My rabbit won't eat, is weak, and has watery stools. Is it serious?

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.

Hello. A bunny that isn't eating and has runny poop is an emergency. He could have gastric stasis or other gastric diseases. I recommend you get him to a vet immediately. He needs medications to start up his gut again and talk to your vet about housing, diet, and stress. A bunny that isn't eating can get deathly sick very quickly. Good luck with Alfie.

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! 


Diarrhea is definitely bad for rabbits. There can be multiple causes, ranging from different bacterial infections, stress, diet, parasites, and more. You can read more about this at https://rabbit.org/intermittent-soft-cecotropes-in-rabbits/ . If your rabbit is having diarrhea they should be seen by a veterinarian for an exam as untreated it can become very dangerous as they can become dehydrated and can end up with bacteria in the bloodstream if the condiiton progresses.

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/

Loose stools in rabbits is a very severe sign, you must take her to the vet ASAP in order to get it treated, failure to do so will most probably lead to her death very soon. loose stools are usually caused by a gastrointestinal infection and requires antibiotic treatment as well as a special fiber supplement.

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!