Written by Laura Atkins and Susan Smith Ph.D.

Sick rabbits have a higher energy requirement than do healthy rabbits. Energy is needed to support immune function and support a fever. It is very important that a sick rabbit be getting some nutritional support when the appetite is decreased. Rabbits who are not eating are at high risk for liver disease (hepatic lipidosis). The following are some different foods that HRS Educators have found useful for syringe feeding rabbits who for one reason or another cannot eat the normal diet.

Dusty's Peas-n-Pellets (Libby Moore)

Grind high fiber pellets in a coffee grinder until they are powdery.
Mix 1/2 cup of pellets with 1 jar of strained peas.
Add pedialyte or water as needed for correct consistency

Hazel's Pumpkin Pie (Davida Kobhler)

1-2 tbs. pumpkin pie filling (no sugar or spices)
1 tbs. banana baby food
1 tbs. ground pellets (ground in a coffee grinder, should be powdery)
Mix and syringe feed 4X's a day
Maximum 90 cc/5 pounds of body weight daily.

Ground pellets (Susan Davis)

1/2 cup pellets
1 cup water
1 tbs. Prozyme
1 tbs. psyllium husks (must be adequately hydrated, recommend 14 parts water to 1 part psyllium)
Grind in a blender until shiny

Pellets can also be mixed with fluid and left to expand overnight in the fridge. Water or pedialyte can be mixed with the pellets to give the proper consistency for syringe feeding

For rabbits who cannot eat solid foods because of tooth or other problems, there are a couple different options.

Moet's Pellet Mush (George Flentke and Susan Smith)

2/3 cup of pellets
approx. 1/3 cup of boiling water
Add water to pellets, wait for pellets to expand.
Fluff with fork and feed when cool

Melissa's Banana Pellet Balls (Elizabeth TeSelle)

(Will NOT keep, must be made fresh)

Mash 3/4-1 banana in a shallow bowl with a fork.
Grind 1/3-1/2 cup of pellets (high fat/high protein pellets are fine) in a coffee grinder until they are dust. Add slowly to the mashed banana, cream just as you would cream butter and sugar.
Add a small amount of rolled oats (not quick-style) and cream again.
Form into balls.
Amounts to feed will depend on the needs of your rabbit, however, Melissa (8 pounds) received 1/2 of the mixture twice a day.

Protein and calorie content can be changed by using different pellets. For rabbits needing more nutrition, high energy and protein pellets can be used.