Any suggestions on the diet of semi-messed up rabbit?

[elizabethy738]

So, my rabbit is nearly seven years old and he’s had many health problems ranging from an abscess that occurred nearly 4 years ago (he needed half his teeth removed) to ear problems (he’s a lop). His teeth have been messed up for years yet he somehow can still eat. The only thing he’s capable of eating nowadays is special made pellets. 

Currently, I’m a bit worried about his diet. Since he’s not physically capable of eating hay and vegetables, he’s been living off pellets made from Critical Care and Oxbow Alfalfa Pellets for 3 years without any diarrhea. Also, he has a ton of drugs like MetaCam, lifelong antibiotic pills, and he needs Penicillin shots every other day because his abscess came back a year ago and he can’t handle another surgery [I’m 18 and a college student, so he sucks up all my extra cash ). I’m a bit worried about the toll of all those medications but I realize that’s he’s getting old. 

Honestly, I’m not even sure what my question is 

Have any of you dealt with a similar situation like this? His mouth is so small (when his mouth healed from the surgery, it made the opening of his mouth extremely tight). Is there anything else I can try feeding him? 

Thanks. 

[jerseygirl]

Welcome : )

That is fantastic that you have been able to keep him stable on the modified pellets so long. Kudos! I actually think the alfalfa based pellets might be good for him being a dental bun, but also with him fighting ongoing infections. It would help keep his weight stable. Just watch that it doesn’t create thick bladder sludge. Excretion of excess calcium is normal but when it becomes thick, toothpaste consistency and yellow, it is harder for them to empty it out the bladder.

I don’t even know if bringing veg into his diet would be a good thing or not… as it could cause the poops to become loose.  Have you tried some greens? Would you need to chop them finely or can he manage some things?

Pellets are designed to be a complete feed so it should be meeting most of his nutritional needs, IMO.

How is his weight?
 
Something you could try is soaked hay pellets. If you are in the US, Standlee make 100% hay pellets. Putting boiling water on them would break down the pellet then it could be served as a hay mash one cooled. It would keep the fibre moving through him without additional starches/carbs that might upset the gut microflora.

[elizabethy738]

)))))))
I will definitely watch out for the bladder sludge, thanks for that advice!

I have tried greens in the past but he can’t pick them up when chopped or chew them. The only reason he can handle pellets is because they dissolve.

He is about 2.8 pounds (about a year ago, he dropped to 2.1 but he went back up when re-modified the pellet recipe).

Wow! Hay pellets! That’s a great idea, thanks so much. I was worried about his digestive system processing things.
Thanks so much!

[elizabethy738]

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