A rabbit that does not eat is very common and can be very dangerous. Of course, this anorexia is not a disease in itself; it can be caused by a large number of circumstances, especially if pain is involved. The domestic rabbit is physically and mentally a prey animal, and will react to pain and stress in the same way as its ancestors. A very stressed rabbit can have a drop in body temperature, a poor oxygen supply to the kidneys, and an increase in catecholamine production. These are stress hormones, think of adrenaline. Determining the cause of the anorexia requires a good anamnesis, a thorough physical examination and various additional tests.
The most common causes of anorexia in rabbits are dental disease, digestive tract disease (gastric stasis, ileus, complete obstruction), urinary and reproductive tract disease, liver disease, kidney disease, respiratory disease, severe pododermatitis, arthritis, bone fractures, and ingestion of toxic substances. It is very important to support the rabbit nutritionally to prevent or reduce fatty liver disease and to maintain good digestive tract function.
It is important that your rabbit eats well, not eating can cause a disruption in digestion, which can quickly lead to major problems. For example, your rabbit may eat less if he: does not like his food, is in pain somewhere and/or is very stressed. Sometimes the rabbit wants to eat, but can no longer do so. This happens, for example, with hairballs and dental problems.
If the rabbit is still eating, but eats less than normal or differently than normal (for example, less quickly), this can cause problems in the long term. You can also see from the amount and size of the droppings whether a rabbit is eating less. It is wise to visit the vet at an early stage to prevent further problems.
No more drinking
In addition to fresh green food, a rabbit also needs fresh drinking water every day. How much of this he drinks varies per rabbit. One rabbit drinks only 5 ml a day, the other rabbit drinks 100 ml per kg body weight. This mainly depends on the amount of green food he gets (he gets moisture from that) and, for example, the temperature. So if your rabbit is not drinking? Then there could be something wrong. Keep a close eye on this and also look for other symptoms of illness . If in doubt about the rabbit’s drinking behavior, consult the vet. Although stopping eating in particular can quickly become life-threatening for a rabbit, he obviously also needs to drink. If you see that your rabbit suddenly stops drinking, then there could be something wrong. Does he seem listless and does he sit in a corner of his cage a lot? Then he could be sick. If he also stops eating and hardly produces any droppings, he is not drinking due to an intestinal problem . It is important to find out the cause if your rabbit is not drinking, so that you can take action in time.
