My rabbit won't eat or drink and is acting strange. Is it serious?

A rabbit that will not eat should be considered a veterinary emergency. Anorexia in rabbits can slow down or stop the gut which can lead to a dangerous build-up of bacteria and gas. This can be deadly. It is critical to have Thumper examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits to get him eating as soon as possible and to diagnose the reason for his loss of appetite. Keep timothy hay and water available at all times. You can soak some pellets in an unflavored electrolyte replacement beverage to make a mash which may make eating easier also.

You rabbit might be suffering from gut stasis, a common condition in rabbits of all ages, you will need to take him to the vet ASAP in order to get it treated, if it is only a mild stasis, medical treatment should be successful.

This is very concerning. Not eating will kill the bacteria in the rabbit's gatrointestinal system which are necessary for digestion. This can kill your rabbit. You will need to take him to your veterinarian today for an exam and treatment. Please do not wait.

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.

You could try syringing some water and mashed pellets into her mouth but be cautious as her ability to swallow may be affected also. Telephone your vets office immediately and there should be instructions as to how to access emergency veterinary care; intravenous fluids may be helpful if the injury is reversible. Be aware in rabbits that many spinal injuries are catastophic and euthanasia may be the most appropriiate option to relieve her pain if the condition cannot be reversed

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! 


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.