Another bun not eating :( U/D 02/08

Ok, that's not strictly true. She will eat mange tout etc but is taking forever to eat her pellets. Yesterdays breakfast pellets were finished well after midnight last night, she'd had them since 7am.

This morning I caught her picking up a pellet then dropping it out of her mouth

But eventually, they will all get eaten. I've tried Jay's trick of grating pellets over the hay, that didn't work as she's never been a big hay eater.

Can I water down the pellets so they are mush to see if she'll eat them then?

Thanks [list=1][*]

Hi Hun,

Im sorry Thumper is struggling with her food bless her.

Yes I would try dampening down the pellets to make them soft as its sounds like she wants to eat them but is maybe having trouble?

Let us know how she goes hun x x x

Sending Vibes and cuddles

Thanks Katie. I will give it a go.

This little lady has me a nervous wreck

Im not surprised hun - there is nothing quite like bunny worry I dont think.

Thinking of you too hun, I know how hard it is x x x x x x x x

I'm so glad I found this place and you guys. I don't know anyone else with a rabbit to ask for advice or bounce ideas off. Plus, o/h just doesn't get it. If i was to ask what he thinks, I'd prob just get 'she's just not hungry'

Thank you x

I know what you mean - most people think I am off my rocker - luckily my O/H is also head of heels with Daisy. He used to think that I always fussed to much and was being silly, but now he trusts my insticts too, and so Im lucky.

I dont know what I would have done without this forum though. I feel lucky to say that I have made some lovely friends here.

Mmm, sorry she's been having trouble, it is such a worry, we've all been there.

I must say it sounds like a reluctance to eat the pellets rather than a reluctance to eat. I would hazard a guess that her teeth are causing a problem. Pellets are hard to break down for a bun in dental discomfort. Soak then in a small amont of warm water, and mash them up with a fork, see if that helps. If she's no better tomorrow, I'd get her to the vets. problem is that if digestion slows down, she may go into a gut stasis.

Try giving her the hay from your hand, hold a bunch tight, and hold it just above her head.

Lots of vibes

She has eaten some of it I don't know what's going on in her head but she eats some, goes away and for a bit, comes back and then it's like 'oh look, food!' Like she's forgotten it's even there!

Teeth was my first thought too. They were checked not long ago and were ok but all the signs are pointing to them being the problem. But they won't give her GA now because of her age. So what on earth can I do?

You're prob going to think I'm off my rocker, but she doesn't eat hay. Rarely ever has. She always has a supply and i've bought loads of different kinds, but the little sod just won't eat it. It all goes in the bin!

I will try what you have suggested though

If you cant get her to eat hay - try her with some grass - Daisy is always keener to eat grass than hay when he is feeling off - esp when his teeth are hurting him.

Keep getting some fluids in her too.

It sounds as if Thumper is hungry yet is having difficulty eating so it sounds very much like a dental problem. I do know how you feel about GA's in older buns as we have the same problem but I don't think you will have a choice because if it is a dental problem he will need it sorting out as sadly it will not go away. I have heard of 'Conscious Dentals' where the bunny has no GA but I don't personally know how I'd feel about that and I can't find any information on the internet about it and I'd want to know exactly what it's all about. I would think with CD's or a dental with GA there will always be risks.

Sending Vibes for Thumper xxxxxxx

They are certainly a worry at times!

I didn't even know they did conscious dentals. Might be worth asking about. I really don't think the vet will give the GA consideration. I don't think they think she is strong enough because they won't do anything about the tumor.

Good idea Katie, I'll try her with some grass. Although, she's clearly decided the soggy pellets are disgusting and took a few hard bits from me.

Thumper2001 wrote:I didn't even know they did conscious dentals. Might be worth asking about. I really don't think the vet will give the GA consideration. I don't think they think she is strong enough because they won't do anything about the tumor.

Good idea Katie, I'll try her with some grass. Although, she's clearly decided the soggy pellets are disgusting and took a few hard bits from me.

Oh Bless I forgot she has a tumor hasn't she sorry about that We have had four rabbits with tumor's so I know what you are going through, Poppet our girl was like Thumper she wanted to eat but it was almost as if she couldn't, although she wasn't an old bunny the tumor was in her tummy and they couldn't remove it because of where it was.

Hope Thumper starts eating soon, poor bun i do hope its nothing serious.

Thanks guys

She's managed a little bit of food this afternoon.

She wasn't all that interested in the grass earlier but is fair tucking into it now

We have the vet at 4.20.

Please keep ur fingers crossed that they can do something for her

Hope Thumper is ok and lots of good vibes for the vet this afternoon, does she have anything she really really likes that can tempt her to eat?
E x

She will eat mange tout but I can't let her eat too much of it because she gets tummy ache

I'm pretty sure her stomach is still ticking over because she is picking at the food.

I'm just so scared of what they are going to say we can do in the long term, I don't think GA is an option

Oh darling, do let us know how she gets on.

Hugs

Jo xx

I am sending Thumper mega mega 'eating' Vibes and hope everything goes ok for her at the Vet's

Thinking of you xxxxx

Hi guys,

Back from the vet. As suspected, thumper has teeth issues. She is going in for a dental tomorrow.

As Tuckerbunnies said, there was no other option. But I now understand why they will knock out for dental but not for the tumor, they would need to put her under much much deeper and for much longer if they were to remove the tumor. It is also attached to her rib cage which makes them even more reluctant to do anything about it.

They gave her an injection of metcalm and she's tucking into her food right now

I've to drop her off at 8am tomo, please PLEASE keep ur fingers crossed for us, she's a very old lady

Will be thinking of you both tomorrow honey, sending Millions of Vibes for our beautiful old girl x x x

Let us know how she gets on will be thinking about you all day x

Thanks Katie

As soon as I hear from the vet, I'll have a few phone calls to make then here will be my very next stop!

Thanks again x x

Well, she's made it thru the dental but she's not coming round as well as they had hoped.

I've to phone them again after work.

My nerves as shot to pieces

I'm glad she has come through Hun. What a worry.

Sending loads of vibes for her.

Come on gorgeous girl!

Oh sweetie, I am sure she will be fine. You sound stressed to death so I am sending some comfortung vibes for you and healing ones for her.

Lots of love


Jo xx