Eating Habbits

Question
How long does a rabbit live without food?

My rabbit isn't eating, but drinking water. He is 3 years old, though has very bad teeth. What can i do to help, and what foods does he need to eat?

How much does it usually cost to trim teeth regularly, and i heard u can do it at home, is this true, and how much do the equipments cost?

Thankyou

Answer
Dear Sarah,

You can try to trim your rabbit's teeth yourself, though it can be very difficult. Try to get someone to help you, so one of you can hold the rabbit, and one can trim. Regular human fingernail or toenail clippers (depending on the size of the rabbits mouth and teeth) should work fine. I do not know if there is any special equipment you can get specifically for trimming rabbit teeth.
Be very careful trimming the teeth, and do it as straight as you can. It might help to firmly (but not too tight) wrap the rabbit in a towel to make it feel more secure and keep it from wiggling too much. Trim only as much as is necessary.
It is good that your rabbit is still drinking. If his teeth are really bad, that is probably why he is not eating. If it has been several days since he has eaten anything, at this point you might want to try things that would be easier for him to chew than regular pellets. Try giving him timothy or grass hay (This is okay all the time, not just when in distress!), dry rolled oats (like the oatmeal you might by at the grocery store), and a small bowl of baby food (like Gerber) spinach. These might be a little easier for him to eat. You could also try a banana, shredded wheat cereal, or blended fresh pineapple and papaya.

I hope the bunny gets better soon!
God Bless
AEJ