Rabbits Grumbly Tummy

Question
My house rabbit has a grumbly tummy, which at times can be very load, however he
is still very energetic and seems fine in himself.

He has become very fussy with both myself and my partner, wanting and giving
lots of attention. I have also seen an INCREASE in his appetite especially for
fresh vegetables (when we give him his vegetables he snatches it from us, as if
he is hungry).

I have taken him to the vets but was told that as long as he is eating then I
shouldn't worry - he checked his teeth and did say that he had a spur on one
tooth which wasn't causing any discomfortable at the moment but might need
looking at at a later date.

I wondered if you could offer any answers?

Thanks
Julie


Answer
(UPDATE)

Hi Julie,

I hope you are going ot a better rabbit vet than the one your prior rabbit went to.  He should not have died being sedated to grind his teeth.  I'd personally never use that vet again, recommended or not.  

And the vet should be using a pre-op sedative to start to calm him down, then isofluorine gas.  Rabbits are more touchy under gas but isofluorine gas is the gas of choice that most good rabbit vets have the most experience with and prefer to use with rabbits.  A pre-op sedative is important so that rabbits struggle/fight the gas less (they don't enjoy the smell).  Less struggle, less stress on the heart/body.

If you need to start looking, go here:

www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

and find a House Rabbit Society-recommended vet in your area.  Otherwise call up your local animal shelters/rabbit rescues and ask what vet they would go to with a sick rabbit.  Often this can help pinpoint a vet with good rabbit experience, I would put more weight on the rabbit rescue folks' vet choice.

(END UPDATE)


Hi Julie,

glad your guy likes you both.  Sounds like he's living the good life.

What he is eating is extremely important.  He's got to have enough hay.  It's what keeps his gut working and keeps his teeth wearing down properly.  Fresh, not dry, green grass hays like Timothy Hay and/or Orchard Grass hay.

Veggies are fine, but limit them.  They can lead to stomach aches and cause him to have gas pain and stop eating.  No more than 1/2 cup (measuring cup) per 5 pounds body weight, per day, max.  Some cannot handle the maximum.  Some rabbits can't tolerate certain veggies without problems.  Avoid the ones that cause gas.  Always keep baby gas drops on hand so that if he's having gas problems (sitting still, trying to keep tummy off the ground, maybe crunching teeth in a little pain, not wanting food, not wanting to be picked up) you can give him several full plastic dropper doses and do tummy massage for about 1/2 hour.  Repeat as necessary.  If it doesn't clear up in a few hours I'd get him to the vet.

SO hay is the #1 thing he should eat.  You can also in addition to regular hay (not taking the place of it) is hay cubes, which are compressed hay that they like gnawing on.)  As he likes veggies a lot, use it to your benefit.  Give a couple as a treat, or give in his house when it's time to go back up at night (if he isn't a free roamer 24/7).

The molar spur is something that will need to be taken care of as it will eventually start giving him pain in his gums and will need to be ground down.  The vet needs to do this while he is sedated.  He will start eating less hay and be less excited to eat if it is starting to cause him pain, so watch him carefully when it is food time.  IF he starts reacting with anything other than excitement, watch him.  This is always a sign there is a problem somewhere.

Lee