My 12-year-old rabbit won't eat and is peeing outside litter. Help!

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.

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.

A rabbit that is not eating normally should be considered a veterinary emergency. If the GI tract slows or stops, a dangerous buildup of bacteria and toxins could endanger Bun Bun's life. Given his age and weight loss, he needs to be seen by a veterinarian...any veterinarian. If necessary, a specialist can be contacted by phone or online by your vet. Veterinary reference labs may provide consultation services as well. For now, offer as much timothy hay as he will eat. Offer some Oxbow Critical Care for Herbivores as well. You may be able to find it in pet stores or in the local vet clinic. Keep Bun Bun warm and as stress free as possible. The link below leads to a list of veterinarians experienced in treating rabbits locate din Wisconsin. http://wisconsinhrs.org/local-vets/

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.

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/

Thanks for reaching out about Skyler. Unfortunately this possibly indicates a gastrointestinal obstruction, foreign body or dental disease. Gastrointestinal stasis is always secondary to something else. Radiographs and blood work from last year can be used as a comparison are not necessarily indicative of now, as things can change quickly. Any exposure to carpeting or fabric? With the pain you described, a veterinarian is recommended today. As prey animals, rabbits decompensate quickly. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about your rabbit. An intestinal obstruction, partial or full, should be considered. Might still be defecating due to fecal pellet formation behind the obstruction. Probiotics are not the answer and could be detrimental, as rabbit (herbivore) gut flora is different than dogs (omnivore) and cats (carnivore) and often the probiotics are labelled for all. If he has decreased appetite or seems painful, a veterinary visit is highly recommended. Good luck.