Eating habits

[Skeeternosky]

I left my rabbit at a friend’s house Sunday July 20th and brought him home on Wednesday July 23rd, and ever since then, he has refused to eat his pellet food. His behavior is normal, but he just hasn’t been eating the pellet food with his normal gusto.  My friend did have her own rabbit, but she never let them interact with each other (we had prior experience with a “play date” we planned…and it ended with our rabbits trying to kill each other. Both were unharmed. ). My rabbit hates travel, so I was hoping it was just the stress of being transported there and back in the span of a few days…

He eats loads of hay and drinks tons of water (enough to smell up his litter box after one day…and I mean, REALLY stinky. Worse than usual.)

The only change I have made in his diet is that I left the small bag of treats that I use to coax him back into his cage at night, but surely that can’t be the cause of his refusal to eat?  Also (and this is probably important) I keep hearing small gurgling noises when I’m close to him (and it’s not my stomach, so it has to be his…).

I’m vexed, and I know it’s late, so I won’t expect a reply until tomorrow.

[BinkyBunny]

Did your friend feed a different kind of pellet? Sometimes new treats given can cause a problem, especially if they are higher in sugar than normal, and though you should watch and not give too many treats as it can cause an overgrowth and imbalance of bacteria, you should also be careful about quiting them suddenly too as that can cause digestive upsets with gas issues.

On another thread we were just discussing why consistency of the same foods are important, and if someone even gives a bunny a more sugary treats for a few days, you should wean them off of it, otherwise it can cause too much gas in the stomach.

Does he eat anything at all? Has he been pooping? Does he seem uncomfortable? Will he eat treats at all? If not, this can quickly turn into an emergency.

[Skeeternosky]

My friend fed him the same pellet food I provided.

He eats his hay and he eats the veggies that I give him once a day, but he still refuses to touch his pellet food. I don’t think he seems uncomfortable. He is still hopping about and cheerful (and still chewing on my things).

[BinkyBunny]

hmmm. Has the bag of pellets been left open, or stored near anything fragrant? It is good that he is eating hay and veggies, but it is unsual that he would all of sudden just no eat any pellets. Did your friend say he ate pellets during his stay?

[Author]

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