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RabbitsPet parentSeptember 1, 2026

I have a dutch rabbit named spinach, i just moved her from my home in new york to my…

Hey! I have a dutch rabbit named spinach, i just moved her from my home in new york to my school house in nj, she was clearly stressed that day but seems to have settled down. Shes eating her hay and greens just fine but seems to be ignoring pellets, ive given her critical care just to get those nutrients in but im worried it wont be enough. Her poop looks normal, shes acting normal with no signs of discomfort (no teeth grinding, no hunching, etc.) and i dont know what to think of this. She still gets excited for treats and seems energetic. Any advice appreciated!

A licensed veterinarian’s answer

DWDylan Wilson, DVMVerified VetSmall Animal, Mixed Animal, Preventive Care, Laboratory Medicine · KY license 293504Answered 28d ago

Hello sorry to hear you had this situation with Spinach. You are on top of looking for signs of potential illness. It's good to know you have critical care on hand and gave it when she was picky over her pellets. All pets get stressed and anxious when they leave their familiar environment. There are some vets who can prescribe a gaba agonist like gabapentin that can help relax Spinach. I've personally used midazolam for rabbits that are being seen as that is another good medication for sedation, but likely won't be used for the home environment. I'd try to make an appointment to have that option if you will be moving her frequently.

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3 replies, one from a vet

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NNateSep 2

This sounds like a rabbit who's doing okay. Hay and greens are the core of the diet -- pellets are more of a supplement -- so if she's eating hay well, pooping normally, and still excited about treats, those are all reassuring signs. Two thoughts. Rabbits can be picky about pellet freshness, so if the bag traveled with you or has been open a while, a fresh bag of the same brand is worth a try. Maybe set the Critical Care aside for now. From what I can see online, Critical Care is really for rabbits who've stopped eating altogether, so it may just be filling her up. You're already watching for the right signs (teeth grinding, hunching, etc.), so if it were me, I'd just continue to monitor for any changes and give her a week or two to settle in. Love the name, Spinach by the way!

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IIkhsanSep 11

Hi, iam exotic vet here,, Spinact contidions seem nice for now, it still eating hay and greens, producing normal feces, staying active, and showing interest in treats. Rabbit is sensitif animal regarding stress, Moving to a new environment can cause stress, and this may temporarily affect her appetite or food preferences. I would not recommend giving Critical Care routinely just because she is not eating pellets, Critical Care is more appropriate when a rabbit is not eating enough on her own or needs assisted feeding. For the next few days, I would mainly keep an eye on: *Hay intake – make sure she is still eating her normal amount of hay. *Poop – watch for fewer, smaller, or unusually shaped poops. *Weight – if possible, weigh her daily or every few days to make sure she isn't losing weight. I hope this helps, and I hope Spinach continues to settle in well in her new home!

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