A pet bunny is a great way to bring life to your house. Raising a hopping and zooming animal will make your days brighter and happier. These furry creatures are only easy-going pets if you are ready to take responsibility.
Rabbits are helpless and voiceless creatures that depend on their pet owners for every little need and want. Bunnies have complex bodies and immune systems.
If you do not stay educated about your rabbit’s bodily functions, you will stay stressed about the slightest changes in your rabbit’s behavior. The biggest mystery regarding rabbits is if they can fart or not. So, do rabbits fart?
Despite the misconception, yes, rabbits do fart. It is healthy for rabbits to pass gas to avoid a painful buildup in their stomachs and intestines. Pet owners cannot hear or smell their rabbit’s farts because they are noiseless and odorless.
Rabbits pass gas almost all the time. As herbivores, rabbits have plenty of gas in their digestive tract. A bunny is constantly digesting food. As digestion proceeds, the breakdown of food produces gas that, if accumulated, can result in severe abdomen pain. Keep reading to learn about your bunny’s gas and how to keep your animal away from painful gas buildup.
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Why Does Your Bunny Rabbit Fart?
Rabbits are complex creatures with plenty of bodily functions happening at one time. Your bunny’s digestion will make it gassy. However, that is not the only thing that fills the animal with gas.
People get painful gas when they eat something unsuitable. Similarly, rabbits fart due to various reasons other than digestion and metabolism. Here are some reasons your rabbit might be farting too much:
Dehydration
Rabbits are hyperactive animals and love to hop, run, and zoom all over the place. If you have a new pet rabbit, you must have noticed that the little guy does not stay still for more than a few minutes.
The intense physical activity required plenty of water intake. When your rabbit does not drink enough water, it starts losing electrolytes. With a low level of electrolytes, your rabbit will experience a painful gas buildup.
Eating Hastily
Rabbits are grazing animals and will eat anything that comes their way. Rabbits eat like there is no tomorrow and gobble up their food portions instantly. Due to this hastily eating, rabbits tend to swallow a lot of air. The excessive air turns into gasses and comes out in the shape of hiccups and farts.
Stress
People face digestive issues when they are going through a stressful time. Rabbits face a similar problem. Your bunny will constantly fart when it is stressed and anxious. A rabbit’s digestive system is the first to take a hit when emotionally distressed.
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Foods That Can Make Your Rabbit Gassy
Rabbits require optimal food to maintain their health. Bunnies have sensitive digestive symptoms that lose their balance when the animal eats something unsuitable. When your rabbit eats a food item that is not good for the bunny, it will experience painful gas and other digestive issues.
Your bunny will experience a gas buildup after eating the following food items:
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
A moderate amount of the food mentioned above will not put your bunny in an uncomfortable gassy situation. However, an excess of vegetables can stress your poor bunny rabbit.
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When Is The Time To Worry About Your Bunny’s Gas?
Bunnies will only sometimes easily pass gas. There will be times when your rabbit will not be able to fart. Rabbits are sneaky animals and are smart enough to hide their discomfort and illness. As prey animals, they cannot show their vulnerability to protect themselves. As a pet owner, you must understand your bunny’s behavior to differentiate the odd days.
It sounds like a difficult task, but it is not if you have researched enough about your precious furry friend. Here are a few symptoms of a gas buildup in rabbits, which you can look out for to ensure your rabbit is healthy and happy:
Loss of Appetite
When your rabbit has gas accumulation, it will not want to eat due to the pressure and the feeling of fullness.
Change in Bunny’s Poop
A rabbit’s poop is the first thing that goes haywire when your rabbit is feeling under the wind. If your bunny is experiencing digestion issues and painful gas, it will most definitely suffer from either constipation or diarrhea.
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding is a usual behavior for rabbits. They do it every day, even when they are asleep. It should worry you only when it gets too loud that you can hear it from the other room.
Rabbits grind their teeth loudly when they are anxious about physical discomfort. When bunnies feel gas pressure in their tiny tummies, it can cause them to grind their teeth loudly to let you know they are feeling unwell.
Lethargy
Rabbits are hyper animals and enjoy hopping under the sun. However, when a bunny feels sick, it becomes incredibly sluggish. If you notice a change in your bunny’s daily physical activity, press its tummy ever so lightly to check for gas buildup.
Hunched Posture
When a rabbit suffers from a tummy ache or intestinal issues, it hunches to relieve the discomfort. If you notice a change in your bunny’s posture, check for gassiness.
Bloating
If your rabbit is experiencing a gas buildup, it will have a bloated tummy. Press your rabbit’s abdomen gently to see any stiffness. Plus, you can press your ear against your bunny’s tummy to hear for gurgling sounds of gas.
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What Can You Do To Relieve Your Gassy Bunny?
Seeing your bunny in pain and discomfort might be the saddest thing in the world. You might feel helpless and think you cannot do much for your poor rabbit. Fear not because you can do plenty of things to ease your bunny’s stress.
Rabbits look at their pet owners when they suffer because they trust their owners to help them. So, here are a few tricks to do when your rabbit is looking longingly at you to fix the animal’s gas issues:
Tummy Rub
When your rabbit is distressed, it would love some physical touch to ease its anxiety. You can massage your rabbit’s abdomen to ease anxiety while moving its stomach to expel gas. Gently rub your furry baby’s stomach in a circular motion, moving your hand up and down. It will help the gas to move out of your bunny’s backside.
Make The Rabbit Move
When people experience a gas buildup, doctors tell them to do a daily walk after having a meal. The movement helps ease the passing of gas and avoids a gas buildup. It is the same case with rabbits.
You can encourage the animal to move and hop around after eating to ensure your rabbit does not suffer from a gas buildup. Plus, if your rabbit is experiencing abdominal pain, it may refuse to move. Try to trick your bunny into playing with you to release the gas.
Baby Colic Medication
After trying the methods mentioned above, if your rabbit still feels gassy, you can give your bunny some pediatric colic medications. Most edible items that are suitable for babies to eat can suit rabbits. However, contacting your vet for consultation and prescription medicines is best.
Final Word
People feel uncomfortable when they have gas buildup in their stomachs. It makes them dizzy, nauseous, and frustrated. Bunnies feel double the pain as they are tiny and cannot voice their concerns.
A rabbit’s abdomen discomfort can prolong as it does not have visible signs. However, if you are familiar with your precious furry friend’s behavior, you can see the animal’s body language change.
Once you suspect your bunny might be gassy, gently press its tummy to observe stiffness and hear gurgling sounds. When you see painful gas in your poor pet, message the abdomen delicately and contact your vet. It is better to be safe than sorry!