Rabbit seems to have loss of eating, wont drink much, seems to be going blind, and is very skinny. Please help..

Question
I have a male rabbit (type is unknown- looks like a French lop or Holland lop) and he isn't eating anymore.. I've mushed up his pellets for him, tried to hand feed him, and he just ran into a wall today. I don't know what is wrong with him and it scars me very much. I was petting him today and he just screamed and ran.. He is almost only skin and bones, I've been trying to feed him little at a time so he doesn't get worse. This started after we took him to the vet to get his teeth clipped. So, after two trips to the vet, he isn't eating much. I've offered him some banana and he ate some of it, then just left it alone. I also got him to eat some lettuce, but he didn't seem interested in it. Bananas are his favorite food. Please, if you know what might be wrong with him, tell me. My family has spent over 400 dollars on just getting his teeth clipped, and my dad is very, very, attached to him. Please help me.

Answer
Dear Jess,

It's time to get your bunny to a different veterinarian who can see if something the other vet did caused a serious problem that is preventing your bunny from eating.  I hate to think that your bunny might even have a broken bone or dental problem that is keeping him from eating at all.

For now, make pellet mush, and you can feed him with a wide-bore eyedropper that you've cut off the tip.  For the mush:

1.  Use good quality alfalfa-based pellets with no seeds, nuts or other "junk"
2.  Place pellets in a glass, microwave-safe bowl
3.  Cover the pellets with clean, fresh water
4.  Microwave for about 6 seconds, just to get the water lukewarm
5.  Allow the pellets to sit for about five minutes, till they start to "fluff"
6.  Add more water until the pellet mixture is the consistency of thick pudding.

Use a wide-bore syringe or eye-dropper to gently and carefully feed your bunny.  Don't point the tip backwards into his mouth, do it sideways and carefully place the food on his tongue through the space just behind his front teeth (incisors).  Allow him time to chew and swallow.

You should be able to get him hydrated and fed this way until you can get him to an experienced rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

who can diagnose what has gone wrong.  The bunny may have developed a tooth root infection if the other vet did a poor job trimming the teeth (e.g., did it with clippers, rather than a grinding tool).  Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/dental.html

If the vet didn't also check your bunny's molars, then that could be the problem.  

The screaming has me worried.  Only a bunny who is very sick and in great distress vocalizes this way.  Your bunny may need not only antibiotics, but some very good pain medication such as Banamine and/or Tramadol.  I hope you can get him to a good vet without delay.

Hope this helps.

Dana