fatty foods for bunny? :)

[AnnaW]

Hia!

For those of you who know my bun Biscuit, he’s 8 next month and hasnt eaten ANY hay for years, he literally wont touch the stuff He has very high quality (and expensive) pellets for mature rabbits, but what else can i give him that is fattening as he’s underweight!

Recently i’ve been making him porridge with his pellets soaked in hot water and porridge oats which he loves, but i want some more variety for the little guy, so any help would be appreciated

Thanks!

[Sarita]

My first advice is to consult with a vet on his weight.

You don’t want to give a rabbit fatty foods as that is not good for them at any age.

[Elrohwen]

Does he get veggies?

I would talk to a vet about any diet intending to fatten him up – first, older rabbits can often look skinnier but it doesn’t really mean he’s overweight. Second, feeding any high fat or high calorie foods can really cause havoc to his digestive system as rabbits are designed for low cal/high fiber eating.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Ok I know you said he doesn’t eat hay and I’m sure you know him best since you’ve had him for years, but what about reintroducing alfalfa hay? Its supposed to be the tastiest, and its a bit fattier. You might have to try a few different brands, I’ve had mixed luck with oxbow :/ One bag they will devour and the next they wont even look at.

[Elrohwen]

I think alfalfa hay is a good idea, S&LHuman!

[AnnaW]

Yeah i spoke to my vet, she said about the hay but of course she knows that he wont eat it, he hasnt for about 6 years now. So she basically said give him what he likes to keep his weight off, obviously not mega unhealthy stuff but at his age he deserves a treat She did weigh him and everything, and would like him to get to like 2.3 ish, so thats what we’re aiming for!
And thanks, i’ve reintroduced 4 different types of hay now including alfalfa, timmothy and some other stuff, he just refuses! He doesnt seem to even recognise it as food bless him
Thanks though!

[Elrohwen]

Well, as long as you have your vet’s approval for what you’re feeding, then it sounds good to me!

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Posted By AnnaW on 11/30/2011 07:01 AM
Yeah i spoke to my vet, she said about the hay but of course she knows that he wont eat it, he hasnt for about 6 years now. So she basically said give him what he likes to keep his weight off, obviously not mega unhealthy stuff but at his age he deserves a treat She did weigh him and everything, and would like him to get to like 2.3 ish, so thats what we’re aiming for!
And thanks, i’ve reintroduced 4 different types of hay now including alfalfa, timmothy and some other stuff, he just refuses! He doesnt seem to even recognise it as food bless him
Thanks though!

 

Thats so strange! Maybe if you dipped it in chocolate? *J/K, please do not feed your bunny chocolate*

[AnnaW]

yeah i guess, he’s a bit of a banana addict … and one a month he gets like a 5p sized amount of a ginger nut biscuit which he LOVES. But he’s so cute, how can i resist! ^^ I’ve always given him little bits here and there which I know i shouldnt really, but hey he’s got to 8 with no health issues so i guess i’m not a bad mamma
And haha honestly i’ve tried EVERYTHING :p I’ve even tried hiding it so he thinks he’s being naughty by eating it … he’s the sort of rabbit who might do something if he thought it was cheeky … but even that didnt work!!

[Pandorachik]

Hmm… have you tried clover? They love it, yet it’s fattening. If he is REALLY skinny, I suggest it! But otherwise they don’t need fat-stuff! ;D Hope this helps ;]

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I’d try alfalfa, it’s absolutely essential he eats it. I don’t think mine would eat hay if they had oatmeal either! Try reducing the slurry, and offerin regular pellets and alfalfa hay to get him started It’s essential he gets eating hay before he develops digestive or dental problems.

[AnnaW]

Pandorachik – thanks i’ll try that!
and Kokaneeandkahlua – he absolutely refuses to eat it, for the last 6 years he hasnt touched timothy hay, grass hair, alfalfa hay etc. I bought cheap alfalfa and a really expensive bag, he wont so much as look at either of them I reduced his pellets to get him started, but he has teeth problems and finds it hard to eat his pellets anyway, hence softening them up into porridge. He already has dental problems, my vet said not a huge issue as he’s 8 and loads of buns get them from a very young age so i’d done well to prevent it up until now – he has a misaligned jaw. I know that its essential he starts eating hay, but he hasnt touched it AT ALL for years and years, my vet said its really dangerous to just stop all of their other food to force them to eat it so i’m not doing that! I’ve reduced everything else and it hasnt worked, he just doesnt want to eat it and i can’t force him!

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