Bunny doesn’t like Timothy or Alfafa

[AliHolly]

I’m at my wits end with this bunny. I’m not new to rabbits. I had rabbits for ten years and have had over 14 healthy, happy bunnies. For the most part, they’re all the same. My new guy though….he’s the first rabbit I’ve ever had try to hump me and he won’t eat his pellets. I got him as a rescue so I don’t know what his two previous owners gave him. I know he’s happier with us than he has been. He’s got a big grassy back yard we let him run around in and he just loves to be held and pet. He’s also has no problems eating foods that are crunchy such as carrots and the dried veggies that come in some of the gourmet rabbit foods, so I know it’s not his teeth. Alas, he won’t eat the pellets, Timothy, or alfafa hay. I’m wasting a lot of money on rabbit food. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[DanaNM]

Are you suuuuure it’s not his teeth?

They use different teeth to eat different things…. so even though he eats dried veggies and carrots, it still could be his teeth!

Will he eat fresh grass?

I would have the vet do a deep molar exam before you spend any more money on different types of hay or foods.

. . . 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.  

[Wick & Fable]

I agree with Dana that teeth shouldn’t be ruled out because of retaining eating habits. Wick is a regular dental maintenance rabbit, and he still eats when he has his usual spurs crop up, so while not eating is a good indicator of teeth issues in many rabbits, it’s not a determining symptom.

The rabbit is going for the non-hay food items, so if it’s not a teeth issue, I suspect he probably had a poor diet. Since hay and hay-related foods in this case (like pellets) are generally the least preferred for rabbits, if he’s from a poor-diet background, it’s not surprising he is abstaining from eating hay. What is your current feeding schedule for him?

— Does he eat a lot of hay/grass?

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.

[kurottabun]

Is he neutered?

As the others have said, getting him to a rabbit savvy vet would be good just to have a general check since he is a rescue. If there’s no teeth problem, then perhaps you could try cutting back on the veggies to encourage him to eat more hay/pellets.

[Heaven]

I second Wick, would be good to know his current feeding schedule. I got my rabbit at 3 months old from owners who didn’t know anything about rabbit care, and had only been feeding him carrots, apples, and poor quality dry food as far as I know. It took a while of me offering hay and transitioning over from the old pellets before he’d happily eat them.

[Author]

Messages