160 Bear Christiana Rd
Bear, De 19701
302-322-6488
Dr. Jim Berg
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Rabbit Questions
Dear Dr. Berg
WE have a 4 year-old dwarf bunny that has stopped eating and producing stools for the past 4 days. What could be
wrong? Will my veterinarian treat my rabbit?
Call your veterinarian and politely ask, "Do you treat rabbits?" Many veterinarians are comfortable treating
rabbits and would be glad to help you figure out what the problem is.
Rabbits are very different from dogs and cats and can suffer a wide variety of disorders. Many of the problems
that I see in rabbits are related to their diet.. It is extremely important that your rabbit gets adequate fiber
every day, and I would recommend that you check with your veterinarian about what you are feeding him.
It is also wise to buy your rabbit food from a store that sells a lot of rabbit food and has a high turnover of
product, such as a feed store or pet store. If you purchase food that has been sitting on the shelf for a long
time, it may be low in certain nutrients and have lost its appeal to your bunny.
A very common problem that affects rabbits is the development of large hairballs in their stomachs. Hair that rabbits
pick up from their coat does not digest well and can accumulate in their stomach. A rabbit with a hairball may
refuse to eat and stop producing droppings. If rabbits don't eat for several days, not only do they lose weight,
but also they can develop a fatal condition in their liver resulting from metabolism changes.
I would strongly recommend you take your rabbit to your veterinarian for a physical exam. He can feel the abdomen
and, if needed, take X-rays to determine if a hairball is present.
If your rabbit does have a hairball, many veterinarians will try medical treatment first. Fresh pineapple juice
(not the heat-treated kind that comes in a can) is used because the juice contains enzymes that will help soften
hairballs. Laxatives may also be prescribed to help lubricate and pass the hairball. Lastly, supplements, such
as fresh alfalfa or clover hay, may increase the roughage and help things move along.
If the hairball does not pass using these supplements, it may be necessary to operate. Your bunny can be safely
anesthetized and the mass extracted from the stomach. Most rabbits do well with surgery, and recover quickly once
the obstruction is removed, often eating a very good meal the day of the operation.
A preventative measure that you can take against hairballs problems is to be sure that your rabbit gets regular
roughage and that the food that you buy is adequate in fiber. A friend of mine gives her rabbit, applesauce daily.
That little bunny comes running when he hears the jar lid open.
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