Why is my rabbit suddenly lazy, not eating, and only drinking water?

A rabbit that is not eating or drinking should be seen by an exotic species veterinarian as soon as possible. She is at risk of developing dehydration and GI stasis which can lead to death. Until your appointment, you can try offering fresh, dark, leafy greens (kale, collards, etc) and other palatable greens, like cilantro, parsley, carrot top greens, to encourage her to eat. You can also soak rabbit pellets in water to make a slurry and carefully feed that to your rabbit via a syringe (baby dosing syringes can be bought in drug stores and discount stores). Make sure fresh Timothy hay and water is available. Carefully syringe feeding an electrolye replacement solution, like Pedialyte, can help with dehydration. http://myhouserabbit.com/rabbit-health/gi-stasis-in-rabbits-a-deadly-condition/

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.

There is definitely something wrong with him, in most cases when a rabbit shows such symptoms quite suddenly it is because of gut stasis, but it could also be other things. you must take him to the vet ASAP, he will need a checkup and a simple blood test to check for stasis/blockage then he can get the proper treatment.

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.

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 there! I'm so sorry to hear that Flop is sick. Her condition sounds very serious, and I strongly suggest that you get her to a veterinarian immediately. Loose stool is abnormal for a rabbit, and can cause dehydration if it continues for more than a couple days - especially if she hasn't been drinking. Dehydration may be what is causing her to be lethargic, but her symptoms are relatively vague so I can't tell you from the information provided what is wrong with her. Parasites, bacterial or viral infection, foreign object ingestion, nutritional issues, and hairball impaction could all be possible causes, and without a veterinarian's help, a diagnosis will be difficult. At the vet's office, Flop will receive a full physical exam, and they will likely recommend x-rays and/or bloodwork to determine the cause of her illness. She will likely need fluid replacement therapy at the very least. Something you can do to detect dehydration at home is a turgor test. When an animal has good skin turgor, it is hydrated - skin that snaps back into place when picked up has good turgor. Pick up a small amount of skin behind Flop's shoulders, and drop it - if it stays standing up or is slow to return to normal, she is likely dehydrated and needs immediate help. Do not force her to drink liquids as she may aspirate it into her lungs. Good luck, and I hope that Flop gets well!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite and lack of drinking can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Walter evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!