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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

FORUM BEHAVIOR New bunnies eating habits

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    • Arlo86
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        So I have recently added a new bunny to my mix. Savannah (formerly Suede). I’m not sure what’s normal with her and if I should be worried. My vet seems to think she’s ok, but I would like you guys to give me a second opinion as to whether I should press the issue. So sometimes she eats and eats and eats. She will have a nice round tummy with good gut sounds. Other times her sides look sunken in and her tummy is silent. When she gets like that I give her critical care and keep an eye on her. She never stops pooping or seeing though. And it only ever happens at nighttime, so I’m not sure if she just wants to sleep and doesn’t care about food. But it’s not every night, and the night’s it does happen she won’t stay under my bed, which is where her and her mate Sawyer sleep. She just finds corners or lays near the doorway. She also doesn’t run away from me and let’s me hold her and run her belly when she’s not in the eating mood, but when she’s eating lots she avoids me like the plague. My vet, who is knowledgeable about rabbits, says she’s fine, and that since she’s still pooping I shouldn’t worry. She says that it may just be that she is still trying to adjust and sort out her own routine. I’m just freaked out and want to make sure I shouldn’t be pressing this more. Any thoughts?


      • Wick & Fable
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          It sounds like normal behavior to me? A rabbits stomach will feel hard after eating, and when not eating, it will feel depressed because their digestion moves pretty rapidly at times. If poo and pee are still normal, I wouldn’t worry about it. Continue to monitor, but periods of binge eating is sometimes a survival instinct for animals when they are unsure of when they can eat next. It could be attributed to the new environment. Rabbits are each individually different, so if Savannah’s patterns don’t match Sawyer’s, it won’t always be a result of a detrimental health consequence.

          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.


        • Arlo86
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            I think it might be a bit of an adjustment thing for sure. I do know she wasn’t fed hay almost ever before I brought her home, so maybe the binge eating is a survival issue. She’s been doing a lot better the last two days. I also gave her fresh cilantro for the first time and I’ve never seen a happier bunny. And after that she ended up eating all of her fresh greens. So I give her cilantro mixed in every time now and it really seems to motivate her to eat her salad. She also seems to only gave the caved in sides first thing in the morning before she comes out from under the bed and munches on hay. I think the more she realizes that the unlimited hay she has now isn’t going away, the more she will keep getting better with eating. Thanks for your advice. I just needed the reassurance that it was ok to not panic! Have four bunnies with four completely different versions of normal makes for an interesting learning curve. But man I love all these little buggers. Now if someone can just help me figure out how to keep one of my cats from eating hay, pellets and getting stuck in the hutch that would be great!

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        FORUM BEHAVIOR New bunnies eating habits