My rabbit seems stressed. What are the signs I should look for?

Hello, A stressed ferret will likely be hiding more than normal, uninterested in play or food, hissing, or panting. I hope this has been helpful. If you have any more specific questions about Trouble, feel free to let us know! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

With this abrupt change in behavior I would be concerned that something is going on with Binky, like the early signs of an illness. Since he is still eating and drinking there is not much that can be done at this time. Ensure that Binky is still making stool. Also, watch him and his food intake very closely. If you notice his appetite or pooping decrease at all, take him to the vet as soon as possible. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

I'm sorry to hear that Flower isn't feeling well! These signs can be an indication of an infection, and are concerning because she may be having trouble breathing. The fact that she is not eating or drinking can cause her to become very sick, because it is important for a rabbit's gut to be moving regularly. I recommend having Flower seen by a vet as soon as possible to determine what is going on and begin the appropriate treatment. You should keep a close eye on her and have her seen immediately if you think she is having trouble breathing.

Hello, sorry to hear about Binky. There could be a variety of reasons why he is doing this. My biggest concern is that he could have an underlying heart disease or an upper respiratory infection. Binky should be evaluated by a veterinarian to make sure that he does not have the above conditions. He may require chest x-rays and bloodwork. Hope this helps and best of luck.

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.

Thank you for using PetCoach. She is adorable. The first thing to do is to make sure that Gorda's diet is approriate. Most pet rabbit do not need pelleted food or need very, very little. Hay and vegetables should make up the majority of her diet. Here is a good guide https://rabbit.org/faq-diet/ Cecotrophs are feces that do have a different consistency that regular stool https://rabbit.org/intermittent-soft-cecotropes-in-rabbits/ She may be acting antisocial if she is not feeling well, or depending on her age it may be hormonal related. For pet rabbits I stronly recommend spaying for behavioural benefits as well as for her health. https://rabbit.org/faq-spaying-and-neutering/ However is she is having very loose stool or acting abnormally, I would recommend a visit to a veterinarian that treats rabbits asap. If rabbits develop GI disorders it becomes fatal very quickly. I hope this helps, feel free to post again if you have further questions. She is a cutie!

With the discharge from her nose I would suspect that she has some sort of respiratory issue going on. Rabbits are very prone to pasteurella infection and this can cause weight loss over time and make them generally unwell. With any disease rabbits will be under stress which puts them at risk of gut stasis. Running bloods could help to establish if their is an active infection and if any other organs are involved.