Kobi not eating

We lost Kobi's partner last month, our beloved Cookie. Kobi seemed to be dealing with it well, better than me anyway, but all of a sudden on Wednesday last week he just stopped eating. He had eaten a few of his pellets but would never leave any. Thinking it may be a problem with his teeth we took him to the vet. Vet said teeth were fine, gave him some injections and us some meds and liquid recovery to prevent GI Stasis.

He was showing no change even with the meds so we took him back on Friday where he was hospitalised until Sunday as they said he was eating veg and that he would probably be better at home to continue meds and improvement. From Sunday he was eating veg okay, still not interested in pellets, but now he is now even interested in the veg apart from a few slow nibbles. Not even parsley his favourite he ate about 2 pellets from my hand yesterday and he's hardly had a drink or eaten hay. He just bites the hay to break it.

He was having poos that joined up with his fur so we put it down to over grooming but what could be the cause of this? Stress from losing cookie, feeling lonely? One of the vets said that he wouldn't show signs of missing her after a month, but then I thought it could perhaps be down to not having a partner anymore.

We're taking him back tomorrow but it just seems like nothing is making a difference.
I feel so helpless and he's losing trust in me having to get him to take meds 4 times a day, and finding it impossible to give him the liquid recovery too, he just dribbles it down his chin. Oh and I've also spotted a bald patch on his neck where I'm guessing he's grooming all the stuff off his chin.

It's just bringing back memories of Cookie and feel constantly sick and worried

Thanks for listening to me waffle on, please let me know if you have any advice or been through a similar thing

Xx

I would tend to disagree with your vet re the rabbit mourning period. I think they're rather like people that way.

Have you considered having further tests done? It may be stress/loneliness but there could be an underlying cause.

Have you considered getting him another friend?

He had an x Ray and blood tests and they said there wasn't anything abnormal, I agree with you that he is mourning. Hes never been one to be really ill or something wrong with him, only one dental and had mites once before- I have just treated him for mites again as he had the same signs.

We have considered getting a new friend for him, I did think he was doing okay though so we didn't straight away. And we are also moving soon so was going to wait to move to make a decision but now I feel I have left it too late.

He keeps hiding in a box

Two things come to mind.

1 when are you moving.
2 is there a rescue nearby that does bonding.

I am wondering if a local rescue would taking him in for some dating whilst you move this solving his lonlines and reducing the stress of bonding for you. They may be willing to temporarily board him if the move is not soon enough.

We'll be moving in 1-2 months so we could potentially rescue a friend before we move, we just thought if he was okay then we'd wait until we were settled in. He must have suddenly realised she wasn't coming back I hope he doesn't go downhill before we can sort something.

I'm not too sure if there are any nearby, we live in Kent. I will ask at the vets in the morning.

Just managed to feed some recovery, he did wee himself though

It does sound like mourning. My last rabbit lost his partener (his brother) just before he came to me, he hadn't stop eating but his character had changed and that was part of the reason why the family let him go. He was very withdrawn for months, almost a year.
Have you tried moistened pellets?
Or tempting him with a little honey on his nuggets?
Grass is just starting to grow again, is there any wild area where you could forage grass, dandelions etc. I swear it was grass that got Henry eating again after his X-ray GA when he couldn't/wouldn't touch herbs, veg hay or pellets. I'm going out every day and picking grass blade by blade for him, selecting the fresh, clean stuff only. Today I got grass, dandelions and cleavers and some bennet.

Poor little man, please give him lots of love from me and some for yourself too love.  It is a very stressful time for you and you are in my prayers.

Hugs
JO xx

He's seems worse today, one eye is looking really droopy. He won't take any recovery, he's eaten one bit of celery and hasn't pood. He's been taking medicine but doesn't seem to be doing anything. I really don't know what to do for the best for him.
He's grinding his teeth quite loudly which means he's in pain doesn't it x

Tooth grinding is a sign of pain, yes.
The eye thing could mean a tooth root problem. You say your vet said his teeth were OK when you took him the first time? Did he feel his cheek for root issues? Roots, and indeed molar spurs can't always be apparent without X-rays and without the rabbit being under GA with it's mouth open.
If he has been having a niggly tooth problem for a while that could have made him groom more than normal and so ingest the fur.
What meds is he on?

