A rabbit missing a meal is not simply being fussy. Pain, dental disease, stress or an obstruction can slow the gut, leading to more gas, pain and reduced appetite. The cycle can become life-threatening quickly.
Call the same day
Watch for smaller or absent droppings, refusing favourite food, hiding, a hunched posture, loud tooth grinding or a swollen abdomen. Contact a rabbit-experienced vet immediately and report the last normal meal and droppings. Collapse, marked swelling or severe pain is an emergency.
Do not force-feed blindly
Support feeding may be important, but a vet must first assess whether an obstruction is possible. Never give human painkillers. Treatment should address the cause, which may include dental pain, illness, diet, dehydration or stress—not only the slowed gut.
