Hi there,
Clover, my Lop, suddenly stopped eating properly last about a week and a half ago. We brought her inside (she lives in a hutch outside) and noticed some sniffling noises and a watery eye and nostril. We took her to the vets who gave her a detailed examination and asked about her age (she's about 4 and a half years - we resued her three years ago when she was about 18 months old). He gave us some baytril for the sniffles and said her teeth weren't perfect and he was concerned about her weight loss (2.78kg).
Almost a week later I returned to the vets and they booked her in the following day to put her under anethetic and have a dental. Clover came around from that fine and is returning for a check up tomorrow. However, the major concern is her still not returning to her normal diet. She eats a few pieces of fresh fruit and veg but only a few pellets - most of which have to be hand fed or dipped in water first. We've had her on Recovery food too, which she eats bits of through a syringe - some she spits out! We blended pellet food and put that through a syringe too. She'll also eat bits of toast and the odd strand of hay. She's having wees and poos okay and has moved into our house - complete with new bed & litter tray!
Does anyone out there have any ideas about what is causing Clover not to eat as much? Could it be effects from the dental/anesthetic or the sniffles? When eating she sniffles, coughs and sneezes and it takes her a long time to chew. Perhaps this is putting her off her food?
Any suggestions or similar experiences to share with me would be greatly welcomed.
Thanks,
jemma_79