Advice on what to do- 9 week old mini lop has had a bowl of the wrong food

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 5sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 9 months ago by Wick & Fable.

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- 07/26/2017 at 4:34 AM
  Danielleha85
  Participant
  3 posts
  On Monday afternoon I picked up my lovely new mini lop (9 weeks old) from a breeder. Brought him home and started settling him in and fed him half a bowl of the pellets we had bought from the breeder- the following morning he had another handful of the pellets and shortly after this I received a phone call from the breeder to say there’d been a mistake and we’d been sent home with the wrong food. We immediately went back up to get he correct food and started him on this straight away. He’s also had access to hay and water which he’s been having throughout this time. Now he seems fine in himself and is pooping lots and seeing (no diarreah or anything). The breeder worried me cos she said worse case scenario he could die from such a drastic change in diet but she hoped that she’d discovered the error quick enough and got him back on the correct food. Since tues lunchtime when we found out I’ve been sitting in the same room as the bunny to make sure he’s ok and so far he seems fine. My question is how soon after he had eaten the wrong food would you expect him to become poorly if he was going to. I just want to know how long I need to be worried for? He’s a lovely rabbit and me and the kids are very attached already so don’t want anything to happen to him?
- 07/26/2017 at 8:00 AM
  Luna
  Participant
  2219 posts
  While the breeder is correct that sudden changes in diet can be harmful (buns have delicate/complex digestive systems), your bun should be ok since the food switch was caught early and he only had two feedings worth of the wrong pellet over a relatively short period of time. Just make sure he keeps eating normally, and keep an eye on his poops today/tomorrow to make sure there is no diarrhea.
- 07/26/2017 at 8:08 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  What was the different food? Timothy instead of Alfalalfa.
  
  Try not to worry too much. While it’s best to transition slowly, some bunnies are less sensitive. The fact that he’s so young, I would def keep a close eye. Apettite, poops and lethargy are things to watch for.
- 07/26/2017 at 8:40 AM
  Danielleha85
  Participant
  3 posts
  Thanks for the replies so far- you’ve put my mind at rest. Thankfully he’s eating and pooping normally so far and no letharghy. He has been stretched out a couple of times but looks peaceful when doing so and not in any pain x
- 07/26/2017 at 8:57 AM
  Danielleha85
  Participant
  3 posts
  I think maybe he’s slightly more lethargic compared to how he was yesterday but to be honest that’s probably since we switched him to what will be his outdoor hutch from the indoor hutch we brought him home in.. we joined the two together – what’s happened since then is whenever I take him out so he can have a run around he wants to go straight back to his new hutch and he bites at the bars or tries to dig back in. He is moving around abit inside the new hutch but yesterday he seemed to love it when he was let out- even if I leave the doors to it open so he can hop out when he wants he isn’t really bothered about doing so. Not sure if this is related to possibly feeling poorly because of the food problem or maybe he just feels safe inside his new hutch? It’s difficult when I don’t really know him yet so don’t know what behaviour is normal
- 07/26/2017 at 9:08 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5835 posts
  It was a pretty quick turn around to finding out you were giving the wrong food. Keep an eye out, and this will just serve as a unplanned reminder that when you actually want to add new food in the diet, rather than it being a mistake on someone else’s part, do it slowly! My thought is perhaps they gave you timothy instead of alfalfa pellets, which isn’t too big of a deal since it was caught early. Wick was actually switched much earlier than is usual for rabbits because of his health/calcium intake, and he’s fine, so your rabbit is not poisoned or anything.
  
  Your paranoia is a good signal that your rabbit will have a pretty good life honestly, haha.
  
  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.
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