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Why is my rabbit not eating, has diarrhea, and grinding teeth?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Small Animal | Rabbit | Male | unneutered

PLEASE HELP ! My rabbit is almost 4 years old. He was a really playful and a happy rabbit untill not two weeks ago , he started eating less . He would eat veggies but today he didn't want to eat anything at all . He has had diarrhea a couple of times the past couple of months but he recovered . As of now , he just sits in one place and grinds his teeth . I'm really worried , i would really value some advice . Thank you

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM

Veterinarian

Published on April 11th, 2019

Thanks for reaching out about Stewie. Bruxism (grinding of the teeth) can be a sign of pain in rabbits, In addition, a decreased appetite is also a sign of pain that is originating somewhere in the body. When a rabbit eats less and has a decrease in defecation, this is termed gastrointestinal stasis. Unfortunately, there are many reasons for GI stasis to occur, including infections, tooth problems, masses, arthritis, etc. Due to the many reasons that GI stasis can occur, I would recommend having Stewie evaluated by a veterinarian. With his history of intermittent diarrhea, your veterinarian will likely want to evaluate the feces, so please bring in a fresh sample, if any is produced. Your veterinarian can also perform a thorough physical examination, and then will likely recommend some diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause of the pain and GI stasis if there is not an obvious reason found on physical examination. They can also provide you with pain medications. Please don't give Stewie any human medications at home, as many of these can be harmful to our furry friends. If you are having trouble identifying a veterinarian who is comfortable with rabbits in your area, you can visit the AEMV website for assistance. I hope this gives you a place to start, and that Stewie feels better soon.

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