My rabbit keeps eating its bedding. Is this harmful to its health?

Hi there, and thank you for your question. There is a definite risk of a gastric or intestinal obstruction with ingestion of litter, so I would recommend switching to a bedding type that she will not eat. This may be a bit of trial and error to find the right bedding, but I would suggest trying Carefresh, or Yesterday's News as safe, non-toxic options. I hope this helps, and that Mistle is otherwise happy and healthy!

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.

Thanks for reaching out about your rabbit. An intestinal obstruction, partial or full, should be considered. Might still be defecating due to fecal pellet formation behind the obstruction. Probiotics are not the answer and could be detrimental, as rabbit (herbivore) gut flora is different than dogs (omnivore) and cats (carnivore) and often the probiotics are labelled for all. If he has decreased appetite or seems painful, a veterinary visit is highly recommended. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Skyler. Unfortunately this possibly indicates a gastrointestinal obstruction, foreign body or dental disease. Gastrointestinal stasis is always secondary to something else. Radiographs and blood work from last year can be used as a comparison are not necessarily indicative of now, as things can change quickly. Any exposure to carpeting or fabric? With the pain you described, a veterinarian is recommended today. As prey animals, rabbits decompensate quickly. Good luck.

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.

This could cause a gastrointestinal obstruction which can be quite dangerous in rabbits. Close monitoring and a check up would be ideal to determine the size of the piece ingested and if the clay is going to pass.

The digestive system of rabbits moves food through it pretty quick, so if you haven't noticed anything wrong in the past 4 days then Buggy is likely fine. Of course, this cannot be confirmed 100% without a physical exam. Monitor for a decrease or loss of appetite, a decrease or absence of stool production and lethargy. These symptoms should be addressed immediately by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits. Increase the amount of timothy hay being offered as well as the amount of exercise. Both should help push any remnants of string out of his system.