New bunny, change in behavior, not eating well

[Lunarabbit32]

I just got a 4 month old Holland Lop male 3 days ago. For the first two days, it went surprisingly well. He was eating his hay and pellets fine, drinking, running about, playing with toys, flopping, etc. Last night, however, he suddenly ran to the corner of his cage and stayed there in a little ball, not moving, which seemed odd. I found him in his hidey hole in the morning, tucked all the way in the back. I had to use a flashlight to see him. He wouldn’t come out to eat or drink, but nibbled on hay when I pushed it in far enough. I left, then came back late afternoon. He was still hiding and his food and water were untouched. I finally removed the hiding structure all together, hoping it would encourage him to come out and eat. He’s moving a little more now, but stays toward the corner and is skittish. I’ve seen him eating hay, but not pellets or water (water is what I’m starting to become concerned about.) Does anyone have any ideas what might have caused him to go south and how to reverse it? Or how to make him drink? I put his water bowl near him and he nudged it away. He won’t go near the bottle either. I’m really starting to get worried as I cannot take him to a vet at this time (I’m out of finances.) Any ideas?

[Little Lion Head]

When is the last time he ate anything? If it’s more than 12 hours you need to get him to a vet ASAP. It sounds like GI Stasis which is usually a side affect of something else that is likely wrong. If your bunny is not eating or pooping he could die. Not to sound dramatic but GI Stasis a really big deal.

In the meantime, try some fragrant herbs like basic, parsley, cilantro and wet them down good to get some water into him. You really should be more concerned about the food than the water though. If you don’t have critical care on hand you can wet pellets to basically make a mush and syringe feed it into him. Bottom line–he needs to eat and now. i wouldn’t wait any longer to get a hold of a vet.

[Megabunny]

LLH is spot on. Anything and everything that baby will eat. Maybe some tummy rubs, too. Keep up posted.

[Lunarabbit32]

Thanks for the advice.
I went down to the store and got some parsley, cilantro, and kale. He seems to be getting a little more active, but he still hasn’t touched his pellets and his water seems to be at the same level. He’s hopping around though. I offered him the greens and he ate a stalk of parsely and a little bit of kale. I dipped them in water first so he’d be getting more liquid. Overall his behavior is really odd and no matter how many articles I read I am no closer to understanding what exactly is going on. It’s like he’s having mood swings. 
I assure you, I am very much worried. The possibility of GI stasis has me really stressed out. However, I literally DO NOT have the physical funds to take him at this moment. I spent all my spare money on his cage, toys, food, dishes, litter box, litter, hay, etc etc. Vet visits are in the hundreds in my city. If it came down to it I would hand feed him wet mush by syringe until my next paycheck. I was definitely not counting on the possibility of him getting sick so quickly, this is something I have learned the hard way. However, since he is eating hay and has had some moisture now, I will continue to keep a eye on him. Thank you so much for the advice. 

[Lunarabbit32]

Question: Is he okay eating only hay and greens at the moment, or should I give him mushed pellets if he doesn’t eat them by tonight? I am still new to timing with food. He hasn’t eaten pellets or water since yesterday, but he has been eating hay and has peed and pooped at least once in the last 12 hours. I may call a vet and ask them what they think. My bunny is giving me mixed signals. I have thought about it and decided that if he does show more signs of GI stasis and stops eating anything completely, I will find a way to get him to the vet somehow. Thanks. Sorry if I seem really snippy or panicky, this is just my first time owning a rabbit and I’m pretty worried.

[Megabunny]

I’m no expert on this, and I don’t get on BB a ton to draw from lots of others’ experiences, so hopefully you’ll get other advice.

My thoughts are that, first of all, while I was stumped at what you’re saying, LLH has a great idea about possibly GIS. At the same time I’m surprised you would see it in such a young animal. Maybe this is sadly an unhealthy bun for some other reason and you had every right to expect to start off with a baby and not have to rush to the vet. It’s always good to have backup funds for such a thing. But gosh. Three days? If you’re getting something into him with nutrition like you are, that’s fine if it isn’t pellets. Just keep after him. Also, if you can pick up a can of canned pumpkin…not the pie filling but the straight pumpkin, you can offer that on a spoon. They need a taste of it to get started, but then he may like that. It’s full of fiber and moisture.

If you call, Be prepared for the vet to not tell you a blasted thing except they can’t diagnose or make suggestions over the phone and there is some pet credit emergency thing out there you can call and they will give you credit immediately for your sick pet. I don’t trust it but that’s just me. I simply mean to say you can try calling but probably won’t get anywhere. Some shelters have vets or help for people in need.

Hoping someone else gets on or that your baby suddenly rounds the bend

[Little Lion Head]

I’ve heard of the credit for vets as well. I think it’s like Care Credit for humans. I think you need to find a way to get him to the vet. Maybe the vet will work with you on payments? It doesn’t hurt to call though. I had my first bunny diagnosed over the phone b/c a rabbit savvy vet was 3 hours away so they worked with the regular vet in my town to get my bunny treated. It’s a long shot but you owe your bunny at least a phone call.

Whatever he’ll eat! Of course you want to really push the hay. I’m wondering about some fresh grass clippings. The pumpkin is a great idea. We used organic pumpkin for my first bunny when she wouldn’t eat. We ended up syringing it because she took it better than critical cal.

Sounds like he’s getting water which is great. Has he eaten any hay? Where did you get your bun from? If a shelter, breeder, or petstore, I would call either to see if they will help foot the bill at the vet.

[kirstyol]

Bramble does this sometimes, I think its gas with him but the vet is not sure although to be fair to her he has usually started eating again by the time she sees him (he ALWAYS does this at night!) in my experience when Bramble starts eating again, its always veggies first and it takes him a while to go back to pellets. Should a bunny that young be eating veggies? I am sure I was told to stick to hay and pellets only till he was six or seven months old, maybe that could be causing gas? Others will have more knowledge than me on that one. If he has been eating veggies before now I would say keep on with them, but if not I would maybe leave them for now, a change in diet can stress bunnies out and that’s the last thing you want right now.

[Lunarabbit32]

Thank you so so much for the help, guys.
Late last night, after he ate a little bit of parsley an kale, I caught him drinking his water. It was a relief, but I still wasn’t out of the park. The next morning I was prepared to call and possibly take him to the vet (or syringe him) only to find him eating his pellets. I am frustrated, but happy that he has started eating again. After talking to a few others about it, we think he had a bout of stress from being in a new environment and was perhaps a little depressed to be away from his buddies. Why he waited 3 days to do this, I will never know. But I think the combination of removing his hidey hole (to force him to come out) and giving him parsley to stimulate his appetite brought him out of it. After a day of eating and drinking his behavior is now jolly and happy again. Thanks, guys.

[Megabunny]

Always glad when they just come around

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