They did keep saying they'd checked his teeth lots of times, but only by using the tool where they out it in their mouth and look through. Do you think I should go back and mention possibility of root issues?

I've just syringed in some water which he happily took so it's not like he's not thirsty he's just not drinking from the bowl anymore.

He's on metroclopramide, metacam (although they've told me to not give this if he's not eating) and ranitidine.

Little update- still hasn't eaten. I syringed some more water this morning and he took it again. I offered a strawberry and celery and he seemed interested as if he was about to bite it but then stopped.

I don't know whether to try and different vet I don't know how that works and if I'd need to register with them first before seeing anyone. Just want to find a vet who can give me some answers

Sounds like teeth to me,
1. You can go to your own vets and say to them you want a x-ray of his mouth after all your paying/insurance paying for it.
2.Phone another vets a rabbit savvy one explain the situation
3.find your closest vet school and explain to them what going on and your unhappy with your vets.

Xxx

Thank you so much everyone,

We've got an app with vets at 2.50. They said he may have to be admitted again. I'm so worried that they can't help him., or are not treating the right thing. As much as I don't want him to be in the pain I hope it is something to do with his teeth as hopefully they will be able to fix it.

Can they have GA if they haven't been eating? X

How did you get on at the vet?

If you're thinking of trying another vet this list might be worth a look

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/vetfinder/vets-owners-recommendations

You can also call the RWAF and they have a list of vets

Good luck, I hope Kobi is on the mend soon x

Oh that's perfect thank you very much I'll take a look into those

He's been admitted again, they done a scan and nothing showed in his belly, they say his has a cyst type lump in his neck which may have been from when they took a blood test the last time so they're giving him antibiotics for that too.

He's going to be in there for a couple of days I believe and once they have for him eating a bit more they said the best thing to do is refer us to an exotic specialist who can do the mouth X-ray and further checks I believe.

It's so sad to see him this way, the vet said he looks sad and in pain of course he does, I thought, that's what I've been telling you for more than a week

I have been contacting rescues to find a partner for him but really need to get him better first. X

Oh sweetie, I am so sorry you ad he are having such a dreadful time, I really hope they get to the bottom of what it is and he gets better quickly.  Thank you for the updates, lots of loves on their way for you both and you are in my prayers.

Hugs
Jo xx

Hugs and nose bumps

Xxx

Is it maybe worth pushing for the referral sooner? I appreciate the vet wants him to be eating better first... but if there is a reason he's not eating that they aren't able to get to the bottom of it seems like seeing the specialist sooner might be a good idea.

I was thinking this, but I don't know how quickly they will be able to with the Easter hols, they are phoning me in the morning to give me an update so I'll see what they say. They are open properly on Saturday and then again on tues but someone is there 24/7.

feels so weird not being able to put him to bed.

Thanks for all your support, don't know what I'd do without this forum xx

Whenever I've had a referral the vet school have generally phoned the same day to make the appointment which can be within a day or so. It would depend on when the specialist is open of course, if they're open today then hopefully you'd at least be able to make the appointment today.

Keep us posted x

Just had a call to say he's not moving in the direction they want him to, his belly is very empty, he's been a bit feisty and he's really not keen on the liquid recovery.
They are going to try another pain killer and contact me later with pricing to refer him. Not that the price matters to me I just want him better but I can't help but feel like it's too late x

The referral itself shouldn't cost anything, although there will probably be a set fee for the consultation at the specialist.

I really would push to get him to the specialist asap, ideally rather than wait for your vet to call - call them. If you feel your vet is reluctant to refer him then I'd contact the RWAF and have them recommend one to you and contact them yourself and explain the situation. Please don't feel that its too late, if Kobi has been feisty then he's still got fight in him. Seeing the specialist really could make a world of difference.

Everything crossed for Kobi. Please keep us updated!

Still waiting for a call back, I tried to phone but just get an automated message saying they're closed and can only phone alternative number in case of an accident or emergency. When they call me it comes up no caller id so I don't even have another number to try. I'm holding on that no news is good news

I think so too darling, when it is bad  news you tend to be told straight away.  Everything crossed here anyway

Hugs
JO xx