Rabbit not drinking.

Question
Hi.  I have a mini lop rabbit and she has stopped drinking her water.  She still eats like normal, and is just as energetic as usual.  I have been feeding her lots of vegetables to try to get some fluids into her body, but I am concerned at her not drinking.  Is this a sign of a disease or another, bigger problem?

Thanks for your help.

Answer
Dear Ryan,

It's very difficult to tell a rabbit's state of hydration without blood tests, but if you can see her urine and it's relatively dilute and pale, then she's probably not dehydrated.  Dark, strong urine can be a sign of dehydration, so keep an eye out for that.

It's possible that she's getting enough liquid from her vegetables.  But if you suspect she's dehydrated, then it's time for a good, experienced rabbit vet to have a look deep into her mouth to check her molars for spurs.  The first symptom of molar spurs is often a change in eating or drinking habits, with the bun not wanting to drink or eat certain foods because the spurs just make it too unpleasant.  You can read more here:

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

Molar problems are more common in lops and other short-faced breeds, so this is probably something to keep up on when you take her for her yearly "well bunny" check ups.

If you don't already have a good rabbit vet, you can find one via the list linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I hope that helps.  Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana