My bunny ate elastic string. What should I do and watch for?

Rabbits love to be naughty and eat things they shouldn't. Fortunately, they are usually pretty effective at chewing things up pretty well prior to swallowing them up. I don't think you need to rush off the vet or anything at this time. Just keep a close eye on Twitch, make sure he continues to eat and drink normally, and also make sure he is continuing to defecate normal amounts. If he goes off feed for more than 12 hours or stop defecating for a period of time similar to this, I would be worried that something is wrong. Rabbits who stop eating and going to the bathroom, even for short periods of time like that, can be very concerning and require immediate medical attention. You and Twitch are probably in the clear based on the small size of the fabric, but just continue to be vigilant in your monitoring.

Ultimately, there is no consensus on whether or not sugar free gum leads to toxicity in rabbits like it would in a dog. A larger concern would be whether or not you need to be concerned about a potential gastrointestinal obstruction occurring. I would not give her any additional hay, but if you are noting normal appetite, drinking, and bathroom habits this is definitely a great sign. Your choices would be the following at this point: continue to monitor at home for any changes in normal, or take her to the vet where they can administer some fluids / keep her overnight for monitoring. If there is any significant changes in her appetite or bathroom habits in the next few hours, veterinary attention should definitely be sought. Hope this helps.

He may have some minor GI upset. Discontinue feeding any fruits or vegetables temporarily. Feed only timothy hay or similar grasses. Offer as much as he wants. The high fiber may set his GI tract straight again. If not, have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. Rabbits will also produce softer stool at night which is normal. You may see them eating this "night stool" as part of their diet.

Just monitor her for the moment; unfortunately strings and any type of linear foreign body can sit in the intestine and stomach for ages before coming out!. As long as she eating fine and drinking ok and passing feces and urine normally and being normal in terms of demeanor and activity level she will be ok and she won't need any check up. You could potentially give her some mineral oil (2mls every meal )like paraffin oil to lubricate the gastrointestinal canal and help to get rid of the strings if there. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hello, and thank you for your question. I would be very worried about a possible obstruction from eating the stuffing, especially since he has not eaten for 2 days. In addition, rabbits that do not eat hay can get gut stasis, which is where their intestines stop moving. This can quickly become life threatening if it goes untreated. I know you want to avoid a stressful trip to the vet, but without prompt medical attention I worry that Bronco will get worse quickly. If he is still not eating since you posted your question, please take Bronco to a rabbit-savvy vet as soon as possible. They can administer medications to help with pain and inflammation, give him special food, and help rehydrate him with fluids. Hopefully this helps to get him to pass the stuffing if it is still present in his tummy. I hope this helps, and that Bronco is feeling better soon.

I am sorry to hear about Sophie! Hopefully she chewed it up a bit before swallowing. If it was small and chewed it should not cause any harm and will pass through the digestive tract. Our main concern with an ingestion like this would be a blockage in the intestines. I would monitor her for the next few days to be sure she is eating normally and having normal bowel movements. If you notice her having any decreases in appetite/feces produced I would recommend having her examined by a veterinarian.

Discolored stool can definitely be concerning in rabbits as it may an be a sign of dehydration or intestinal disease. As long as Mistie is eating and drinking normally, urinating regularly, and her stools are well formed, you can keep a close eye on her for any changes. Whatever she ate should pass through her intestinal tract within about two days or so. If you think she is not acting like herself, she should be seen by a vet as soon as possible. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you have!