Small Pet Not Eating? When To Call The Vet

A full bowl, a smaller appetite. When rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters stop eating.

Usually, your rabbit is at the bowl before you’ve finished putting breakfast down. Today, they take a sniff and hop away. You look in the litter box and notice fewer droppings than usual. A guinea pig that usually squeaks for breakfast might leave their hay untouched. A hamster might ignore food during their usual evening activity. If your pet is not eating or eating noticeably less, it's time for an appointment.

Could it be their teeth?

A sore mouth can explain why your rabbit, guinea pig or hamster is eating less hay or dropping food while chewing.

A rabbit with a sore mouth may still come over for breakfast. They might pick up food and drop it, eat soft greens but leave the hay, or end up with a wet chin from drooling. Even if the front teeth look fine, their back teeth can develop sharp points that rub against the tongue or cheeks.

Rabbit teeth keep growing, and chewing hay helps wear them down. If your pet's teeth don’t line up or keep growing too long, we may recommend regular dental checks (during an office visit) and trim or file the teeth as needed. How often depends on your rabbit’s teeth. Leave the trimming to us, since clipping teeth at home can break them.

Guinea pigs can show the same clues as rabbits. All their teeth keep growing, too, and chewing hay helps wear them down. In hamsters, the front teeth keep growing. An overgrown or broken front tooth can make it hard for your pet to pick up food. A simple office visit can determine whether or not dental care is needed.

What about hairballs and GI health in rabbits?

Rabbits swallow fur when they groom, and it usually passes in their droppings. When the gut slows down, fur and food can collect in the stomach. That’s often what people mean by a “hairball.” Sometimes a clump of fur can actually block the gut.

A slowdown (called GI stasis) is when your rabbit's digestive system has slowed down for some reason. Stress, pain, illness or arthritis can be some of the reasons for the slowdown. Food moves more slowly than usual, and gas can build up and make their stomach hurt.

A hairball, a blockage and GI stasis can look alike at home, so check with us before trying a hairball remedy, syringe-feeding or home remedy.

What else can put a small pet off their food?

A rabbit may eat less because of sore joints, an injury, a bladder problem, or another illness. Stress from travel or a move, or a sudden change in food, can also affect appetite. When rabbits eat less, their gut can slow down and they may pass fewer or smaller droppings. You might also notice them sitting hunched or moving less than usual. This is a sign to call us for an appointment.

Guinea pigs can also have a gut slowdown. Eating less hay and leaving fewer or smaller droppings are warning signs. They need vitamin C in their diet, and too little can lead to a poor appetite and sore joints. If you note these issues, it's time to reach out to us. As always, we are happy to provide guidance regarding dietary needs.

Hamsters carry food in their cheeks and often stash it, so an empty bowl doesn’t tell you how much they’ve eaten. If a cheek stays swollen after they’d normally empty it, food may be stuck or there may be another cheek pouch problem. Eating less along with diarrhea or unusual quietness is another reason to call promptly.

Small pet not eating? What to do right away -

Even a small change in your rabbit, guinea pig, or hamster’s usual behavior is worth a prompt call to us, because they can be quite ill before it’s obvious.

If you are calling about your small pet not eating, or another health concern, have the following details ready - when your pet last ate normally, any other changes in behavior (no matter how small) and what you’ve noticed in the litter box as soon as possible. You can't give us too many details.

If your pet has stopped eating completely, has a swollen belly, or seems weak, call us immediately for an appointment - don't take the "wait and see" approach.

About us

Aardvark Animal Hospital is a proudly independent, family-owned veterinary hospital in Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania, providing compassionate care for dogs, cats, birds, small animals, exotic pets and small farm animals.