HELP- My bunny wont eat!

My Bunny Wont Eat !!

When bunny refuses to eat you must take quick action to remedy the situation or you chance loosing the bunny. There are many reasons why may refuse to eat. This is a list of the most common causes, but does not include EVERY possible cause. If you think your bunny is having health problems please consult a vet.

Water -
Rabbits will not eat, no matter how hungry they are, if they cant drink. Check water valves and bottles to make sure they are functioning properly and not clogged. If the rabbit is new to your hutch it may not know how to use a water bottle or auto-water licker valve. Remedy this situation by placing a watering bowl or crock in the cage. Most rabbits will consume more water from a crock than they will from a bottle or licker valve.

Hairballs in the Stomach/Wool Block -
When your bunny licks itself, it swallows hair (especially during molt), which can clumps together and eventually block the stomach all together. Rabbits do not have the ability to vomit, so they can not rid themselves of the mass of hair like a cat can. If enough hair accumulates in the stomach the animal will stop eating and stop producing stools. Initially the stools may appear clumped together and then get small and smaller until they stop altogether. If the problem is caught early you can remedy this situation by treating medically with a hairball laxative product. Occasionally, surgery is necessary to alleviate the problem in advanced cases. The best prevention for hariballs is to feed large amounts of fresh hay daily. See a photo of a hairball.

Stress -
Many times when a bunny is stressed it will stop eating. I've found if you can get bunny to nibble on anything it will start the bunny eating again. Some favorite foods that may entice your bunny to eat are, dry oatmeal, fresh blackberry or raspberry leaves, dandelion leaves, canned pumpkin, bananas and yogurt.

Old or New Food -
Many times a bunny will resist feed changes. If you switch feeds, you should mix old and new together for a few days to help the bunnies' stomach adjust to the new feed. Rabbits will not usually eat, old, moldy or contaminated feed. Always make sure your feed is fresh.

Snacks -
If you feed your bunny too many treats it won't want to eat it's normal diet. To see if this is the problem you can stop feeding treats all together for a few days. If bunny goes back to eating his pellets you'll know you need to cut back in the extras. You can find a list of good and bad treats here.

Teeth Problems -
Rabbits teeth grow rapidly. If the rabbits teeth are overgrown it cant get ahold of its food or may have a problem chewing. Some signs of tooth problems can be excess saliva, wet around the mouth, not being able to close the mouth completely, lumps/abscesses around the mouth, and grinding of the teeth. Visually check for signs of overgrowth. If this appears to be the problem, you can either trim the teeth yourself with sharp wire cutters or have a vet do it for you. You will find more info and photos on rabbits teeth here.

Sickness -
When bunny is feeling ill it may not want or have the energy to eat. If you have ruled out other possible causes, or if your bunny appears to be lethargic or loosing weight fast you should get your bunny to a vet.

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