Not only can rabbits suffer from tummy aches, but it’s a serious situation when it happens. That’s because bunnies can’t throw up – anything bothering their gastrointestinal systems can only pass out the rear end.

Symptoms

Because they’re prey animals, rabbits don’t draw a lot of attention to themselves when they feel bad. In the wild, showing signs of illness means your dinner in no time.

If your bunny’s not eating and you don’t see any poop in his cage, that’s an emergency and he needs to see the vet. Bunnies in pain might appear hunched over. If your rabbit’s chattering or grinding his teeth, that’s another reaction to internal pain.

Prevention

Making sure your bunny always has access to timothy or grass hay is the best way to keep his gut in good condition and avoid tummy aches and gastrointestinal problems. Not only does the fiber in the hay help keep his gut moving, but it also wears down a rabbit’s continuously-growing teeth.

If your bunny’s teeth don’t wear properly, he can develop a misalignment called a malocclusion. Not only does this cause mouth pain, but he can literally starve to death even if there’s food available because he can’t chew it. For hairball prevention, brush your pet regularly.

You can also purchase a hairball preventive designed for rabbits, which you can feed him as a treat or wipe on his paws for him to lick off.