Why isn't my rabbit pooping but still eating? Is it a fur blockage?

Question

My rabbit (holland lop) hasn't pooped in the last 24 hours but is still eating well. This morning he pooped one small piece and it was wet and he ate it. I fed him papaya and pineapple to ease his constipation but he hasn't pooped yet. Also he grooms himself A LOT. Is it because he has too much fur in his stomach and won't pass? Pet's info: Small Animal | Rabbit | Male | neutered | 4 lbs

Kevin Sanada, DVM · Accepted Answer

The fact that he is eating is encouraging, but this appears to be a problem of gastric stasis. This can happen due to hair blockages, but can also be caused by many other conditions such as dehydration, lack of adequate fiber in the diet, lack of exercise, or stress. The feeding of pineapple and other fruits has been attempted in the past to break down hair in the stomach, but unfortunately this and other treatments have not proven to be very effective. Considering that this has a potential to turn into an emergency, I recommend taking JJangdol to the vet tomorrow. They will be able to help identify the cause of this and provide the most effective treatment. For now, it's best to make sure that he is not having any stressors, is able to move around as much as possible, and gets plenty of water. Having a water bowl rather than a sipper bottle has been shown to increase water intake. You should also feed fresh grass, high-quality hay soaked in water, or Oxbow pellets with some water added as the majority of his diet. If at any time JJangdol stops eating and/or starts to act very depressed, then this is an emergency and he should go to the vet as soon as possible. I hope that helps and he gets better soon.

Why isn't my rabbit pooping but still eating? Is it a fur blockage?

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