How long is it ok for a rabbit to go without eating for?

[Starla]

I got my rabbit spayed today. I left the house with her at 8:00 A.M and she didn’t eat in the car. She did eat a lot the night before and the morning. I got a call to pick her up around 3:00 PM and the vet doesn’t call for pickup until they eat (I’m not sure how much she ate). Since we got home she hasn’t ate anything. 

I’ve tried all her favorite veggies and some fruit. I’ve tried treats. I tried to give her critical care but she won’t let me give it to her. I would force feed her but I don’t want to take her out of the cage because she is laying in the corner. (I don’t want to hurt her stitches). 

My question is how long is too long? Obviously 24 hours is wayyy to long but I’m just wondering at what point should I just try to get her out of her cage and force feed her?

Also, there are two treats that she goes crazy over but I don’t buy them much because they seem unhealthy. These treats are: freeze dried apples with nothing added at all and these puff treats. (I’m not sure if the puff treats are bad for her but I just assume)

Should I go buy those treats now and see if she will eat them??

Also, the vet is closed and has been since 5:00 P.M.

[Krista]

I would try to syringe feed her the critical care. Make sure to do it from the side of the mouth and only squirt a little at a time otherwise she could choke. Call the vet in the morning and ask if they can give her something to get her gut going if she doesn’t eat by then. There’s several forums on here about females not eating after spaying, so I’d also look in those for tips or further information. Hope your bun feels better!

[Starla]

I’m starting to think maybe she is just too tired. I went and bought those treat puffs although I don’t like too and she was interested and ate a little and was happy doing so but then she stopped moving aka she fell asleep. She’s been sleeping very well though. I think I’m going to give her another hour.

[Starla]

Is apple sauce ok to feed my rabbit? I bought some for a recipe that I never made and it is organic, non GMO, and literally just apples. The only ingredient is “organic apples”. I think she may enjoy it since she loves apples so much! It would way less energy to eat for her as well.

[tobyluv]

You could mix up some Critical Care and add a little bit of the apple sauce to it, and see if she will eat in from a dish, or even lick some off of your finger. You can also add a little bit of baby food or plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling) to the Critical Care mixture and see if she will eat it on her own, or be more willing to eat it from a syringe.

[Azerane]

I think you’re better off force feeding the critical care than feeding apple sauce.

[Starla]

Called the vet off of the clock and did a visit in their van. He recommend no force feeding because she is pooping still and she isn’t dehydrated. He gave her another shot of pain meds as well. This vet knows what he’s talking about so I trust him with that. He also injected fluids with the pain meds. She is already acting better ad started chewing on something. So still watching for some hay chewing. I guess her tolerance for pain meds isn’t long like other rabbits.

[Starla]

Update: I sort of forced a small amount of the critical care in her mouth so I know she would eat and after tasting it she willingly (without force) ate 1 1/2 tablespoons worth!!

[Vienna Blue in France]

Yay !!!

[Bam]

I second yay!!

[tobyluv]

That’s good to hear!

[Starla]

Update: She ate last night!! And chewed on some toys. She hasn’t eaten as much tonight so I forced some pain meds in her. She hasn’t been interested in food yet but I think she is mad because force feeding meds was a very long and hard process for both me and my girl. She is probably stressed from that. I think she will be fine. So my advice to other rabbit owners who are having the same problem, call your on call vet for advice. I think without the visit to the on call vet, Severus wouldn’t be doing as well as she is today!! Also she is moving around, when I called the on call vet last night, it did worry him that she sat in the same place for 8 or so hours.

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