Water is crucial for a rabbit's digestion.
Water is the most important nutrient in a rabbit's diet. Rabbits typically consume twice as much water as they do food; and on hot days, they may drink up to four times as much water as food. So, if your rabbit has stopped drinking, it could be a sign of illness. Even if your rabbit is healthy, it is important that it drinks enough water: Rabbits can easily suffer from dessication of the intestines, if they are not well-hydrated. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to facilitate your rabbit's drinking.
Instructions
1. Use the proper vessel. Sipper bottles, like those often used in hamster cages, are available for rabbits. While some rabbits may find it more natural to drink from a bowl. Try a heavy, lead-free ceramic bowl, as your rabbit may be tempted to play with a lighter plastic bowl..
2. Clean the water bowl or bottle with warm water and mild detergent: Then fill it with fresh water. Fresh water tastes better, and water bowls are prone to soiling, because they can easily get hay or litter in them. Sipper bottles can be cleaned with a bottle brush. Change the water frequently.
3. Check the sipper bottle's tube. Make sure the water is free-flowing and unobstructed. If so, your rabbit may not know use it. Smearing a bit of jam on the tip of the tube will encourage the bunny to check it out more closely.
4. Lower the temperature. Rabbits fare better in cooler temperatures, and usually drink less water as the temperature rises.
5. Add something tasty to the water. Normally, pure water is recommended for a rabbit's delicate digestive system; but if your rabbit is at risk of dehydration -- mixing a little bit of Pedialyte or unsweetened juice, especially carrot or apple -- into its water, may encourage drinking.
6. Try force feeding your rabbit. Gently squirt water into its mouth with a syringe. This should be done only as a last resort, if your rabbit is sick and at serious risk of dehydration. Consult your veterinarian first.
Be sure to place the syringe of water behind its incisors and squeeze sideways. Squirting the water straight into its mouth could cause water to go down the windpipe
Tags: your rabbit, into mouth, much water, risk dehydration, Sipper bottles