Boredom or a Deeper Issue?

[EbonyBun96]

I recently made another post about my bun’s changed eating habits.

To spare some details, she barely touches her pellets after awhile of having no problem with them. She still eats her veggies well (but not all at once like she used to). She always has hay and water available, but I noticed she is not drinking as much water as she had been before. My mom put a tiny bit of Apple juice into her last bottle and I think it helped a little. Should I look into continuing that to encourage her to drink more? Her bathroom habits are seemingly normal.

One more thing is that at the beginning of this week, she began almost obsessively digging at the corners of her cage even after she has moved all of the bedding and also scrapes her teeth on the bottom of the cage (she does pee there). I’m trying to figure out if she is telling me something… Does this seem like the beginning of dental problems? Is it hormones? Is she becoming irritated and bored? As I’m typing this she is laying stretched out and quiet, but soon I know she will get up to dog and scrape and scratch. I love her so much but she’s driving me crazy and I don’t know if I should worry.

[Wick & Fable]

How old is she and is she spayed? If she’s still the right age, hormones may attribute to the digging, but change in eating habits signals something separate. She could be having digestive issues, gas, etc.. scraping teeth on the bottom makes me think her mouth is giving her issues. Potentially molar spurs. Have you set up an appointment with a rabbit experienced vet? I highly suggest a review of her teeth. This could be her venting her frustration from irritation or pain from molar spurs.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[DanaNM]

Moose stopped drinking from his bottle when his teeth started hurting him. Turns out he had a rotten tooth and an abscess developed. Do you also offer a water from a bowl? If not, I recommend it!

Can you tell if her hay consumption has dropped? Or her weight?

And yes, a change in eating preferences is often the first sign of dental issues. Digging can also happen when they are in pain. The digging and the food preference could also be unrelated.

So yes, agree that a vet visit is in order! Best case, she gets a good check up and you know for sure that she is just being picky/bored/ etc.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Author]

Messages