My rabbit wont eat or drink

Hi guys,

Got a senario id like to run by you, in the hope i can get some sound advise!

We have a Lionhead bunny named Frank, and untill now has been fine. Over the last few days he's decided to not eat or drink (or atleast not eating very much) Iv taken him to the vets twice now, the 1st time for a runny nose. He's been given Metacam and some antibiotics, a few days later he's gone offhis food completley! He seems to have almost given up, he's definatley lost weight and is just not himself.

The second visit to the vet and he's had his teeth checked so no problem there. He'd not been given some Vipro plus which is ment to help stimulate the gut etc. We are having difficulty even making him take that! Getting a bit worried that he may have Statis. Can someone shed some light on this please? Im more confused then ever after researching on the internet.

Im also wondering weather our other bunny Betty is stressing frank out as she is a right sex pest the last few days? She is just the right age to be speyed and booked in tomorrow, so fingers crossed she'll calm down. Could this stress frank enough to stop him eating and drinking?

Any advise would be much appreciated. Its worrying seeing our little frank so poorly!

Firstly you need to get some fluids down him and if he is not eating at all I would syringe feed him with some Critical Care or Recovery every two hours to keep his gut moving, has he done any poops at all ?

Sounds to me that he has gone in to Gi Stasis.

Sometimes molar spurs on the teeth can't be seen until they are actually put under GA, so it could be teeth issues but they arent visable.

How old is your bunny?

Hi there,

Thanks for such a quick reply. We have been trying to force feed him water but he wont take it. He just lets it run out of his mouth. Any ideas on how to make him swallow it? He had dioreah for a day, which was when i took him to the vet. Then he had an injection to help with his gut and he no longer has that. He has done a few poops but they are tiny! from whativ read, that could mean he has early statis?

He has had his teeth checked by the vet just yesterday, he said it all looks fine. He's just 9 months old.

Actually any poops are good news, so as long as he is pooping they will gradually go back to the normal bunny poop, but its because his digestive system is suffering.

Offer all his favourites, he wont eat pellets etc, when buns are like this they often will go for things like herbs, grass etc first. offer a variety.

Sorry if I missed it...when did your bun get this injection? was it yesterday?

Thats good news then. There is literally only a few poos over the last 4days. He had the injection yesterday afternoon. Does this take a few days to take effect?

Iv been told to only give him hay and stop any fresh veg?

Diarreah usually leaves rabbits very dehydrated and on top of the no greens due to his diarreah he will be getting hardly any water, I would get him back to the vet's and get them to give him fluids for you as I honestly think he is getting worse due to lack of water.

Please keep us posted.

Hi, no other advise to add but I hope Frank can get some fluids in him and please keep us updated. I wouldn't have thought your other bunny pestering him would have caused this

hi there,

It sounds to me that he is in Stasis. This little chap needs to be back at the vets Im afraid. I would ask to speak to a Rabbit Savvy vet - not all of them are.

I know he doesnt like it but you need to syringe him some lukewarm water, he must have fluids.

Give him whatever he will eat - at this stage its important that he eats something - it doesnt matter what it is. If he wont eat anything you should try syringe feeding him some critical care food - if you cant get that try some mashed up pellets in warm water.

Is his tummy hard and round or is it soft?

The vet needs to be happy there isnt a blockage - if there isnt - then he will need an injection to get his belly moving.

Keep him warm and once he has had some food - try to gently get him to move about - this will help get his tummy moving.

Most importantly though - he needs to see a vet.

Good luck xxx

K x

Sorry to hear your bun isn't well

I agree with Katie, Frank needs to see a vet. Especially as he won't even swallow water

If you don't feel your vet is doing enough for him, don't hesitate to find another one.

If you tell us what area you are in, perhaps someone could recommend a rabbit savvy vet?

Fingers crossed for Frank!

Katie, would even a warm mashed weetabix be ok to stimulate the appetite?

I have nothing more to add but I agree with everyone else, it sounds like Frank is in GI Stasis and you need to be getting food and water into him ASAP, even if it means a trip back to the vets if they have to do it for you.

