What To Do If Your Pet Rabbit Stops Eating – Advice From A Veterinarian

Our pet rabbits love to eat and nibble on food. Understandably, it can be a cause for concern when they stop eating. In fact, rabbits need to constantly eat to maintain normal gastrointestinal (GI) movement, and when your rabbit stops eating, this can lead to GI stasis, which can be a life-threatening condition. 

In this article, our veterinarian gives us the low down on rabbit digestion, what it means if our pet rabbit stops eating, and what to do about it. Read on to find out more! 

Why is my rabbit not eating?

Understanding rabbit digestion

Rabbits are monogastric, hindgut-fermenting herbivores. Their digestive tract involves a simple stomach, small intestine, a large caecum, and the colon. The large caecum of the rabbit is responsible for digesting and absorbing a large portion of the nutrients from their diet. The caecum houses the gut microflora of the rabbit where fibres such as pectin and hemicellulose are fermented and metabolised to produce nutrients that the rabbit can use. 

Additionally, rabbits require large amounts of fibre to maintain intestinal motility. Intestinal movements are important to keep the intestinal contents moving to enhance fermentation for nutrient absorption. This is why rabbits have to eat a lot of fibre, and they achieve this by constantly eating. The fibres from the rabbits' food help maintain caecum motility and dental health. When your rabbit stops eating or does not have enough to eat, inadequate fibre can inhibit GI peristalsis leading to GI stasis.

Gastrointestinal (GI) stasis

When a rabbit stops eating or eats less, GI motility is impaired, slowing down the movement of the intestines and retaining food in the caecum. This retention can eventually lead to an imbalance of gut bacteria in the caecum, leading to a buildup of gas due to overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria. Gas and bloating can lead to pain and stress for the rabbit, further decreasing appetite. This can lead to a cycle of reduced GI motility, anorexia, and eventually GI stasis or ileus. 

Further accumulation of fluid or gas during GI stasis can lead to death due to stomach rupture, hypovolaemic shock, or sepsis from bacteria released into the bloodstream.

Causes of loss of appetite

Rabbits can stop eating, or eat less when they are sick or stressed. Various conditions that cause pain and discomfort discourages them from eating, which may lead to ileus or GI stasis. GI stasis can be triggered by many causes, such as:

• Dental problems – Dental problems such as overgrown teeth and mouth ulcers can cause loss of appetite due to pain.
• Stress – Environmental changes, dietary changes, and anxiety can lead to refusal to eat in your rabbit. Try to identify and remove the potential source of stress and see if your rabbit starts eating again.
• Pain – Pain from GI stasis, dental diseases, GI obstructions, chronic illnesses, or other conditions can lead to loss of appetite which may trigger GI stasis.
• Infections – Infections can include pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Clostridium spiroforme, Salmonella, Pseudomonas), viruses (rabbit enteric coronavirus, rotavirus, rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus) and parasites (Encephalitozoon cuniculi, coccidia, cryptosporidia, worms).
  Other infections involving other parts of the body such as the urinary tract or respiratory system can also cause pain, discomfort, and loss of appetite.
• Dysbiosis – Dysbiosis refers to the disruption or the imbalance of the gut microbiome. This can result in the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria. Frequently feeding treats high in carbohydrates and fats, such as nuts, seeds, baked goods, and high-sugar fruits can predispose your rabbit to dysbiosis.
• Neoplasia – Tumours and cancers along the GI tract, such as the mouth, stomach, intestines, rectum, bile duct, and even on the uterus, can lead to pain and discomfort. In some cases, tumour masses can also cause obstruction of the GI tract.
• Medications – In some cases, side effects from medications can lead to loss of appetite or slowed GI motility, such as in opioids, anaesthetics, and anticholinergic medications. Medications such as antibiotics may also lead to alterations in the gut microbiome or dysbiosis.
• Obstructions – GI obstructions can lead to pain, discomfort and anorexia. In the case of complete obstructions, gas may accumulate and lead to bloating.
• Liver lobe torsion – Liver lobe torsion occurs when the liver lobe twists on itself, leading to disrupted blood flow and potentially liver damage. The pain from the twisted lobe can lead to loss of appetite. Liver lobe torsion can be life-threatening if not treated within 12 to 72 hours of onset of symptoms.

What are the signs that my rabbit is not eating?

Rabbits constantly eat, so if they are not munching on their food, it may indicate that your rabbit is unwell. You may want to check your rabbit for any signs of illnesses, such as:

• Overgrown teeth and/or mouth ulcers
• Eye and/or nasal discharge
• Presence of lumps or bumps on your rabbit’s body, which may be abscesses or tumours

In some cases, the loss of appetite may not be very apparent. You can look for other signs such as:

• Absence or less faecal matter than normal
• Smaller size of faecal matter
• Change in consistency of faecal matter
• Weight loss – weigh your rabbit with a baby scale
• Lethargy and being less active
• Refusal to eat their favourite treat
• Increase in leftover food
• Decrease in water intake
• Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism

If you notice any of these signs, it is advisable to reach out to your veterinarian as soon as possible. 

