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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.
› Forum › HOUSE RABBIT Q & A › Buttercup not eating or pooping
She’s been to the emergency vet, they listened to her tummy and said it sounded like there was movement but they’ve given her a motility drug to get her to poop along with a pain killer. They’ve said if she doesn’t eat within next 3 hours or doesn’t poop for 5 we’ve got to take her back to stay overnight on fluids. I’m so worried
When did you notice she wasn’t eating? I hope she gets better so she doesn’t have to stay overnight. Luna sends tummy vibes ((((Buttercup))))
Posted By Luna on 4/28/2017 4:07 PM
When did you notice she wasn’t eating? I hope she gets better so she doesn’t have to stay overnight. Luna sends tummy vibes ((((Buttercup))))
I noticed this afternoon when she was uninterested in her veggies. Which is very unlike her. She’s since done a few poops and eaten some dried dandelion and a little thyme. She’s also ran around a little. Fingers crossed she continues to improve. She’s currently resting. She’s peed too.
Glad she is doing a bit better since going to the vet. Heres hoping she continues to get better! (((((healing vibes))))) Please keep us updated
That’s a relief. It’s so nerve-wracking when a bun has to stay the night away from home at a vet/clinic. I’m glad it’s looking like she won’t have to.
My rabbit has done the same!! The first time, she ended up eating and pooping after a few hours. The second time, was after a spay and he heard movement and gave an injection of fluids and helped me give critical care. The next day she was eating. The third time was a different story, I noticed her not eating as much so I cleaned her litter box the night before and took pics of her food. The next morning she had touched her veggies. I had to go to my classes 11am-3pm and I was worried sick. Luckily my mom was able to try to give her critical care while I was at school (not much was given though b/c she impossible with forced feeding/oral meds) I Came home and then brought her to the vet and they said that they did hear movement, but it was slowed. They gave her a great deal of sub-q (i think that’s how you spell that) fluids under her skin and gave her the critical care. She was given 2 medications, an antibiotic and pain meds. She wouldn’t really take them (which is a whole other story). Anyways, her eating was minimal for at least 2 days. She ate the most during the second vet visit on the second day (I think she knew if she didn’t eat she might have to get force fed by the vet again lol).
Anyways, for her case it took a few days for her to start eating like normal again. She didn’t spend the night at the vet tho, the under the skin fluids seemed to be enough for a night and she got more on the second day. Try to keep close eye on your rabbit’s food. I personally wouldn’t worry if she doesn’t start eating and drinking like normal for the first day. I recommend getting critical care or canned pumpkin. That’s what the vet and the rabbit rescue in my area recommends to force feed. Try to get critical care, but if you can’t, get some canned pumpkin. I’m not sure what the canned pumpkin really does but the rabbit rescue near me recommended it and told me to keep a can in the buns first aid kit. I also heard of people giving organic (no sugar or anything added) apple juice to encourage a sick rabbit to drink. I think they mixed it with water or unflavored pedialyte. Also have heard of people mixing water with pedialyte (I’ve tried this and my rabbit wouldn’t touch it, I’m guessing because the smell and taste, yes I tasted it lol) These are just some things that are okay to give a rabbit when they are sick to get their gut moving again. I’m pretty sure there will be more info online or this forum about the canned pumpkin and apple juice, so I recommend looking into it.
Aww… sweet girl! Please don’t worry your mommy and all your BB aunties.
Glad she’s improving a little and hoping she bounces back fully soon (((Buttercup)))
((( Buttercup )))
It sounded as if you acted without hesitation. That is essential for a good chance of recovery.
Thank you for your support everyone
Buttercup actually stopped pooping again and didn’t eat anymore after my last post so back to the vets she went. She stayed overnight and little Peanut went with her to keep her company. They checked her glucose which was normal, and syringe fed her some Recovery mixture and then after that she was eating everything in sight lol. She still hadn’t pooped by 6 am so she got another injection and by 7:30 she had done 12 poops. We picked her up at 8 am. She has since done tons of poops. They’re tiny but at least they’re coming out! I am so relieved. Going to be watching her like hawk all day but hopefully she’s right as rain. She certainly seems more herself this morning
Posted By Starla on 4/28/2017 6:28 PM
My rabbit has done the same!! The first time, she ended up eating and pooping after a few hours. The second time, was after a spay and he heard movement and gave an injection of fluids and helped me give critical care. The next day she was eating. The third time was a different story, I noticed her not eating as much so I cleaned her litter box the night before and took pics of her food. The next morning she had touched her veggies. I had to go to my classes 11am-3pm and I was worried sick. Luckily my mom was able to try to give her critical care while I was at school (not much was given though b/c she impossible with forced feeding/oral meds) I Came home and then brought her to the vet and they said that they did hear movement, but it was slowed. They gave her a great deal of sub-q (i think that’s how you spell that) fluids under her skin and gave her the critical care. She was given 2 medications, an antibiotic and pain meds. She wouldn’t really take them (which is a whole other story). Anyways, her eating was minimal for at least 2 days. She ate the most during the second vet visit on the second day (I think she knew if she didn’t eat she might have to get force fed by the vet again lol).
