doesnt like pellets

[Ang]

so moreland doesnt eat pellets at least i never see him.  he eats veggies and hay wont eat bread. eats a slice of apple here and there. but i never see him eat pellets he even eats oats.  are hay, veggies and oats sufficent?  what can i do to get him to eat the pellets?

 

i dont know what brand they are.  they came from the shelter with him.

 

[Sarita]

Well, bread is not good for rabbits so that’s good he doesn’t eat that. Oats are also a treat unless he is very underweight or an older rabbit who needs to gain weight.

Hay and veggies are good but since it can be hard for us to determine if that is sufficient nutrients a small amount of pellets would be good to supplement his diet.

I have to say it’s unusual for a rabbit not to like pellets. What type have you tried for him? Maybe you need to try different brands to find one that he likes.

Also sometimes rabbits who have dental problems usually shun pellets too – have you had the vet check his teeth?

[Ang]

we looked at his teeth before bringing him home and he does not have malacoushis? (sp) sorry i know that is so bad at spelling. he may be eating them i just dont see him eat it. he rather have the other stuff such as grasy and hay, and herbs that i have been feeding him. i will try another pellet. he does go to the vet on the 30th so i will have them check that as well.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Well, a vet normally needs to look at the teeth, even if it’s bad teeth-it’s hard for us to tell The vet uses a scope and can see the back teeth too.

I wouldn’t feed oats, and sure wouldn’t feed bread though!!

What brand of pellets are you feeding? I’m feeding Martins and they all love them! I tried switching to oxbow by blending it in there but I just ended up vaccuming up all the oxbow off the ground as they dug out the pellets they didn’t like!

If you try switching pellets, do it slowly. Add a little of the new, and increase the amount daily until you’re switched to the new stuff.

[Sarita]

Are you measuring the pellets? I think I would try measuring or counting his pellets (I know that is tedious but it may be the only way to know). Maybe count out 10 or 20 at a time to put in his bowl. Some rabbits just aren’t big pellet eaters either – I have quite a few rabbits that just don’t go that crazy for them.

Also if he has molar spurs you will not be able to see those – you would need an otoscope and they are very tiny too. Yes, when he is under anaesthesia have them check for molar spurs.

[Ang]

will do thank you so much, i will try counting the pellets too! he doesnt seem to have problems eating eveything else like his veggies. i will be sure not to give him bread or oats. these are two things that were told to me by the rescue. at least he wasnt having the bread! thanks for the advice i truely appreciate it!

[kimberleyanddarren]

have you tried wiping the pellets with his fav veg/fruit? they will then taste like the fruit they like and eventually they might like it.

[Ang]

thats a really good idea. thank you! i will try that tonight when i get off work

[dmh426]

No bread! Bunnies can’t digest human made food. Anything man made is bad is a good rule of thumb. Have you tried putting small pieces of fruit, dried fruit or the oats in with the pellets? Sometimes you can trick them into eating pellets that way. it’s worth a shot.

[moltobello80]

My bunnies dont get pellets at all.  I used Oxbow so i know it was a decent brand.  One of my buns went into gi stasis twice.  The first time I had to put him in the “hospital” for a few days and the second time I was able to fix him up.  My other bun has soft stools when he eats pellets.  They are 5 and 4 years old now.  Had them both since they were babies.  It just didnt work for them and it made them fat.  I feed 2-4 cups of veggies everyday with a variety of at least 3 different veggies, unlimited hay and water, and a slice of fruit everyday.  They are perfectly healthy and happy.  In fact I think they are healthier without the pellets.  If they are getting enough veggies and hay then theres no reason to feed pellets.  You dont see them foraging for pellets in the wild right?  Pellets were originally designed for meat/fur rabbits (disgusting!) and show rabbits to plump them up.  I hope this helps.

[Sarita]

That’s true motlonbello but you do have to make sure you are giving them enough nutrients through their veggies.

Many rabbits cannot tolerate pellets it’s true. Moreland is a new rabbit owner too so she’s still learning and until she is sure he is getting enough nutrients and she’s sure what she is doing then it might be best to try to have him eat pellets.

[lilmizzsnickerz]

my bunnys dont like the plain pellets only the realy colourful stuff….

[moltobello80]

This is a useful website for all around bunny care. 

http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabcare.html

 

Just an fyi 

 

 

[Deleted User]

The colourful stuff should not be fed to rabbits also … just plain boring is so much better … what they don’t have they will not miss and if they are hungry they will eat … Just like children .  And always check the quantity of pellets you are giving your bun .. too much will make them fat.

[Ang]

i looked at his pellet dish and he seems to be eating them just not a ton.  he gets a nice handful of parstley cilantro dandelions mustard greens and timothy hay.  a carrot sliver and a slice of apple (these are treats once a day) i always make sure after i get home from work and when he wakes up he gets the greens.  i also give him brocooli but i am currently out.

he may just get to full on the other suff.  i dont exceed two cups of veggies a day.  pretty much a cup at a time he has.  then he grazes on it througout the day.

 

 

[Sarita]

He’s probably only eating what he needs then. It sounds like a well rounded diet.

What about hay? How is he with his hay?

[Ang]

i have him on timothy hay right now.  i was wondering about other kinds to give him.  he always has a plentiful stock of hay and loves it.  he gets grass as well and loves that too.

 

[RabbitPam]

If you’ve got a bun that loves Timothy hay already, I’d say stick with it. Once they get picky about the hay it’s harder to feed them and the hay is the most important element in their diet since it keeps their tummies moving in the right direction.

I was going to ask if he eats carrots at all. I have learned that carrots are strictly a treat, but you can see if he is having trouble with his teeth if he normally loves carrots but now refuses to chew one. Try a little baby carrot or just a quarter piece of a regular one to test the theory. If pellets hurt to chew, probably a carrot would also. Apple slices are much softer. I like Oxbow pellets, and Big Red Rabbit Food was sold in the Northeast US which was a good brand I used until I moved south.

[Ang]

he eats a baby carrot a day with his little sliver of apple. those are his “treats” sometimes if im trying to bribe him i will give him another carrot. yestereday he lunged at me twice so i gave him a carrot. lol!

[Balefulregards]

Coco will boycott the bits of Oxbow ( I am in a transition from an alfalfa based to the timothy) – but I leave them there and she eventually eats them. However, she eats all her veggies and and munches hay before she goes for the pellets.

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