Rabbit bitten by another: Why won't she eat after the fight?

I am so sorry that you lost your other bunny. I can understand that this is hard for you and for Sugar as well. It is normal for one pet to grieve when another has passed away. This can be a very stressful time for your rabbit. The biggest concern is that she’s not eating well. A rabbit that stops eating is at risk for developing gastric stasis which can be very painful and possible life-threatening condition. Continue doing your best to encourage her to eat and drink. Offer her her favorite snacks and treats if that is all she will take for now. Try to interact with her and pay more attention to her than you usually do to help comfort her. If she continues to not want to eat you may want to look into getting a critical care diet for herbivores such as Oxbow Critical Care to help supplement her eating. If she goes for more than 24 hours without eating then you should take her to the vet to help prevent gastric stasis from occurring. Again, I am so sorry for your loss. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Bunnies like very slow, quiet movements, it may take a few days for him to let you get close enough to touch him. Is your rabbit sick? Is this eating habit new? If so he should be seen right away. If this is normal for him then a diet change is needed. Rabbits need a very gradual change. Over several weeks decrease the amount of carrots and he will gradually eat more pellets. Are you also offering Timothy hay? About 80%of their diet should be the hay. I hope this helps. I’m sorry about the other bunny .

I am so sorry that this change is happening - it is never easy when one pet starts to be aggressive to the other. I don't know when the last time that you had a wellness exam performed on your rabbits, but I think that would be a good place to start with these two. Sometimes a more dominant animal will "pick on" the other if it isn't feeling well - this is often picked up by the animals in the house long before it is noticed by the humans in the household. Your veterinarian would perform a physical exam, and then could also perform some blood work to evaluate systemic health. Since it looks like your rabbits spend some time outside, they may also evaluate the feces for any evidence of parasites as well that they may pick up. I would also recommend weighing both of the rabbits - it sounds like a lot of the negative interactions occur when food is present, and this may make it hard for your lop to get adequate amounts of food, and weight loss can occur. Additionally, there may be a process going on in the dominant rabbit that is making it need more nutrition and, therefore, is becoming more aggressive about food items. One thing that you may try while waiting to get into the vet is separating the rabbits with a physical barrier that they can still see through - then if they still want to lie next to one another against the barrier they can, but the lop can get away easier if getting picked on. You can feed them near the barrier as well, in case they are social eaters. This may make them feel more comfortable than being completely separated from one another.

Thanks for reaching out about Pandora. Not sure if this is due to fear or an injury. If a physical exam by a veterinarian has not been performed in the last year, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess. It could just be the establishment of dominance. Not all rabbits get along. Good luck.

Ouch! Those definitely look like fighting wounds. The ear one is a little deep and could become infected. I would try to keep it clean and treat it with some triple antibiotic ointment if you can. If you see that it is not clearing up or it is getting worse, systemic drugs could be required. If you see that he is starting to scratch at the ear due to pain or bother, he is going to require an e-collar. Depending on the size of the rabbit, it may be hard to fine one that fits commercially. Fortunately, you will be able to find instruction on how to create a homemade one if the time comes. In terms of their behavior, definitely keep them separated until you get them fixed. Once that it is done, you can try to reintroduce them, but do so slowly and over at least a couple of weeks. It should be done so under close supervision as well to avoid any more bunny injuries.

Poor Rica! And I am sorry the loss of your two rabbits. This can be a little stressful for them if they are really attached to their partner. Most rabbits adjust normally and continue to eat and continue their routine. I would watch Rica closely to ensure she is continuing to eat and act like herself. Also give her some extra TLC if she likes to be handled by humans. As far as knowing when they are not feeling well can be difficult. Some of the main things to look for is appetite, and activity level. You can also look to see whether or not there is any eye or nose discharge, sneezing/coughing, rapid breathing or diarrhea. Also, make sure there is plenty of room for two rabbits on their habitats. Small quarters can cause more stress. I hope this helps!

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.