Sending him lots of vibes and hugs for you as well

Ive never used wheatabix.....It tends to clog when it dries and I dont know what would happen in a de-hydrated tum.......

ahhh, good point.

Perhaps some babyfood - however, fibre is really important to get the tum started.

If you don't have critical care etc in, mash some pellets down with boiling water and leave it to cool. Add whatever you think might tempt him. Herbs? Carrot?

It always worked for me when Thumper wouldn't eat. (She didn't have stasis, she was just an old lady but its worth a shot!)

Hiya, sorry to hear Frank is feeling so poorly

You said the first visit was for a runny nose. Is he still snuffly now? I wonder if he cannot smell his food and that is why he is not interested. If that is the case, your vet can give you Bisolvon which will help clear his nose. It can be sprinkled over food or diluted and syringed into his mouth.

Is he still on antibiotics? These might also be upsetting his tummy a bit. It would not hurt to put a pro-biotic in their water. You can get Pro-C at Pets At Home, or your vet may be able to give you a stronger one such as Bio-Lapis.

You really need to try to get some food and fluid into him now. Soaked pellets might be the way to go - if you can get them runny enough to go through a syringe then he'll be getting fluid too. I'd ignore the vets no veg rule at the moment, if he wants to eat it let him eat it. It is far more important to get something in his gut than it is to worry about a runny bum.

If you are failing to get anything into him by syringe at the moment, can you tell us how you are doing it? We might be able to suggest an alternative method. I'd be inclined to make him a soggy pellet mush and offer it to him on a spoon or in his usual bowl - make it with warm (but not hot) water and it will smell extra strong and might just get him interested.

How is he usually for being handled? Does he mind or is he quite relaxed?

I've never heard of Vi Pro Plus being used in buns in stasis - the usual treatment is Metaclopromide, usually the first dose by injection then a few days of oral treatment. The only info I can find on Vi Pro Plus is for dogs with distemper


ETA - I didn't consider a blockage. Does he look bloated / gassy at all or skinny? Is he grinding his teeth or showing signs of pain? Is he moving around or sitting hunched in one place?

I agree with the others, some form of recovery food and return to a rabbit savvy vet. I would also encourage you to give us a vague location for you in the hope we may be able to point you to one. Do you have some rabbit pain killer - if you have a wuss (as one of my buns is) it is really handy for keeping them eating.

definately agree with recovery food fluids and go back to vets.
hope your bunny eats soon

Thanks so much for your help guys. Iv just tried warming some pellets an it seems to have worked. He's had a syringe full with not to much trouble.

I made it nice and watery so he got some fluids too. Can i just ask how ofter i should do this and what quantity?

He's going to the vets in the morning to get checked over and re-hydrated if required. Thanks again.

glad he took some food......

Is his tum hard or soft?

when you take him back in the morning... try and see a different vet, one that perhaps knows more about buns.....not all of them do.

They need to check for a blockage - they can do a glucose test for this. If he is not blocked up he will need a metacolpromide injection to combat the stasis.

Also they need to find the cause really. Had he eaten anything ususual before he had his runny bottom?


how many mls did he take so far?

Is he hunched up or is he happy moving around?

Great news - I'm glad he has taken something.

What size syringe? You need to feed him every couple of hours to keep his gut moving. Now he has eaten something he *might* start eating for himself - I'd leave a dish of mushy pellets available to him. Otherwise you need to try to get a few ml of food down him every couple of hours.

Good luck at the vets, I hope he makes a good recovery, and please do pop back and let us know how he is getting on or if you need any more help

he should be done around two hourly
such a good sign that he's accepting it

Great news!!!

I agree with Sparky, leave a bowl of soggy pellets out for him for between syringe feeds. Thumper *usually* ate it once you got her going. If he does eat a lot of it, you *might* find you can skip a syringe feed.

I did find that it got hard and manky pretty quickly if she didn't eat it though. It stuck to the side of the bowl etc