Neighbor's rabbit pellet only diet

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 3sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 8 months ago by Bam.

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- 11/16/2015 at 6:44 PM
  borken
  Participant
  48 posts
  So my neighbor was moving and had to get rid of their rabbit. They came to me because they knew I had one. I said I could take it in, mostly because I was concerned when they said they wouldn’t know what to do with it. I felt they may have just let it go. Anyway, they brought the rabbit over and only had pellets. His bowl was filled to the brim with them. I’ve tried offering him some veggies and he doesn’t appear to be interested. His poop is so light. It’s like a tan color.
  
  My question is, what is the best way to fix this bun’s diet? I’m not sure how old it is. It appears to be a dwarf rabbit. I’m almost certain it’s never had anything but pellets in its life.
- 11/16/2015 at 6:55 PM
  MoxieMeadows
  Participant
  5375 posts
  I would personally try and get it to start eating hay before veggies. Partly, because you want to bun to be on a (at least partly) stable diet to prevent upset stomachs.
  
  You could try slowly decreasing the amount of pellets he’s eating. If he’s full on “tasty” pellets, why would he eat “boring” hay, he’s most likely never tried? Is this bun overweight at all?
- 11/16/2015 at 6:59 PM
  borken
  Participant
  48 posts
  He’s not overweight at all which is astounding to me. I gave him a lot of hay, but he just keeps marking everything. I’m hoping when he settles down, he might start trying some. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked, but I am.
- 11/17/2015 at 3:07 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17044 posts
  Thank you for taking him in!
  
  I agree with Moxie, you want to get him started on hay first of all. Don’t remove his pellets completely, a bunny may stop eating altogether if their “normal” food is replaced with sth unknown – contrary to dogs, rabbit don’t necessarily always eat when they get hungry enough and an empty stomach in a bunny is, as I’m sure you know, a serious health-hazard.
  
  Try giving him small wads of hay through the day or at least twice a day. My bunnies tend to like “fresh” hay, if I give them too much at any one time, they just aren’t interested. You can try and hand-feed him hay.
  
  Do this adjustment to a heathier diet very slowly. Once he’s started eating hay, you can introduce greens.
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