Lack of eating & pooping after Merlin’s BIG adventure

[Jo Leigh]

Have any of you had experience relocating to a new house with your bunny? 

Merlin and myself have just moved back to my home town. It was an 15+ hour drive with a 3 hour ferry crossing, so I decided to put Merlin on a pet bus rather than take him myself. He left mid morning on Friday and arrived on Sunday evening. My mum picked him up and looked after him for a few days until I arrived on Wednesday. She said he was very freaked out, he had a few big dogs opposite him on the bus (poor little guy, I feel SO guilty). She said he barely touched his hay and pellets over the three days and his litter training went out the window (pretty understandable after a big ordeal though). He was mainly only eating his salad and nibbling a little bit of hay. He has since moved in with me and while he appears to have relaxed a bit, I am still concerned about some of his behaviour. He is still only eating his salad and has totally ignored his pellets, hay and water since he moved in nearly 24 hours ago. He has pooped a handful of poops and hasn’t peed (as far as I am aware, he possibly may have peed in his cardboard box but since he’s not drinking water I think it’s unlikely). The few poops he has done were no where near his litter tray. In fact, they weren’t even in his cage at all. Which is very odd for Merlin, he has always been great at going to the bathroom in his cage (even if not necessarily in his litter tray). Last night he seemed very excited to be out of his cage and was binkying around the room (made me so happy!). While the crate and hideaway are new, everything else such as the litter tray, toys, bowls etc are all the ones that he had before the move. He is very happy exploring all the new exciting places in his new bedroom but the lack of eating, drinking and toileting has me worried. I understand that he is obviously still scared and nervous after his big week but I was just wondering whether any of you had experience dealing with some behaviour changes after a move? How long do you think it will take him to settle in? Will he need to be litter trained again? In the past, he has stopped eating and pooping when I’ve taken him to the vet (so it is obviously what he does when he’s scared) but as soon as we would get home that behaviour stopped. 

I feel terrible that I’ve scared him with the big move! 

[Megabunny]

Well, I just moved 15 hours with my bun a few months ago, but we drove him with us, so it wasn’t too bad. I feel sorry for Merlin and his ordeal. So sorry to hear that didn’t work out as well as it should have for you. Darned people. They should know better than that if that’s their business to transport animals!! Though I’ve never heard of a pet bus. You sound like you’re in Europe?

Anyway, I’m no expert, but I would get whatever I can into him, as long as he’s still eating. My pets always cave for apples. Do you have critical care? That’s supposed to really get things moving. I’m big on canned pumpkin. You may have to force him to take the first bite (putting some on a celery stick) but then they typically chow it down. And it’s good for them, so you can give a fair amount. And you can mix in critical care if you have it.

I don’t know about the other problems. Hopefully time will help. He sounds like he has a good attitude. Keep us posted!

[Jo Leigh]

Happy to report that Merlin is doing much better now. Phew! He has settled in nicely and is loving all the attention from my family!

[Megabunny]

Oh wonderful!!Thanks for the update!!

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