I'm worried about Willow :(

I'm not sure how much this post is going to help other than just venting my thoughts, but I am quite worried about Willow for a number of reasons...

The first being that this bun is a huge hay eater. She has been ever since I got her. I can normally expect to fill up her hay rack ad lib 4/5 times a day and it's not like she pulls it out and tramples it, she absolutely loves it and noms most of it up. Yet yesterday afternoon I filled her hay rack up for her about 4pm and went to go to bed at 11.30pm and it was still full. She also left most of her rack overnight, although when I added to it this morning she did eat a bit but pulled a lot out and just left it on the floor, and it was the same story when I got home about 2pm today and she'd emptied it, but most was all over the floor

She is still eating her veggies, nuggies and some hay and is drinking normally. Her poos are very healthy looking, haven't changed and are still plentiful...

But she just seems off colour. She's very quiet in herself and whilst she's still running around, taking treats etc she doesn't seem to want much of my attention which is very odd as she is such a friendly girl.

This is what I mean, she doesn't appear "ill" particularly but seems a bit off colour. Could it be a sign of things to come?

She has a vets appointment for Friday anyway to have her combi vaccine so I will ask them to look her over then and check her health, although I'm not sure it's a health issue, it seems to be her in herself that's worrying me.

Sometimes I wonder if she's lonely but I cannot afford another rabbit and it wouldn't be fair to her or another bun as their quality of living would go down considerably. Plus she is unspayed and I'm not sure how much of an issue that is with bonding, and since she can't be spayed it can't really be fixed either.

The only other thing that occured to me is she is stropping because she is now in a pen. But her pen is 6ft x 3ft and she gets free range time every morning and a lot of the evening too, every day. She's got plenty of toys, beds and hay in there. It's clean and tidy. And at one point she was loving it in there and actually chose to go and flop out in there even if she had the option of coming out...

I don't know, she just doesn't seem right at all

Any thoughts?

Is it a different bag or make of hay as it could be slightly off or is she moulting at all as rabbit's can be most unwell when they are moulting and people just don't realise how poorly they can feel, some can become quite depressed when in heavy moult.

The only other thing I can think of is she starting with a dental spur as some bunnies can still manage to nibble their pellets and veggies even with the start of a spur. I'm sure you will know more on Friday when Willow sees the vet.

Sending 'get well' Vibes for gorgeous Willow xxxxxxxx

Thanks Maysie

The hay is the same type as she's had the past two or three times, but it isn't as nice quality although not dusty or mouldy. Maybe she's just being a diva?

She's just finished her moult.

I know tooth problems can be genetic but she eats so much hay and has eaten loads from the age of four months old that I would be shocked if it was a spur, but I know it could be. I really hope not as she does not do well under GA and to put her under is a huge risk in itself

Will have to see what the vet says!

How long has she been 'off'? Buns can just have bad days too. I wonder if she might also be more likely to have 'mood-swings' due to being unspayed.

How long has he been acting differently honey?

I would deffo ask the vet to look at her molars when you go. Is the hay from the same bag as before?

It started last night Sparky, and I was just about to report that she's had a good munch on some hay and seems a bit "bouncier" now.

Maybe she was just having an off/temperamental day or so.

Katieb wrote:How long has he been acting differently honey?

I would deffo ask the vet to look at her molars when you go. Is the hay from the same bag as before?

She seems a bit better now Katie but I will ask the vet to check her teeth on Friday. The hay is not from the exact same bag but is the same brand that I've been buying.

It could be ht o her it smells slightly different.

We have a similar issue with jugs - we have to mix Daisy's for about a week when we open a new bag

It could well be Katie, but she is not normally fussy and loves her hay. It's not a particularly bad bag either. But then sometimes they do do things that we just can't explain...

She is currently flopped out after having had a big munch, so I'm not too panicked. Will get the vet to check her teethies on Friday though, just to be sure

Aww, I hope she's ok

I think she is now! She's currently sat on my chair digging her little paws against my wardrobe and looking adorable

Back to her old self I hope!

FluffSlave wrote:I think she is now! She's currently sat on my chair digging her little paws against my wardrobe and looking adorable

Back to her old self I hope!

Oh I am glad she is back to her old self that's good I've been wondering how she was

I was starting to worry a bit Maysie as at one point she seemed really withdrawn and I thought we might have to get her up to the vets, but all of a sudden she's back to her old self!

She just had a mad binkying fit around my room and is now tucking into her hay just as eagerly as always. What a relief!

FluffSlave wrote:I was starting to worry a bit Maysie as at one point she seemed really withdrawn and I thought we might have to get her up to the vets, but all of a sudden she's back to her old self!

She just had a mad binkying fit around my room and is now tucking into her hay just as eagerly as always. What a relief!

Maybe she had a slight touch of tummy ache and now it's gone she feels better

sometimes they have an offish day or two sometimes the slightest change that you are un-aware of may have set off a little sulk,
definately chat to vet but keep an eye on her she may just perk right back up as quickly as she has withdrawn a bit with seemingly no reason.
sending lots of vibes just in case it;s anything more than a female mood swing

Thanks for the vibes

I think it may have just been a touch of tummy ache or a bit of a mood swing!

with willow i would say tummy ache as a gorgeous self aware lady like willow does not suffer mood swings that is only for the riff raff female buns

She agrees Rob!

Fenugreek Crunchies are good for tummy ache

They really are!

Ah yes Sparky, I'm sure Willow will back you up on that!