I think my Rabbit is sick

[CreatureUnderstood]

Hey, can anyone help me determine whether or not I should take my rabbit to the vet? He is a three-year-old Giant Angora named Wimmy, and I've had him for almost a year. He hasn't been super active in the first place, but I have hardly seen him out of a laying position. I haven't seen him eating hay or fresh vegetables, and he only seems to eat the alfalfa pellets. Wimmy has had a lot of clumpy fur around his eyes, and a lot of crust. His eyes are also only ever half open. I did recently bond him with another rabbit, and she is up to date with vaccines and such. They both free-roam in my room, but Wimmy hasn't left his kennel at all. However, he is still very affectionate and has been pooping, peeing, and drinking regularly. What should I do? Is this a sign of an illness?

 

[TwoCrows]

I am so sorry your rabbit is not acting well. Let me tag someone that knows a lot about rabbits.

@Canadian Wind

 

[Pigeony]

Look up E. cuniculi and see if anything fits symptoms you're seeing, especially with recent introduction of a new rabbit. Some rabbits are silent carriers and show no symptoms, some go downhill really fast. The new rabbit could have given the other rabbit an illness that it wasn't showing symptoms for. Prompt treatment is key.

 

[CreatureUnderstood]

I am so sorry your rabbit is not acting well. Let me tag someone that knows a lot about rabbits.

@Canadian Wind

Thanks!

 

[CreatureUnderstood]

Look up E. cuniculi and see if anything fits symptoms you're seeing, especially with recent introduction of a new rabbit. Some rabbits are silent carriers and show no symptoms, some go downhill really fast. The new rabbit could have given the other rabbit an illness that it wasn't showing symptoms for. Prompt treatment is key.

So, he only fits a couple of the symptoms, and I'm not sure how severe I should view them. He has been peeing a lot, but always in the litter box and not to an extent I am worried about, however, he has been drinking SO MUCH. He has also been flopping.

 

[Canadian Wind]

If you feel this isn't right or normal, bring him to the vet if you can.

I know more about genetics than I do illnesses unfortunately.

 

[Pigeony]

Look up E. cuniculi and see if anything fits symptoms you're seeing, especially with recent introduction of a new rabbit. Some rabbits are silent carriers and show no symptoms, some go downhill really fast. The new rabbit could have given the other rabbit an illness that it wasn't showing symptoms for. Prompt treatment

So, he only fits a couple of the symptoms, and I'm not sure how severe I should view them. He has been peeing a lot, but always in the litter box and not to an extent I am worried about, however, he has been drinking SO MUCH. He has also been flopping.

I would be concerned about it until you have a diagnosis and more of an idea what's going on with him. The crusty/gunky eyes probably do need to be looked at by a vet so you can get a better idea of what you're dealing with. I suggested E. cuniculi because I have a rabbit currently in slow decline because of it. It started with the gunky eyes, no other symptoms at first except maybe lack of activity but he was always a pretty lazy rabbit. Then he started shaking his head a lot, then he started having back leg weakness, then he had back leg paralysis and has been progressively becoming more paralyzed. I tried to start treating him at the back leg weakness stage and the nerve damage was unfortunately already done. Now, there's not a whole lot else I can do other than learn from this experience and share it so others might catch it sooner, because my rabbit is definitely at the end of his road and nothing more can really be done for him.