Why is my rabbit not eating

[chickenmama109]

Hi I have a five month old rabbit named Bella she lives outside in her hutch I have her ice water and ice packs and a pillow cover soaked in water on half of the wire spot of the hutch to keep her cool this morning i gave her roam main lettice like always but this time I did not give her cellary but today she did not really eat it at all and she always eats hay out of my hand but all she did was sniff it like she was going to eat it and then I tried to give her some pellets out of my hand and she would not eat it could it be heat stress or some thing she pants when it gets hot out side but I give her ice packs to lay on what could it be is she just not hungry she always heats her lettuce thanks

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I freeze 20 oz bottles for our little rabbit. He loves to play with them and roll them around when it's hot. I've noticed he's only eating in the morning and then later in the afternoon after it cools off some. If you give ice water I would still offer her cool water on the side. Jack will lick the condensation off the frozen bottles but he does not like ice water. Does Bella have any shade?

 

[chickenmama109]

Yes she does have shade the us for your help yes mine usually eats her lettuce in the morning but she didn't but why could it be the heat

 

[KikiLeigh02]

It could be. Does she seem fine otherwise?

 

[chickenmama109]

Yes she seems fine she did eat a little bit of celery though

 

[cassie]

One thing you can do to help keep rabbits cool is to fill gallon milk jugs with water and freeze them. Put one in the hutch each morning or in the early afternoon before it gets hot. If the rabbit is too warm it will wrap itself around the jug and cool off.

 

[chickenmama109]

One thing you can do to help keep rabbits cool is to fill gallon milk jugs with water and freeze them. Put one in the hutch each morning or in the early afternoon before it gets hot. If the rabbit is too warm it will wrap itself around the jug and cool off.

Thanks I will do that

 

[townchicks]

A rabbit not eating is an emergency, regardless of the cause. If they go too long without eating, the gut shuts down and then it won't start up again without medication like reglan. Heat stress can be a factor in lack of appetite, but bloat or gastric stasis are a more likely cause. If you are unable to get your rabbit to eat, and can't go to the vet, something You can do it give her baby simethicone drops, right into her mouth with an eyedropper. That helps to break up the gas so it can be passed.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

How is Bella doing?

 

[chickenmama109]

She is doing really well and is know eating thanks for your help