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Rabbit Ate Polyfil But Seems Fine

22 9:45:56

Question
Sorry for the length of this email but I want to give you the best info I have. I brought home my first pet bunny on Sunday, a young neutered male from a local animal shelter. I had purchased a soft cat bed for him and placed it in his cage. The next morning I discovered he had turned the removable cushion over and had eaten a small hole into the cushion and some of the poly fiber filling, about a one inch hole.

I have to confess I wasn't too worried at first, and just tossed out the cushion and bed. I had done plenty of research prior to getting a rabbit, I knew they chewed and that people have them running free in their house, which is my goal for Nigel. I saw plenty of discussion about how to bunny proof your home and how to prevent them chewing on your furniture and what not but it was always from the perspective of not ruining the furniture and not about how dangerous it is for the rabbit.

That evening (last night) I stumbled upon your questions online and read through several and learned how dangerous and easily getting a blockage for a rabbit can be. I've been sick with worry ever since. With only one day of rabbit ownership prior to discovering the missing polyfil I don't have any "normal" behavior to compare his current behaviour to. But he is eating (I keep offering food to make sure and eats on his own, and he is dropping stools. So he appears to be all right. This morning he was up and about but this afternoon he has been napping, something I read is quite normal. He is stretched out relaxed and not hunched in pain so I take that as a good sign as well.

So after all that my question is when can I stop worrying and relax that he got through it fine? Right now if he is too still or napping I'm worried that he is lethargic and try to get him to eat. I'm driving us both crazy and have a knot of stress. Currently it has been at least 36 hours since the polyfil was eaten.

Thanks!

Answer
Dear Kris,

If it's been 36 hours, you're probably fine.  Just be sure he gets plenty of fresh hay and wet greens to push any remnants through.

Sometimes I think rabbits are put here on earth to give us little stress episodes that shorten our lifespan, and hence, our carbon footprint.  They are Nature's Little Clearing Houses.

If he didn't eat much, it will probably pass right through, especially if he didn't eat much.  I'd be more worried if he ate a piece of, say, a synthetic blanket.  Something that doesn't come apart, and can easily cause a blockage.  If this was fibers, it's not only friable, but also squishable, and probably easier to pass through his intestines.

So take a deep breath, count that a dodged bullet, and make sure he doesn't get anywhere near synthetic stuff again.

Hope this helps.

Dana