My rabbit is barely eating. What should I do if he takes few bites?

Carefully check his teeth to see if they are overgrown or misaligned. If his front teeth are fine, have him examined by your veterinarian to check his cheek teeth. These teeth need regular trimming to prevent sharp points from developing. These points can cause discomfort and may affect appetite.

A rabbit that is not eating is a potential veterinary emergency. Gut stasis can develop if he doesn't start eating soon. Have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits to diagnose illness or injury. Causes include dental disease, pain, stress, hairballs, GI obstruction, fecal impaction or a poor diet. Offer as much timothy hay or similar grasses as Keo wants to eat. The high fiber keeps his system moving. You can purchase a supplemental diet from Oxbow specifically for herbivores at your veterinary clinic or pet store. This special diet may stimulate his appetite.

I am so sorry to hear that Mickey isn’t doing well. Rabbits will Become very sick very quickly without food as the bacteria in their GI tract will quickly change. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Sedation is often necessary to Perform a thorough oral exam in rabbits. Wounds or overgrown teeth could be causing the symptoms you describe. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thank you for your question about Oreo. When rabbits begin having preferences for different food items intermittently, it is often a sign of dental disease. I would recommend having Oreo seen by a veterinarian who is familiar with rabbits. They can perform a thorough examination, including an oral exam. It isn’t enough to just look at the front teeth, as often the issues are further back in the mouth. This area can only be seen with specialized tools that your veterinarian will have. Depending on what they find, they may recommend diagnostic testing to confirm or rule out dental disease. From there, they will also recommend treatments to pursue, which may include trimming the teeth. I hope that gives you a place to start, and that Oreo feels better very soon.

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.

A rabbit that will not eat should be considered a veterinary emergency. Anorexia in rabbits can slow down or stop the gut which can lead to a dangerous build-up of bacteria and gas. This can be deadly. It is critical to have Thumper examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits to get him eating as soon as possible and to diagnose the reason for his loss of appetite. Keep timothy hay and water available at all times. You can soak some pellets in an unflavored electrolyte replacement beverage to make a mash which may make eating easier also.

Thanks for reaching out about Stewie. Bruxism (grinding of the teeth) can be a sign of pain in rabbits, In addition, a decreased appetite is also a sign of pain that is originating somewhere in the body. When a rabbit eats less and has a decrease in defecation, this is termed gastrointestinal stasis. Unfortunately, there are many reasons for GI stasis to occur, including infections, tooth problems, masses, arthritis, etc. Due to the many reasons that GI stasis can occur, I would recommend having Stewie evaluated by a veterinarian. With his history of intermittent diarrhea, your veterinarian will likely want to evaluate the feces, so please bring in a fresh sample, if any is produced. Your veterinarian can also perform a thorough physical examination, and then will likely recommend some diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause of the pain and GI stasis if there is not an obvious reason found on physical examination. They can also provide you with pain medications. Please don't give Stewie any human medications at home, as many of these can be harmful to our furry friends. If you are having trouble identifying a veterinarian who is comfortable with rabbits in your area, you can visit the AEMV website for assistance. I hope this gives you a place to start, and that Stewie feels better soon.