My old rabbit won't eat. Is Reglan safe for gut stasis and head tilt?

Poor Thumper! Head tilts in rabbits are generally medical problems that need to be assessed and treated by a veterinarian. Often they are caused by an infection in the middle or inner ear that almost always require systemic antibiotics. Though here are occasionally other things that can cause these (tumors, abscesses, trauma, etc.) with Thumper being so young and you reporting no history of trauma they are lower on my list of differentials. I would get Thumper to his vet soon because the last thing you want is for him to start feeling badly, stop eating, and go into GI Stasis which can be life threatening. I hope this helps, good luck with your little guy!

Poor Rose. The head tilt most likely caused Rose to not eat properly. I would highly recommend getting Rose to a vet as soon as possible. Typically, when a rabbit is loosing weight it can be life threatening. I would recommend starting to force feeding every 1-2 hours with critical care or a proper feeding for rabbits. Most likely Rose needs hospitalization for supportive care. I hope Rose feels better soon.

Based on what you are describing him I would be concerned about gastric stasis in your rabbit. This can be a common condition that occurs when a bunny stops eating. The stomach will fill with a lot of gas and the rabbit will be very painful and uncomfortable. If you are able to continue giving the critical care supplement I would recommend doing that. If Pepper stops eating that, continues to seem lethargic, or stops pooping, then you will need to take him into the vet to be examined because other medications will be needed to help restore GI motility. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

I am assuming your rabbit is being treated for an E. cuniculi infection. A 28-day course of oral fenbendazole, once a day, is the general treatment of choice, plus anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids. You may see improvement within 2 weeks, depending on the severity of the infection. Rabbits can also die from this. Keep hand feeding him and syringing water. This can take 4 to 6 weeks or turn into a chronic condition.

Hello. It sounds like your rabbit may have signs of gastrointestinal stasis, which means the GI tract has slowed down, usually as a result of a rabbit that stops eating. Rabbits will stop eating for a number of reasons - their teeth may be overgrown, their tooth roots may be infected, they could also have any other systemic disease (respiratory, urinary, infection, etc). As you can see, the causes are many and its impossible to say what is the underlying cause for sure without an exam and testing (usually radiographs, blood work, etc). Regardless of the cause, GI stasis is potentially fatal if left untreated. Therefore, I would urge you to get veterinary care ASAP. In the meantime, syringe feed Hobie with a liquid hay diet, ideally Oxbow herbivore critical care if you can get some, or soak the hay pellets in warm water to make a slurry. The best thing to keep the GI tract healthy is fiber and hydration, so hay is the foundation of health. I see in the first picture a pellet mix with maybe some oats, corn, and/or seeds mixed with the pellets. This is not an appropriate diet for rabbits as they are selective feeders and usually pick out the concentrates. These pellet mixes significantly increase the incidence of dental disease and obesity. I recommend a 100% timothy hay pellet, ideally Oxbow brand. Feed 1/4 cup timothy hay pellets, free choice grass hay, and 2 cups fresh greens a day with fresh water available in a bowl and sipper.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry that your little rabbit isn't feeling well. I agree it sounds like it might be GI stasis or a blockage and this is very serious. If there are any 24 hour vets you can go to then I would go right away. Otherwise, you can dilute the critical care with water as it says on the package, and feed it every 2 hours. You can try adding a bit of pineapple juice as well. If the abdomen isn't bloated you can try gentle massage of the abdomen, but only if your little rabbit doesn't seem sore. Best of luck with your little one, and get it to a vet as soon as possible!

Thanks for reaching out about your rabbit. A veterinary visit is recommended anytime a rabbit stops eating. Ingested foreign bodies, GI stasis, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), infections are all possible. Yogurt and crackers are not a good food item for rabbits as they do not digest dairy or carbohydrates well, and can lead to additional GI upset. Even if obstructed, they can continue to pass feces for 1-2 days. Try syringe offering water. Good luck.