barely eating pellets

[cainan]

Original post was:

The last two days Merry’s been leaving about half of her pellets uneaten at night.  Her foster mom told me that that would be one of the first signs that Merry might be having trouble with her teeth.

I just saw the vet about a month ago, who said that Merry was doing okay, and that not eating hay was when I should worry.

Merry’s been chomping down no problem on hay and salad…. so I’m confused.  I don’t want to have to put Merry through the traumatic drive to the vet (and pay $75!) if there’s no reason.

Is it possible she’s just gotten picky?

 

To answer the responses I got in the dupe post:

“What is her dental history?  Does she require frequent tooth trims?  Is this something you’re prepared for for the long haul?”

Yes, she has had frequent tooth trims in the past, but they’ve gotten less frequent.  I knew this going in and of course I’m prepared for it Don’t want to -have- to do it but if it needs to be done I will!

“Unfortunately I agree with her foster mom and that was my first thought also. First, how much do you give her daily? If it’s more than a quarter of a cup it could be too much and she’s lost interest. Also, is it adult pellets (Oxbow Bunny Basics-T) or baby alfalfa based? I would change it over to the adult kind I recommend because they can dislike alfalfa after a while and it is fattening. Is she chewing on any of her hard toys? Watch her eat. I still think you’re probably going to have to see the vet. Keep us posted.”

she gets a scant 1/8 c. a day in the morn and then in the evening- she’s been on Kaytee Timothy Complete.  Yes, she’s chewing on her hard toys (she always does )  She’s having no trouble chewing the hay, showing no signs of pain.

The thing that’s confusing me is that the vet said that hay was the thing I had to watch for because pellets basically melt in their mouths – so as long as she’s still able to chomp and chew the hay, she should be okay.

thanks all

[Sarita]

Chewing hard toys isn’t really going to help with the molars.

My experience with rabbits who have dental problems and change their eating habits is that is can most likely be due to dental pain. I would say that because it’s a problem in the past, then you are doing the right thing to have the vet check her teeth – better safe than sorry :~)

Let us know what the vet says.

[cainan]

Thanks for the response.
Another thing I thought of – she’s eating her daytime pellets – it’s the night time ones that she’s only eating half of.

I’m a little ignorant in how fast the teeth could be a problem – but I saw the vet just last month and she said her teeth were fine. Could it really happen that quickly?

[Sarita]

It can happen quickly. It does sound like you have a handle on the dental problems though. Just might be a good idea to have the vet do a quick check on the teeth just to be sure.

[cainan]

I made an appointment for tonight. I just hate taking her there because it makes her a shivering frightened little girl and just breaks my heart to see her like that. (although I know, it’s better than any other alternative! :/)

[Sarita]

I agree, I feel the same way. How long ago was her last molar trim?

How long has she been off her night pellets?

[cainan]

August was the last trim. It’s been two nights since she’s been off the pellets.

[RabbitPam]

Three months is not unusual to need a trim. It does sound like it’s her teeth again. Good luck tonight.

[mocha200]

does every bunny have to have there tooth trimmed or is it just if they have problems?

[Monkeybun]

Just if they have problems, mocha.

[cainan]

Update:
When I got home, she had eaten the majority of her pellets, gobbled down her salad and chowed down on hay. She also pooped (normal size and amount). I waited as long as I could to see if there was any sign of pain (none) – called the vet and after asking me if she’d eaten, etc. etc. they didn’t think it was any sort of emergency, so I canceled the appointment.

Of course, I’m totally freaking inside wondering if I made the right choice – but I just can’t spend the money right now – esp. since I know I’m going to have to have the molar trim and boy oh boy they’re expensive.

Please send out some good vibes for Merry (and for nervous me!)

[Monkeybun]

If she gets 1/8 of a cup twice a day, thats more than enough. My buns get 1/8 total each per day She may just not want that much.

[cainan]

I thought it was high myself.

I ended up putting her pellets on a plate instead of her regular bowl and she was eating them. Hopefully it was something as simple as being picky about her place setting!

[Sarita]

Glad she’s eating again :~)

[bunnytowne]

She sounds hungry now.

Her bowl was too high.   Ruby’s was too small she kept banging it around and I replaced it with a bigger round one so she could get her face in there comfy n all.

Cotton has a low sided large round bowl.   He puts his nose close to the bowl to eat cuz his bottom lip probably bothers him if he eats normal.  So he has a low sided large round bowl to make it easier for him.

So maybe  it was the bowl?   hmmm….    isn’t that something.      They sure are picky little rascals. 

[RabbitPam]

Also, you can scatter their pellets around the cage if you want them to get exercise by foraging for the pellets on the totally flat surface of the cage bottom. Some bunnies enjoy it this way.

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