Does my baby bunny have gas?

[Brittinay]

Hi My bunny is 2 months old i started feeding her dry pellets about two days ago she was on oatmeal when i started giving her more dry pellets her stomach started gurgling and its only once a twice aday I hear it. she is still drinking and eating , shes still playing with her toys etc. but i'm worried because I just had a bunny die not to long ago and were not sure what caused his death r.i.p. I got rid of all his old stuff cleaned cage with scolding hot water as well as the food bowls she doesnt drink from a bottle she kept smacking it so I gave her a water bowl back she likes them better . But i am worried because I dont want to lose another bunny. please and thanks

[CheriB603]

Is she pooping? She may have gas but as long as she’s pooping the gas will pass. If she is eating, drinking, pooping and hopping around normally, don’t worry… If the pooping stops, or if she is not eating or drinking, THEN worry. Just keep a close eye on her. Empty her litterbox so you can see if she’s pooping.

[Brittinay]

thanks cherib603 she is pooping like normal. I"m gonna let her run around for a little while on the floor to see if thatll keep it going to get the gas out. I cut down on the pellets put her back on oats because Im afraid the pellets may be too much for her right now. As it did not start until she began to eat them . Hoping she was just having issues digesting them and the oats will calm it down .

[MoveDiagonally]

Changing diet suddenly can cause problems but you really should get her on a good plain pellet (no extras like seeds, ect). Oats often cause stomach issues so I would take her off them completely. Is she getting hay?

[Brittinay]

she is eating plenty of hay. I spoke to the pet store where I got her they said to keep her away form pellets and keep her on oats shes been eating oats since she was a baby I mixed the pellets in and gradually gave her mor pellets than oats but when I done that her stomach started gurbling . Shes eating pretty much hay and oats today she sounds okay. she was up active shes ready to  come out and play .I feed her this stuff called "complete feed for rabbits " by small world from walmart and I got carefresh timothy hay she eats that to galour but they told me to limit her on that because of her age. she will be 3 months next month. she is pooping ALOT like when i got her she isnt exactly tidy yet. but shes going to the bathroom. eating drinking . I havent heard any noises lately maybe a little bubbling sound but that could be me mistaking her grinding her teeth she does that sometimes.

[MoveDiagonally]

Here is a trusted source with diet recommendations for all ages of rabbits:
http://rabbit.org/faq-diet/

Oats are not good for rabbits of any age and you really shouldn’t be feeding them at all. Oats are also not giving her all the vitamins and minerals that she needs to grow and be healthy. She should be eating unlimited pellets and hay right now. The pet store is giving you bad advice that is not good for your rabbit’s long term health.

[Deleted User]

Pet stores are rarely a trusted source of information on diet. Pellets are a well balanced source of essential vitamins and nutrients your rabbit NEEDS! She will be having much more severe problems then gas if she isn’t properly fed. Rabbits are not the same as people or many other pets, stomach sounds are not usually a bad sign in a rabbit.

Other then that I can only echo everything that Move Diagonally has said, her advice is excellent and precisely the same as I’d have given to you. Please do read the article and checkout the website she posted links to, there is valuable information there to help your rabbit grow well and stay healthy.

[jerseygirl]

Ditto the advice given. If you do take her off oats, do it slowly while introducing a new feed.

Also, she can have as much hay as she likes. . It’s the best thing for her.

I’m sorry you lost the rabbit you had before. Was he a young bunny?

[Brittinay]

thanks I have been slowly putting more pellets in her oats . her stomach gurgling is gone. here is the picture of the brand of pellets I am currently using she seems to like http://www.walmart.com/ip/Small-World-Rabbit-Feed-Complete-Rabbit-Pet-Food-25-lb/10323572

 

it says while feeding the rabbit this hay is not needed but she loves her hay. My first bunny used to eat it with hay all the time Hope  cant get enough hay shes right there when I bring her fresh hay in the morning.

[Brittinay]

Pepper would have been two next month on the 3rd. I still miss him alot. he was a great bunny . he was lion lop my new bunny is mini rex so silly.

[MoveDiagonally]

Hay is always needed. There is likely not going to be a time in your rabbits life that they do not need unlimited hay. It should be 80% of their overall diet. Small World’s Rabbit Pellets are not the best but they should be fine for your rabbit as a baby. You will want to transition her to a new food at around 7 months of age. Some recommended rabbits pellets/brands are:
– Oxbow Essentials Bunny Basic T Adult
– Kaytee Timothy Complete Adult (Plain Pellet Only)
– Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Adult Rabbit (Pro Health line only, not regular Forti-Diet line)
– Zupreem Nature’s Promise and Timothy Naturals
– Sweet Meadow Timothy Rabbit Pellets
– American Pet Diner Timmy Rabbit
– Purina Fiber3.

