Unusual Behaviour

Question
My rabbit Mystie is a 2-year-old dwarf, he is slightly over-weight due to mollycoddling (don't worry, this is now taken care of!), he is active, eats well and is cared for and is generally very healthy. Recently, though, he has suddenly been laying still, not moving, eating and being lethargic for small periods of time - which, obviously is unusual behaviour. However, the next day he will be right as rain; back to normal. This happens about every 2 weeks, and he scares us each time, but before we have time to take him to the vets he is OK again. Do you have any suggestions of what might be wrong ? Or what we could do to help without having to take him to the vets ?
Thanks for your help.

Answer
Dear Emma,

When you're not sure if bun is ill, this can help:

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

Sometimes something as simple as gas pain can make a bunny so miserable that he'll actually go hypothermic and become very sick.  In many cases, a gentle tummy massage (an electric vibrating massager works well) and about 1.5cc of pediatric simethicone suspension can make all the difference.

If this doesn't help, though, something more serious could be going on, and you'll need a good *rabbit* vet to help get to the bottom of it.  Please find one here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Rabbits often suffer from painful molar spurs, and these, too, can cause bouts of lethargy and misery.  They are especially common in dwarf, lop and other short-faced rabbits, though any rabbit can get them.  Please read:

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

Please ask the vet about checking the molars for spurs, as this could be a chronic source of pain that's making him periodically "shut down."

I hope this helps.

Dana