Rabbits are our third most popular pet in the UK, but knowing the signs of an emergency in a bunny can be tricky. Dogs and cats are hard enough to understand when they can’t talk to us, but as rabbits are a prey species, they are fundamentally designed to hide any signs of weakness or vulnerability. A dog or cat missing a meal may not warrant an immediate trip to the vet, but when a rabbit refuses food, it is generally time to contact the vet – as Sushi and his owners found out.

Sushi is a three-year-old Mini Lop who has been in good health throughout his life and has been kept up to date with his myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic diarrhoea vaccinations. His owners are very vigilant, so when he wasn’t eating his breakfast, they made an appointment at the practice. Sushi was fine the night before, and even seemed bright that morning, but something wasn’t right – as he, like most rabbits, is constantly nibbling away, especially when offered one of his favourite treats. On top of this food refusal, Sushi hadn’t done any poos overnight, which was unusual too.

Although he was digging up his bed in the pet carrier on the consult room table and seemed alert, Sushi’s owners were right to be concerned – a lack of appetite and faeces can quickly become an emergency in a rabbit. Two major concerns were highlighted from his examination by the vet. Firstly, his stomach was very bloated and gassy when palpated, and secondly, his temperature was quite low. The normal body temperature of a rabbit tends to be significantly higher than a human’s – with a range of 38.5 to 39.5 degrees often quoted – but Sushi’s temperature was only 35.5°C.

These two features meant it was time to act quickly and admit Sushi to be hospitalised in order to address the gut stasis, or ‘ileus’, that he was experiencing. For a number of reasons – such as pain, illness or fear – a rabbit’s digestive system can effectively shut down and come to a standstill. Often, it can be difficult to find the trigger, but when this happens and the rabbit’s intestines stop moving, gas can build up dangerously inside, causing more pain and illness in a worrying cycle. If not treated appropriately, and if severe cases aren’t acted on immediately, this can even be fatal.

Sushi had an injection of pain relief, as well as two different drugs to attempt to get his guts moving again. In addition, he was given intravenous fluids through a small vein in his ear and syringe-fed a recovery diet to help stimulate the gut further. His blood sugar was monitored, which can indicate the degree and severity of bloating, and his result was quite high. If he didn’t improve, Sushi would need an X-ray and possibly surgery. Once settled in the rabbit ward, he was slowly warmed and kept calm and quiet. Sushi’s drugs began to take some effect, and his belly appeared a little less uncomfortable; he was brighter, his temperature was rising, and he was taking his feeds better.

However, by the end of the day, he still would not take food of his own accord. Sometimes the stress of hospitalisation in unfamiliar surroundings can suppress a rabbit’s appetite, so that night Sushi returned home with his intravenous cannula still in place, more syringe feed for his owners to give, and a direct line to the night nurse on standby in case he needed more intensive treatment.

Overnight, he was okay, though he still hadn’t been seen to have a poo. He appeared to have eaten one basil leaf – a very tiny portion, but a form of progress. When he was re-examined the next day, his belly was more comfortable and less gassy, and his temperature had risen further. Sushi was admitted for further observations in the rabbit ward, continuing his medication and receiving further pain relief, in the hope he would soon start to eat normally. Gradually throughout the day, he did start to eat, his blood sugar had dropped to within normal limits, and finally – to everyone’s relief – he had been for a poo! This meant that his intestines were working and moving well again.

By the end of the day, Sushi’s appetite was back in full swing, and his owners were delighted to pick him up, take him home, and see him eat well overnight again too. The next morning, he was signed off – albeit under close observation and under strict orders to keep pooing and not to refuse a meal again!