What should I do if my rabbit is not eating?

GI stasis in rabbits can be a life-threatening condition. If your rabbit has not eaten in 8 hours, it is considered a medical emergency and a vet visit is necessary. 

• Identify potential causes – You may want to identify potential causes that lead to the loss of appetite. In many cases, environmental stressors, such as changes in the temperature, loud noises, changes in food, or dirty cages, can lead to your rabbit refusing food.
  If these are unlikely, look for other signs of illnesses, such as lethargy, eye or nasal discharge, abnormal behaviour, changes in bowel movement, or palpable masses on your rabbits’ body.
• Increase their water intake – Try to get them to drink more water to maintain hydration. You can prepare a fresh bowl of water, or feed them water with a syringe.
• Force feed if necessary – If a vet visit has to be delayed, you may try to force feed emergency recovery food to your rabbit. These typically come in powder form that you mix with water and pump into your rabbit’s mouth with a syringe. 
• Visit your vet immediately – Essentially, a vet visit is important to diagnose your rabbit and to prevent complications or death associated with GI stasis.
  If you are unsure how long your rabbit has gone without food, it is highly recommended to take them to the vet immediately. The vet will be able to provide the necessary supportive care for your pet.

Diagnosis

The vet will perform tests to diagnose and identify the problems that lead to your rabbit refusing food. These include:

• Physical examinations – Your vet will look for signs of dental diseases, bloating, abdominal distension, or lumps and bumps that can lead to pain and loss of appetite. They may also check your rabbit’s blood pressure, heart rate, and mucous membranes.
  It is important to provide adequate information regarding your pet’s medical history and signs and symptoms, including:
  • When the symptoms started
  • When your rabbit last ate
  • Dietary environmental changes
  • Recent medications
  • History of other illnesses
  • Behavioural changes
    
• Blood tests – Blood tests can help your vet assess blood counts, biochemistry panel, and glucose levels to identify potential causes of illness. Full blood counts can be used to look for signs of infection or inflammation, while biochemistry panels are typically done to assess organ functions, such as liver and kidney functions. Chronic disease can lead to organ failure, causing loss of appetite. High glucose levels typically indicate obstructive disorders in your rabbit.
• Imaging tests – Imaging tests, such as ultrasounds and x-ray radiographs are useful in looking for GI obstruction, accumulated gas, caecoliths, foreign objects (such as hairballs), tumours, or liver lobe torsion.
• Faecal samples – Your vet may also take faecal samples to look for parasites or other infectious agents. 

Treatment 

Treatment for reduced appetite in rabbits can vary according to the underlying cause that led to refusal of food in your rabbit. Your vet may need to put your rabbit on supportive care if they are in an emergent state.

• Supportive care – Supportive care can include fluid support and nutritional support. Your vet may recommend subcutaneous fluids or intravenous catheters to prevent dehydration. It is also important to ensure your rabbit continues to eat, your vet may recommend nutritional replacements or emergency recovery food if they still refuse to eat their normal diet.
• Pain medication – Your vet may also prescribe pain medications to relieve pain and discomfort associated with GI stasis. Pain relief may also encourage your rabbit to start eating on their own again.
• Antibiotics – In cases involving dysbiosis or bacterial infections, your vet may prescribe antibiotics to combat the infection.
• GI medications – Medications can be given to reduce gas production or to improve GI motility in non-obstructive GI stasis. 
  It is important to only give your pet medications as instructed by your vet. Talk to your vet if you have concerns or questions regarding medications for your pet.
• Surgery – In certain cases, your pet may need surgery for things like obstructive diseases, tumours, caecoliths, or liver lobe torsion. 

Most uncomplicated cases of GI stasis typically resolve within 5 days after medical treatment. For more serious illnesses or conditions, your vet may recommend hospitalisation for your rabbit and several weeks of treatment. Once home, you may need to monitor your rabbit over the next several days to ensure they are eating and pooping normally. 

Summary

Loss of appetite is a concerning sign in rabbits. Rabbits that lose their appetite and stop eating can develop GI stasis, a painful condition caused by the cessation of GI movement leading to gas buildup. GI stasis can result from not eating due to conditions such as dental disorders, stress, anxiety, pain associated with other conditions, infections, and tumours. In most of these cases, a vet visit is necessary to diagnose the underlying cause.

If your rabbit has gone 8 hours without eating, it is important to seek veterinary attention immediately. GI stasis or ileus can be a life-threatening condition if not treated immediately. Schedule a consultation with us today for a detailed diagnosis and treatment plan for your furry friend.