my bunny and the not drinking water thing

Question
Hello Ms. Krempels,

It is me Ashlie again.  I came home tonight and my bunny that has not been drinking water or eating solid pellets did some strange things.  My sister who lives with me told me that he isn't eating because I spoil him.  Rather than expecting him to eat pellets I let him eat all the greens he wants.  He is so tiny and has never been fat or overweight.  He only gets 2 or 3 treat foods per week.

Anyway I was gone for 24 hours and I know that nobody else would hand feed him while I was gone.  I went to feed my other bunny and when I poured the pellets in the other bunnies dish my little man jumped up on his perch and was saying feed me!!!!  I had put a kitchen plate in his pen and a scoop of yogurt which I do every day.  He had already licked up all the yogurt but was now licking the empty plate.  Since I had the scoop of pellets with me I put about a quarter cup right on the plate.  That bunny dove into the pellets like he hadn't eaten in months.  His dish is just a normal rabbit crock and that is what I had been putting the pellets in that he refused to eat.  Why did he eat them off the plate but not the dish?  I keep it clean and it is made out of ceramic.  Up until a few weeks ago he had pretty much eaten out of the same dish for 2 years.  Could there possibly be a reason why he will eat off of a plate but not his dish?  I did try several different styles of crocks but he still wouldn't touch it.

Ok so I cleaned out his water bottle that he also hasn't drank from in over 2 weeks.  As I was putting it up to his cage before I could hook it he was drinking from it.  As soon as I hooked it he stopped.  I picked it up again and held it up to him and he drank from it.  I was holding it at the same level that it would be hanging from the cage but unless I was holding it he wouldn't drink.  

I think my rabbit is playing games with me.  Do you still think it may be his back molars?  Could it be possible that reaching into a dish is causing him some kind of pain and eating off of a plate is easier on him?  I don't understand how the water bottle could cause him pain if he drinks from it literally from the exact spot it would hang but only if I am holding it there.

I am so worried about him but I already spent over $500 for all the tests.  I won't be able to afford to take him back to the vet until the first of October.  How do I know if it is a behavioral disorder or if he is in pain?  

Thank you again for all your help.

Ashlie

Answer
Dear Ashlie,

That is pretty weird behavior, but I'm sure he's not playing games with you.  There's something about the deep food dish that was making him uncomfortable, and if he prefers the plate, then use that.  I know our jackrabbits won't eat out of a dish if it partly covers their eyes:  they prefer a shallow dish so they can keep an eye out for predators.  Maybe it's an instinct that's kicking in for your little guy, too.

The water bottle thing is odd, but many rabbits are social eaters and drinkers, and will eat and drink if someone else is around and keeping them company, but stop if the company leaves.  We've found that if a sick rabbit is with a healthy companion, this will often stimulate him/her to eat and drink--just seeing the other bunny doing it!

I would keep the bottle hooked up, just in case.  But still provide a water bowl for the bunnies to drink from, and keep it filled near the top, in case your bunny doesn't like to have his face deep in a bowl for the "jackrabbit reason."

We can't always get into their little heads, but we can try to make life as easy as possible for them.  That's our purpose in life, isn't it?  To spoil the bunnies!

I hope this helps.

Dana