Elara stopped eating her pellets

[LittlePuffyTail]

Leaving me really baffled. She eats cardboard and paper like she’s starving but this past week stopped eating her pellets. Really weird. Not a new bag or anything. Vet checked her front teeth but no other signs that it could be a dental thing. She’s still eating lots of hay and pooping well. Anyone else experience this before? Very frustrating. 

[Wick & Fable]

Sudden change in taste? Wick literally went from bonkers about orchard hay for like 3 months to not eating it at all in 1 day. So bizarre.

Have you tried changing presentation? A different bowl or environment may stimulate curiosity for it again.

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.

[Luna]

Luna has never turned down a pellet (except when she was sick). Then again, she has always been crazy about pellets in the first place. Is Elara the same, or does she usually feel more “meh” about pellets?

[DanaNM]

Could the pellets be old and not as tasty? Do they seem an off color or smell? Maybe getting musty or something?

I’ve noticed when I get large bags that Bertha doesn’t go as crazy for them when they get stale (even though I keep them in an airtight container).

Will she take a treat (like an oat or a cheerio), and veggies?

When Bunston wasn’t feeling well, pellets were the first thing he didn’t want, but it would be coupled with small poops.

. . . 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.  

[LBJ10]

How old are the pellets? Do they smell “off”? Even if they aren’t bad, sometimes they start to get this stale smell to them.

[joea64]

I’ve been noticing that Panda and Fernando haven’t been eating as many of their morning pellets as usual lately, too; yesterday they left most of them in the bowl. I have a feeling it’s because the current bag I’m using (originally bought in January) is close to empty and the pellets at the bottom might not be smelling/tasting as good. I’ve been planning to get a new bag this weekend anyway, so.

[Gina.Jenny]

Snickers does this every so often, and turns her nose up even when offered a different brand, freshly opened… It lasts a few days then in her own good time she resumes easting them, meanwhile Mini gets to polish of her share at his leisure

[LittlePuffyTail]

Hmm…that might be it. It’s a big bad that is nearing the bottom. I really hope it’s just her being fussy. Although I don’t need anymore fussiness in this house, my kid is driving me nuts…lol.

She’s still eating veg, hay and hard bunny biscuits so I doubt it’s her teeth.

I tried serving them to her mushed up like Bindi’s and she wouldn’t touch them. I’ll have to get a fresh bag to try.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Well, it’s not the freshness of the pellets. Just bought her a new bag that smells really nice. Won’t touch them. I’m super frustrated right now. You all know, I don’t need any more bunny problems.

[Deleted User]

Oh no! I was going to say that they may not be fresh. I noticed that the bottom bag pellets were less fragrant and colorful, and she wasn’t going nuts for them like she used to. I buy Small Pet Select so I can only get it in a 10 lb bag, and Ophelia only gets 2TBSP of pellets per day….so the bottom of the bag tends to be quite old by the time it’s being used.

Do you have any forage you could put in the bowl with pellets? I do that for Ophelia when she’s less-than-excited for those bottom of the bag pellets. She’ll usually end up just eating the pellets while she’s eating the other yummy stuff. But she’s a little piglet so ^.^

[LittlePuffyTail]

She did eat a few last night. I have some chamomile flowers on the way from BB but maybe I could chop up some fresh mint and mix it in. If this continues, I’ll probably bring her to the vet to have her molars checked. My buns refuse to give me a few months off from the vet. The last visit was not my vet and she just checked her front teeth.

[BB8]

Any updates on Elara?

[LittlePuffyTail]

Still not eating pellets. This morning she only finished half her veggies. She did eat the other half a bit later but I’m concerned. She did eat some Critical Care on a plate today. Then I tried to be sneaky and do 1/2 pellets and 1/2 CC but no go.

It’s very strange because I’ve always had bunnies that LOVE food. She’s not a little piggy like all my other bunnies. Sterling was insane with food. And I’ve never had bunnies just sort of be “off” food wise. They either devoured their food or wouldn’t touch it and were clearly unwell.

I’m concerned about all her cardboard eating so I took away her cardboard house since she already ate like half of it. Feel so bad for her, there is nothing for her to do in her condo until my Binky Bunny order arrives. Won’t eat pellets but eats cardboard like it’s candy. 

I have an apt. for her with my vet Thursday. Hate to do this since she was just at the vet a couple weeks ago but that wasn’t my regular rabbit vet and she only checked her front teeth. I want to rule out anything going on in her mouth. Bindi is also going in for an ear check. They’ve been bothering him lately.

[Luna]

I think it was a good idea to take away her cardboard house, at least long enough to see if it is contributing to her not eating pellets. A follow up visit with your usual vet should also help rule out other possible causes.

It’s been awhile since I heard anything about Bindi’s ears bothering him. Hopefully it’ll just end up being a routine check-up .

[LittlePuffyTail]

So Elara went to the vet yesterday and vet saw one of her molars was quite long. So will book a trimming in the next couple of weeks. Hate these. Hate putting a bunny under for the first time. So much worry.

Vet said she was probably fed just junk pellets and no hay and that’s why her tooth is long, she doesn’t think it’s gonna be a recurring problem. No way to know if that’s why she’s off her pellets. I think she’s just fussy. She didn’t like the chamomile flowers from the BB store that all my bunnies have always gone nuts over. She was probably fed like muslie type food and just picked the good stuff out.

No pellets in not keeping her from gaining weight, though. She gained 1/2 a lb and is now 9 lbs.

[BB8]

Well I’m glad to hear that the vet doesn’t think her molars are gong to be a recurring problem! Sending a lot of good vibe for Elara!

[DanaNM]

I bet that molar is the cause! I think it’s more common for buns to want less hay when their teeth are bothering them, but I’ve heard that each bunny is different and often there’s a shift in preferences, not necessarily one thing they all stop wanting.

Hoping it all goes smoothly and she feels better after her trim!

. . . 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.  

[LittlePuffyTail]

Thanks guys. I’ll be booking the apt. next week, hopefully.

And Bindi is waiting for the results of his ear culture. Another infection.

[Luna]

Sending tooth and ear vibes ((((Elara & Bindi))))

[LittlePuffyTail]

Thanks, Luna.

[LittlePuffyTail]

So, totally weird. Today Elara ate all her pellets. Both breakfast and supper. Weird bunny….

[Luna]

So then the long molar isn’t the cause of her not eating her pellets? Elara you are one confusing bun!  Well, add that to the list of mysteries, but at least she’s eating her pellets now.

[LittlePuffyTail]

She is an enigma. Beautiful and complicated.

[Author]

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