Anyways, for her case it took a few days for her to start eating like normal again. She didn’t spend the night at the vet tho, the under the skin fluids seemed to be enough for a night and she got more on the second day. Try to keep close eye on your rabbit’s food. I personally wouldn’t worry if she doesn’t start eating and drinking like normal for the first day. I recommend getting critical care or canned pumpkin. That’s what the vet and the rabbit rescue in my area recommends to force feed. Try to get critical care, but if you can’t, get some canned pumpkin. I’m not sure what the canned pumpkin really does but the rabbit rescue near me recommended it and told me to keep a can in the buns first aid kit. I also heard of people giving organic (no sugar or anything added) apple juice to encourage a sick rabbit to drink. I think they mixed it with water or unflavored pedialyte. Also have heard of people mixing water with pedialyte (I’ve tried this and my rabbit wouldn’t touch it, I’m guessing because the smell and taste, yes I tasted it lol) These are just some things that are okay to give a rabbit when they are sick to get their gut moving again. I’m pretty sure there will be more info online or this forum about the canned pumpkin and apple juice, so I recommend looking into it.
Gosh it sounds like you’ve had a rough time with your little bun! She’s all okay now tho, right? Funny you mentioned sub-q fluids as they thought they’d need to do that with Buttercup but because she was eating and drinking by herself they didn’t feel the need in the end. She’s just had a drink from her bowl too
Glad to hear she is pooping finally! (((((continued vibes)))))
Phew… that bunneh
I totally second phew!!!
She sure knows how to worry me! The little mare. I wonder if a new food caused it – the day before last she had some dried artichoke for the first time. Last time she had stasis was after trying parsnip. I wonder if it’s to do with carbohydrates?
I’m really glad Peanut went with her. I knew it’d stress him a little but I figured spending the night alone would stress and confuse him more and may lead to him not eating. He’s doing tiny poops today but he usually does small poops anyway and they always get tiny after a stressful vet visit.
Yes, my girl is all good now. Eating way more hay now and drinking so much more (eating more than she was before she was sick)! I think she is letting me know she doesn’t want no more vet visits. I’ve defiantly have had a rough time with my bun this year lol. At least 6 visits in 3 months to the vet. Glad your rabbit is doing better, it sure is scary as rabbit owner when your bun stops eating. Sending love to your bun and you, sick bunnies are so stressful !
You’re probably right about the new food causing it. That’s good that Peanut was able to go with her for the night. I’m sure it helped her a lot.
Posted By Starla on 4/29/2017 2:04 PM
Yes, my girl is all good now. Eating way more hay now and drinking so much more (eating more than she was before she was sick)! I think she is letting me know she doesn’t want no more vet visits. I’ve defiantly have had a rough time with my bun this year lol. At least 6 visits in 3 months to the vet. Glad your rabbit is doing better, it sure is scary as rabbit owner when your bun stops eating. Sending love to your bun and you, sick bunnies are so stressful !
Thank you Starla, lots of love to you and your bun too Here’s hoping no more vet visits for us both for a while!
Posted By Luna on 4/29/2017 6:03 PM
You’re probably right about the new food causing it. That’s good that Peanut was able to go with her for the night. I’m sure it helped her a lot.
Yeah, they’ve not spent a night apart. Ever. So it would have been very odd and confusing for them both if he didn’t go with her. It would have been especially odd for Peanut as he is more attached to Buttercup than she is to him lol.
Both of their poops are slowly getting bigger so it’s all good here now!
I do have a query – I was advised to stop pellets for a few days, possibly a week. When I give them back again do I need to do so slowly? Or can I just go straight to giving them their usual amount? They only get 3 tablespoons between them.
Was the reason so that they eat more hay to help their tummies get back to normal? If so, then I would think that when you give them the pellets back again that you can start with their normal amount right away. Besides, 3 tablespoons between them isn’t a gross amount.
Yeah the vet said just hay + veggies to help her tummy recover (unfortunately that means Peanut goes without pellets too, unless I give him some on the sly…) I’ll go straight to normal amount then. It’s so sad they keep going to their carrier where they get fed pellets and just waiting
Yeah the vet said just hay + veggies to help her tummy recover (unfortunately that means Peanut goes without pellets too, unless I give him some on the sly…) I’ll go straight to normal amount then. It’s so sad they keep going to their carrier where they get fed pellets and just waiting
Oh I can just imagine those little pellet faces! While on the pellet hiatus, maybe you could give them one of their veggie feedings when they hop in the carrier so that they still get something?
Posted By Luna on 4/30/2017 3:16 PM
Oh I can just imagine those little pellet faces! While on the pellet hiatus, maybe you could give them one of their veggie feedings when they hop in the carrier so that they still get something?
They got some dried nettle as a replacement and they still tried to search for pellets
Lol, little rascals .
› Forum › HOUSE RABBIT Q & A › Buttercup not eating or pooping