Please look at and read the info from the link I posted previously. It outlines the recommended rabbit diet for all ages very well and provides you links with further information. Rabbit.org is a great place to start reading and learning about rabbit care.

[Brittinay]

Thanks Everyone this is a update on everything but I have listed the questions neatly below. I have bought her fresh bag of Kaytee Timothy hay she loves it. I took the pellets away from her she seemed to of been avoiding them and knocking them out her bowl and just eating her oats. However her poops are more like coa coa pebbles (small) they used to be like ( coa coa puffs) big round moist. Shes beggining to go more and more with a bunch of small ones. She drinks water on occasion she is still curious and hopping around perfectly fine like normal. I introduced her to a good flowing water bottle and left her bowl of water there til she learns she gets the concept but mainly only drinks after eating hay or food. She is not acting strange she is more mellowed out to the sounds of her new home and more relaxed she is responsive , she loves having her free time out of the cage I try to get her out twice a day 1-2hours each time. shes not quite interested in the toys I give her she keeps going after things she should not have and I have to keep gently nudging her away. SO im gonna list my questions at the bottom so its more clear what Im asking just thought the bio above would be useful

 

 

Hope is a 2 month old mini rex

 

She currently eats quaker quick minute oats

Timothy Hay

Apple wood sticks

Water

 

1.Hopes poops went from be O to being 0 in size she has not stopped eating or but she does drink very little she only drinks when shes done eating. She does not like the pellets she pushes them out to eat her oats and timothy hay only.

 

2.When I first brought her here she was very very active everywhere reacting to everything . Now she is kind of mellow hops around lays down comes up to you loves being petted , not as jumpy or scared – is this normal after the rabbit is getting used to home ? this is her 2nd week home.

 

3.When I first started her on pellets he had stomach gurgling and eventually quit eating them herself but stuck to her oatmeal and hay. Then her poops got smaller after she at the pellets . She hasnt been on them for about 5 days now and her poops are still small . I keep trying to introduce her to water over and over.

 

4.She still loves to like and nibble. She is always excited to get her fresh serving of hay , food and water everyday. She doesnt exactly eat it right away she goes back and forth every once and  while through out the day.

 

 

 

Maybe I"m just too worried cuz I recently lost a bunny before her . but please help me out if you can!

[MoveDiagonally]

Your rabbit NEEDS pellets to grow and be healthy right now. Oats are just empty calories while pellets are full of necessary nutrients. There are people that do not feed pellets to ADULT rabbits BUT those rabbits require 12+ types of veggies in large quantities each day to get proper nutrition. Right now you are NOT providing for your rabbit properly by not meeting her dietary needs.

Insufficient diet can lead to a lot of health problems and you're putting your rabbit at risk. If you don't want to lose another rabbit you need to educate yourself on what she needs to be healthy. Please read the links I have provided you with. These sources can be trusted and I would say 90% of the people on this forum feed their rabbits based on the reccomendations offered there. 

http://rabbit.org/faq-diet/
http://rabbit.org/suggested-vegetables-and-fruits-for-a-rabbit-diet/

[Deleted User]

I echo Move Diagonally. You obviously care very much about your rabbit so please take a few minutes , read the pages that have been given to you, and plan accordingly in your Rabbit’s best interest! You are feeding her through some of her most vital months of growth so while good nutrition is important throughout a rabbit’s life it is truly essential right now for her to grow properly and enjoy a healthy happy life. Isn’t she worth those few minutes study and the changes that will keep her well and happy? Also if you (as you can) learn more on the pages that have been given to you, on that site, and on this one you will have a much clearer idea about what you do need to feel concerned about, and what is normal healthy rabbit behaviour.

[Brittinay]

please do not be angry with me. Most of my information comes from local vets until I found this site. I have put a few pellets in mixed in her oats . Ive never had this problem with my last bunny so I am very confused sorry for all the commotion.. I will take the recommended info thank thank you.

[Beka27]

Has she been to the vet yet?

[Brittinay]

not yet just got her a little over two weeks ago. Started her on timothy mixed with alfalfa hay and gave her some pellets to eat her bowels are moving now and getting larger close to normal. and she is drinking more seems like shes starting to feel better.

 

 

Any reccomendations though?

[Brittinay]

I have spoken to vets over the phone but beggining not to trust the ones around here. I am going to this one in Maryland out of state for me but they treat exotic animals.

[Tessie]

Sounds like you’re making lots of positive changes! Make sure she has pellets available, it may just take her time to get used to them.
A good vet is very important for keeping your bun healthy, many vets are pretty clueless with rabbits unfortunately. Finding an exotics vet is a great decision!

[Brittinay]

Thanks. she is getting better but seems to want to ignore the pellets? what should I do.

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