My rabbit eats less, has small stools, and is nesting. Is she sick?

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.

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.

If Daisy is not eating properly then it would be normal for her to poop less. She may also not be drinking enough. You can try to offer some fresh lettuce and veggies. If Daisy still refuses to eat or does not eat properly you will need to take her to a veterinarian familiar with rabbit medicine for a check up of her mouth and teeth. Tooth problems (overgrowth or malocclusions) are common in rabbits as are tooth abscesses. The vet will want to to an x-ray of the head and assess the situation. If tooth correction is requires, it will have to be done under general anesthesia, if done properly.

Discontinue feeding milk and egg yolks to Yuki. These are not appropriate foods for a rabbit. Stop the colic-aid as well. This may interfere with her gut. Rabbits require a high fiber diet to maintain gut health. Feed as much timothy hay or similar grasses as she wants to eat. She can eat alfalfa until she is about 7 months old. Offer a commercial pelleted diet as well. You can moisten it to make it easier for her to eat. Have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits to diagnose illness or injury. If she is dehydrated, she may need supportive care to get her eating and acting normally.

Hello, and thank you for your question. Rabbits do not always show obvious signs of pain or illness; oftentimes being more quiet or eating a bit less, or pooping less are the first signs that something is wrong. It does sound like her symptoms may be related to the issue she had in June (gut stasis). Other possibilities would be pain from another area such as her teeth or an injury, or focal or systemic infection. I would recommend having her checked out by the vet within the next 12 hours if she is still acting very quiet. In the meantime, keep her hay and pellets close by to encourage eating, as well as her water, and monitor her poop output closely. If her appetite or energy are worsening over the next few hours, if she is producing very little to no poop, I would get her to the vet sooner, as gut stasis in rabbits can quickly become an emergency. I hope this helps, and that Miss Cottontail feels better soon!

Thanks for reaching out about Butter and including a photo. Gastrointestinal (stomach) upset is common in rabbits and can have many causes: ingested foreign body, infection, parasites, pain, dental disease, metabolic disorders (liver, renal), stress and more. If this is persistent, a veterinary visit is recommended, sooner than later. Keep diet consistent and try to limit sugars and carbohydrates. The more hay they eat the better. Good luck.

I would take Hugs into a vet immediately. True diarrhea is uncommon in rabbits, and this watery stool may actually be softened cecotropes caused by an imbalance of gut flora. This can be caused by GI stasis, which in turn can be caused by stress, dehydration, pain from another condition (UTI, dental problems, infection), an intestinal blockage, or insufficient dietary fiber. GI stasis can result in a painful death of the animal if left untreated, and it's serious sign when a rabbit doesn't want to eat. You need to take Hugs into a vet now.