My rabbit is grinding teeth and hunched. Is this a vet emergency?

Thanks for reaching out about Blueberry. Being bloated, lethargic and grinding teeth make this an emergency and should been seen tonight, ASAP. Grinding the teeth is a sign of pain. A gastrointestinal or urinary obstruction are possible. Good luck.

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.

Thanks for sending the pictures of Brit. It appears as if Brit has eye discharge, possibly from an infection or blockage of her tear ducts. The tears can not drain, and then course down the side of face, causing the hair to fall out. This can also be caused by dental disease. Grinding teeth is often an indication of pain. Her head is held down and eye closed, another sign she is not feeling well. By the pictures she also appears thin, as if she is not eating well. There is no human medicine or any medicines that can be prescribed without being seen by a veterinarian. You should try and see a veterinarian as soon as possible. Also rabbits need to be spayed to prevent reproductive disease. Hope it works out well.

Poor Flopsy! Grinding teeth can be a sign of pain, so hopefully when you give him his pain medication, this behavior will stop. If it does not stop, becomes louder or more frequent, or he stops eating, I would take him back into the vet to be checked out. I hope this helps!

Check his teeth if he will allow. Make sure they aren't overgrown or misaligned. This could affect his appetite. If he stops eating, he is at risk of developing gut stasis which can be life threatening. Ideally, he should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits. It should be done today/tonight, if possible, since a rabbit that is lethargic or not eating should be considered a veterinary emergency.

You should take Hops to the vet as this is likely to get infected, she will need a course of antibiotics as well as pain killers for a few days, the tip of the broken nail will need to be checked as well, in some cases it is necessary to remove the nail in order to prevent any complications.

At this point in time, she should be physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits. Pregnancy can be confirmed or ruled out by the vet. Any underlying cause of pain can also be diagnosed and treated. Supportive care can be administered as indicated.