoid causing a disruption in their sensitive digestive system.
How long can a rabbit go without eating or drinking?
A rabbit cannot go longer than 24 hours without drinking. If the weather is particularly hot, this period is even shorter. It cannot be stressed enough how important water is for your pet. Your pet will die without it.
What do you do if your rabbit won’t eat?
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.
Will a rabbit starve itself?
Restrict Your Rabbits Favorite Foods Lots of rabbits get the bad habit of just eating pellets and fresh veggies. Your bunny won’t starve itself to death. Give it a day or two with only hay and watch your bunny start eating hay!
How do you force a rabbit to drink?
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.
Do rabbits flop when they are sick?
When a rabbit is extremely ill or dying, it will first stop eating and drinking. When its condition becomes critical, it may flop over onto its side. However, this won’t be a leisurely or comfortable “roll” onto its side. A sick rabbit will literally ‘flop’ or drop in a haphazard and sometimes dramatic fashion.
How do you force a rabbit to eat hay?
Getting Your Rabbit To Eat More Hay
- Keep your rabbit on a feeding schedule.
- Add a sweet smell to hay.
- Try Timothy Hay cubes.
- Buy compressed hay bales (without dried carrots or fruits added).
- Add hay to litter boxes.
- Put a hay feeder at mouth-level beside the litter box.
- Put hay in rabbit-safe toys or cardboard rolls.