hmm. i’m not sure what that would be… lets wait for an expert.

I guess anything is possible. This can become an issue when a rabbit is not given a consistent diet. You just reduced his pellets from 1/2 cup a day, right? Did you gradually reduce them (over about 2 weeks time) or did you reduce them suddenly? I really can’t tell anything from the pic… how is his behavior now? Are you able to take him to the vet if he’s not better by the morning?

I’m thinking you might want to make the final decision to either give him veggies regularly (the same types/amounts daily, without fail) or not give them at all. His system might be too delicate to handle getting them here and there… he gets used to them, then they go away… he gets them again and he isn’t given time to adjust…

I would recommend looking at different opinions on how to keep bunnies and then match them to what your goals are with Buttons.  There are people and breeders out there that feed exclusively cheap pellets- but are their rabbits healthy enough and live long enough?  There are some people that don’t feed any pellets at all- only feed fresh veggies and hay- what is the health and longevity of their rabbits like?  What results are the methods based on?  Over 20 years ago I had Dutch rabbits that ate Purina pellets, hay and limited amounts of veggies and lived outdoors.  Do I think they were healthy, happy and lived long enough- nope.  So I based my rabbit care decisions on previous experience and the most credible source I could find for updated House Rabbit Care- the HRS.  I firmly believe that there are different standards for House bunnies than there are hutch bunnies.  Just like people with barn cats- they don’t feed them the best quality feed and have a constant controlled environment to keep them healthy- so I base my indoor cats care on what has been shown to keep indoor cats healthy, happy and living longer.

I think you need to discuss with your Mom about setting a consistent diet plan for Buttons since he is a special needs rabbit controlling his diet is especially important.  Unless the whole family is on board it does not matter what you decide and can be detrimental to Button’s health.  I think your vet needs to help you determine a healthy diet- and there can be plenty of variety within moderation in a healthy diet- and stick with that diet plan.

Bunnies do not generally do well with large fluxuations in their diet- so changing their diet only when they show signs of being ill is not the best way to manage any GI issues.

My Mini Lops are about 5 1/2 lbs and they get about 2 cups of greens/veggies a day.  I think you mentioned that Buttons is 3lbs? Then he would probably get about 1- 1/4 cups of veggies a day- which is not much at all.  But that small amount of veggies should keep him from eating as many pellets and thus raising his sugar- as there is “sugar” in his pellets- Cane Molasses is the 5th ingredient in Basics T.

I know bunnies at a breeders are fed exclusively hay and pellets as they need the higher calories to push out more babies to sell. thus, no veggies for em. It just isn’t cost effective for massive amounts of rabbits.

Bunnycutie, was he rocking ever so slightly? Perhaps he was just sleeping. Mine do a little “huff” before settling into a loaf to doze. Rumball sometimes sits like Buttons pic there and rocks. It’s very subtle. I think it’s when he’s sleeping with the eyes open. If Buttons was eating and pooping right before hand he’s likely doing ok.

Bunnycutie,
I think, since this is a joint care responsibility with your mom (I know Buttons is yours, but while you are still a young teen it is hers by default as well) that your family needs to be very clear on the care and feeding of Buttons.

As Katnip wisely pointed out, the best authority on diet is a combination of the House Rabbit Society’s recommended diet for indoor bunnies, along with your vet’s recommendation based on knowing Buttons. Without a dramatic change, I would really start from scratch immediately. I would go to the vet with your Mom and sit down with the vet for a written diet plan made out to meet Button’s needs. Take that home with you. It’s a daily menu you can post on your fridge for everyone to remember. You can bring in a printed list from the HRS diet section if you want and check off which foods can be given to him as well.

Then make it clear to the family that he eats the designated steady diet. Only. While it may seem boring to a human, it is really satisfying to a bunny to be fed routinely with foods that make him feel well. Something that upsets his digestion is NOT a treat.

So ask everyone to “treat” him with toys, attention, games and pets.

Remember, this is a learning curve, and each bunny is a bit different, so we can only give guidelines here. You can never substitute for a vet’s advice for your particular animal. We may sound like a broken record when we say take him to a vet, but if that’s the thing to do, that’s it. “Trying” different things may be dangerous for him in the long run.

