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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

FORUM BEHAVIOR VERY selective chewing

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    • Ella
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        My rabbit has plenty of things to chew on:

        – willow balls

        – hay balls

        – a willow tunnel

        – a wooden throw toy

        – plenty of card board

        – a wooden hay wagon

        He rarely, if ever, chews on any of these things! However, he does LOVE to chew on baseboard, chairs, and the books on the bottom of my shelf and the shelf itself! It is easy to just shoo him away so this behavior doesn’t bother me but I am worried about his teeth!

        – Why would he only want to chew on the things that he shouldn’t chew on? 

        – What kinds of toys should I get him to chew on? Maybe I am just getting the wrong things? 

        – How much do rabbits actually chew on things besides hay?

        I want to make sure his teeth stay healthy and it is obvious that he likes to chew stuff so I don’t understand why he wouldn’t want the toys he has. 

        When we were at the vet about a month ago his teeth looked healthy so I think that his teeth are fine but he is young so I worry about the future. 


      • Luna
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          Luna is a picky chewer too. One day she’ll only chew apple orchard sticks (her favorite), the next day she won’t touch them and she’ll only chew cardboard. I don’t think you are getting the wrong things. Maybe rotate the toys – half of them are available for a few days, then the other half available for the rest of the week – it could make him more interested in the toys. You could also try throwing an apple orchard stick or a couple hay cubes into the mix. I wouldn’t be too worried though as hay is actually the first thing that keeps a bun’s teeth in check since it requires so much chewing.


        • Wick & Fable
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            Wick chews on nothing, so it’s really rabbit dependent on what they like to chew and don’t. As Luna said, rotating toys may work, but also if you know your rabbit likes books, perhaps make some toys similar to a book.

            The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.


          • Ella
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              Thanks for your replies! I am going to try rotating toys so they seem new again. I always hear about bunnies loving apple sticks and Eli couldn’t care less about them! He loves hay cubes though and is pretty good about eating hay. I have been meaning to get him a phone book to dig and stay occupied with but they are hard to find these days since they are a bit obsolete. 

              It just amazes me how when he is out and about he will go straight for the baseboards and books but will not touch anything else that is his. I think he likes to be mischievous …


            • Wick & Fable
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                Haha remember rabbits don’t really understand what’s right and wrong to chew many times.

                The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.


              • vanessa
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                  I cover the baseboards with 2×4’s. All the way around the rabbit room…


                • BanditCamp
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                    Maybe you bun likes to chew hard things, I know bandit has the same issue and once I got him a bag of apple sticks and some hard 2×4’s he foes crazy and chews them all the time. If you can find some non colored (or soy based) cardboard posterboard he likes to go crazy over that as well as it make a satisfying crunch every time he bites down on it.

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                FORUM BEHAVIOR VERY selective chewing