My rabbit isn't eating, is lethargic, and has smelly poop. Why?

Lethargy and inappetance are very concerning signs especially in a bunny because if they don't eat continuously they can develop GI stasis (where their gut shuts down and won't work) which can be life threatening. Milo needs to be seen by a veterinarian right away to get to the bottom of why he is behaving this way.

These signs are quite concerning in rabbits and could be compatible with an inflammation infection of the gastrointestinal system and surrounding organs (like pancreas and liver). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs) may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

These symptoms are extremely serious, Snow needs to be taken to the vet urgently, loose motion is often fatal in rabbits if not treated on time, he will probably need antibiotics, a special food supplement and medications to promote appetite in order to get better.

It sounds to me like Monty may be experiencing the beginnings of some gastric stasis. This means that his stomach and / or the rest of the GI tract is not moving things along as it normally should. Without treatment, this condition can definitely become very problematic. Rabbits, much like horses, have very sensitive GI tracts that are very susceptible to even the smallest disturbances. It's hard to say precisely why the stasis is occurring, but I think Monty should have a physical exam performed to see if anything obvious can be determined. Options for the vet are going to be between simply treating the symptoms to see if things resolve on their own, or performing some diagnostic testing including imaging and blood work. Medications that would be useful in these instances include anti inflammatories / pain medication (as stasis tends to be very uncomfortable) and potentially drugs that help the GI tract continue to contract. Hope this helps.

Hi, I am sorry to hear about Percy, a rabbit who is not defecating is a very serious condition which can indicating one of two emergencies gut stasis or gut obstruction. Both are life threatening. Since your rabbit demonstrating the signs mentioned above of: no fecal pellets, loss of appetite and lethargy it considered an emergency please take him/her to your vet immediately as rabbits can deteriorate very fast. Good Luck

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 sterile urine sample should be collected and submitted for urinalysis and culture. This will diagnose urinary tract infection, identify the responsible organism and determine the best antibiotic to use in treatment. Check the teeth for malocclusion or overgrowth. It is of critical importance to get Lilly eating again. Supportive care (subcutaneous fluids, force feeding, etc) should be continued. Always have timothy hay or similar grasses available. An abdominal x-rays should be considered to diagnose foreign body, large hair balls or tumors in the abdomen. A hairball paste may aid in passage of any hairballs. If you don't have experience force feeding, have your veterinarian show you how. If available, Oxbow Critical Care is an excellent formula to feed sick or injured rabbits.