[edited my post due to getting a little off topic here.]

Posted By jerseygirl on 10/15/2009 06:02 PM
Bunnycutie, was he rocking ever so slightly? Perhaps he was just sleeping. Mine do a little “huff” before settling into a loaf to doze. Rumball sometimes sits like Buttons pic there and rocks. It’s very subtle. I think it’s when he’s sleeping with the eyes open. If Buttons was eating and pooping right before hand he’s likely doing ok.

I agree with what all of the others have said regarding a consistent diet, but I also wanted to ditto Jersey. My bun often sits in an upright pose like this (he’s a holland lop, so that position is easier for him than bigger longer bodied buns) and rock back and forth subtley. He does this when he’s taking a quick nap, or sometimes just “sitting and thinking”. Haha

Monkey always sleeps with her eyes open. its kind of creepy, but thats my Monkey

I think that’s a good idea Bunnycutie. I think you should confirm with the vet what the right diet is for Buttons and keep him as close to possible on that. You should verify the amounts and if the vet thinks it needs to be adjusted then that’s what you need to do. Keep in mind that in the future you may have to make some adjustments when Buttons gets older but you will again want to verify those changes with your vet. You are certainly on the right track.

We have to keep in mind that what works for some rabbits just may not work for others too. The House Rabbit Society just sets guidelines on what they recommend, however they do want you to check with your vet on your own personal rabbits diet.

As for sleeping – I think some sleep with their eyes open and some with their eyes closed – it depends on the rabbit.

That diet sounds very good. Follow up with your vet of course, but I think you’re on the right track.

Like I said before, you’ll just have to be consistent. Same types of food, same amounts, same feeding schedule each day. My rabbit’s diets have not changed (besides different types of veggies or hay) since I got them (Meadow 2.5 years ago, Max 1.5 years ago.) Day in, day out, it’s the same. A consistent schedule makes rabbits happy psychologically too: they know WHAT to expect and WHEN to expect it.

Bunnies can sleep with their eyes open. Only Jack sleeps with his eyes closed, (though he will sleep with his eyes open too), but my other rabbits have normally slept with their eyes open. Sometimes I can even see them “dreaming” – yet their eyes are open. Their little whiskers twitch and sometimes it seems if they are dreaming about eating.

Also, if your bunny is not used to getting greens regularly you may need to start with half that amount and work your way up to the regular daily amount.

Sounds like your off to good start creating regular diet routine.

Not to sound insensitive to it, but it could be that you just have a crazy bunny. Some rabbits have the weirdest habits. The important thing is that if he’s eating and pooping regularly, there isn’t a GI Stasis issue.

I agree with all the others on the diet advice. I know it’s hard living with people who make the decisions (parents!) but if you make your point politely and maturely I’m sure they will be ‘on board’ with his diet too.

On the sleeping with eyes open =as others have said that’s quite common. All mine now sleep with their eyes closed, but Kokanee slept with hers open(We originally thought she was creepy and never slept! ). I believe I read somehwhere that they have two eyelids, much like a cat, so eyes open while sleeping is very normal.

tonight i was watching max fall asleep and he definitely hunched his back and rocked forward a little bit before he fell asleep. sometimes, like tonight, he sleeps with his eyes open. sounds like buttons

Bunnycutie, I am glad Buttons is OK. –My black mini rex is very sensitive to diet changes and amounts so he has taught me that you can never be careful enough. Is there any way you can be solely in charge of all the feeding? I had a dog when I was a teen and many times I came home to her throwing up because another member of my household had given her some ‘left-overs’. I finallly said that unless they want to clean up after my dog also they are not to feed her in my absence.

I am personally not particularly in love with the Dutch markings but, your Buttons is one gorgeous rabbit. I love the richness of his browns.

Posted By bunnycutie on 10/17/2009 02:50 PM

oh and dog throw up—YUK!

Not to disgust anyone here; but the good thing about the dog throw-up is that nobody can tell you they didn’t feed the dog spaghetti or Ritz crackers stuffed with peanut butter.