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Yes, you should, but only if you know what you're doing, because you could hurt your rabbit.
Rabbits are very susceptible to an illness called GI stasis (ileus). When they don't eat or drink, whatever the reason (pain of any kind often sets them off), their digestive system starts to shut down, and within a day or two this can kill them (regardless of how minor the initial cause).
That's why managing pain, and forcing food and water, are such important parts of a rabbit's recovery from any health problem.
Actually getting the food and water into the rabbit isn't easy, though, and it can be seriously dangerous for the rabbit. You should talk to your vet about whether it's a good idea in your bunny's case, and about how to do it safely.
The following is provided for reference only. Please see the related questions and links below, and consult your rabbit-savvy vet!! Do NOT force a rabbit to eat or drink if you aren't comfortable handing her and/or you can't keep her calm and still.
It's always ideal if the rabbit eats for himself. Encourage him frequently with fresh herbs and hay. If you need to force food, encourage him to eat the food formula off the tip of a spoon first, etc.
The way you force-feed rabbits is with feeding syringes (they have no needles in them). These are not comfortable in a rabbit's mouth, so use as small ones as you can. This means you'll be frequently filling them up, which takes time and patience, but it's better for the rabbit to go slow. (For example, for water, use a 3cc syringe; for food (formula), a 35cc with a long narrow tip.)
Anytime you use a feeding syringe (for food or water), aim it towards the cheek or tongue. Do NOT aim it towards the top or back of the mouth, because you could shoot the food or water into the rabbit's lungs, which is deadly.
The complete daily portion of water for an ill rabbit that isn't drinking on her own is 150mL for a 2lb rabbit (so, 300mL for a 4lb rabbit, etc.). This includes the water you mix in with the powdered food formula. If the rabbit is drinking some water on her own or eating fresh wet greens, then you can lower the daily portion to as low as 50mL for a 2lb rabbit. It's a good idea to put electrolyte formula in the water (from the vet, or the pediatric aisle in the pharmacy e.g. plain unflavoured Pedialyte). If you use a liquid electrolyte, it should be included in the daily portion, not in addition to.
You can get powdered food formula from your vet. The most common brand is Critical Care. Follow the directions on the package about how to give it to your bunny.
In a short-term pinch you can make your own formula by grinding the rabbit's pellets and mixing it with electrolyte formula, and baby carrot food (100% pure carrot; or canned pumpkin, 100% plain pumpkin). If you have a good food-processor, grind in some hay, too.
Don't give your bunny too much food at once - break it up into five or six meals per day. And go slowly, let your rabbit set the pace. Follow up force-feeding with some force-water to help wash it down, and then some belly massage to work it all through and break up any gas bubbles. If he is suffering from gas, include a dose of simethicone.
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Your rabbit cant stand up all of a sudden wont eat or drink?
This is a sign your bunny is sick, and though this could be any number of things, you should definitely take your bunny to the vet immediately.
What do rabbits eat and is there anything they do not eat?
Rabbits eat hay(my bunny prefers timothy but there is also alfafa), dry food, and water. Check with a vet about what you should feed your bunny.
What to do when you think your bunny has brain damage because he wont eat or drink by himself after having a heat stroke and surviving Can someone help?
Your bunny needs to see the Vet. There can be many complications from heat stroke, and several different reasons a bunny won't eat. Bunnies have very high metabolism rates, so they should not be allowed to go without food and water for more than a few hours.
What does a bunny do all day?
Bunnies like to sleep eat and drink all day long. They are small, loving animals.
Does a male bunny eat more than a female bunny?
No, the males should eat the same amount of food as the female. The males just grow up to be larger!! | I hope I helped!
Should I drink water more or should I eat more?
You should drink water because if you don't drink enough water you can die
What does the Easter bunny to eat?
the Easter bunny doesn't exist so it can't eat anything.(if the Easter Bunny was real it would eat carrots and lettuce like any other bunny)
Should you get a bunny or a newt?
u should get both of them and a rattle snake and then the rattle snake can eat them both hahaha
What to eat or drink after losing blood?
You should eat something sweet. Drink fruit juice and coke. GL :)
If kittens wont eat or drink what does it mean?
When kittens do not eat or drink, it usually means they are sick and should be taken to the vet.
What is an Easter bunny's favorite food?
carots i like them to
Should you eat during a workout?
No, you should eat protein before and after, but drink a lot of water during.
