My rabbit has diarrhea from kale. What can I do if he won't eat hay?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Make sure Penelope's diet is proper. stop all leafy greens & fresh vegetables. She should have no more than 1/4 cup of fresh rabbit pellets, & a body size pile of timothy hay. Tomorrow, take a sample of her stool for analysis to your vet. They will see if she has any intestinal parasites including coccidia. Based on this, your vet may recommend putting her on a diet of Critical care to increase fiber, or if she needs antibiotics. I hope she is well soon. Take care.

You should never withhold food from rabbits, they must constantly graze to maintain gut health and movement. Ensure the pellets are a high fibre formula and fresh (within date and not damp/musty) and i recommend you use a rabbit probiotic also. Contact your vet immediately if any change in appetite, weakness or reduced thirst is noted

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.

Anything is possible especially if this is a new diet that has been introduced. Diarrhea in rabbits can be very serious so I suggest you have Roshini to the vet for an exam. If you can, I recommend you use a diet like Oxbow. Remember, a rabbit's diet should be mostly hay and not pellets. Please make sure you are feeding her properly by referring to the link below: ( https://www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/uploads/files/Rabbit-Care-Guide.pdf )

Hello, and thank you for your question. The best way to get a bunny to drink water is to feed him leafy green veggies that have been previously soaked in water for a few minutes, such as kale, parsley, cilantro, dandelion greens, carrot tops, etc. However, when a bunny has loose/runny stools, I find the best thing to do first is to eliminate ALL veggies and fruits, and only free a diet of timothy hay, and a small amount (1/8 to 1/4 cup) of pellets. This in itself may help to resolve the runny stools, and once resolved, you can start to re-introduce one type of leafy green veggie at a time. Always leave out a bowl of fresh water at all times and allow him to drink when he wants. I hope this helps, and that Efiti feels better soon!

The stress of the bath or whatever condition precipitated the vet last week may be responsible. Discontinue feeding pellets and vegetables and feed solely Timothy hay or similar grasses. Feed as much hay as Oliver wants to eat. Do not feed any alfalfa. Once his droppings return to normal, feed no more than 1/8 cup of pellets daily and gradually introduce small amounts of vegetables or dark, leafy greens. You can continue to offer as much timothy hay as he wants. Rabbits need a high fiber diet. If the symptoms persist or if he stops eating, have him rechecked by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits.

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.