Help ! My rabbit is not eating hay!

[Midori-chan]

Hi I just wanna ask if hormonal surge can be a cause of my bun not eating enough hay? I change his hay daily but he always ignores it. He’s been having this huge soft poops around and I’m just worried if his stomach is okay.

[GlennTheLionhead]

How much has the hay eating stopped? Completely or just a little? How often are the soft poops?

I would probably get him checked out by a rabbit savy vet to be safe, decrease in diet amd change in poops can suggest GI problems and slow downs. Eating less hay can also be an early symptoms to molar spurs, depending on the age of your bun.

Its also worth noting that molt can cause the occasional funny shapped poop, which doesn’t necessarily need vet attention.

[Wick & Fable]

A hormonal surge/puberty will not suddenly cause a rabbit to not eat hay. There are some things you can do to promote hay appetite: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Hay#Encouraging_your_rabbit_to_eat_hay

In addition, there can be a self-promoting cycle rabbits get into where their selective hay eating leads to dental discomfort which then leads to reluctance to eat hay because it is not pleasant…. so if there may be a dental-related reason for the reluctance currently, it would be wise to have your rabbit assessed by a rabbit-experienced exotic vet to try and get a dental exam and see if molar spurs or something may need to be addressed to promote hay eating once again. Note an owner cannot see all of a rabbit’s teeth on their own — a vet needs to do it with the proper tools and sedation, if a more in-depth look is necessary. Signs of dental discomfort can include drooling, fur loss around the mouth, eating food then spitting it out, and selective food eating (e.g., will only eat veggies, but not hay).

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.

[Midori-chan]

Hi thank you for your advices 🙂 As of now he’s eating again though only small amounts of hay.

@GlennTheLionhead the soft poops are not that often, sometimes I won’t see any soft poops in his cage and in some days they’ll be there.

@ Wick & Fable I don’t really see my bun having trouble eating, I mean with his pellet he seems fine eating them. But I appreciate the link you sent.

Thank you very much!!!

[BZOO]

Sherwood has a pellet that is designed for those that don’t eat much hay.  I gave it a try, as Boo was never much for hay.  They do love these pellets, but they have actually increased their hay intake, so I consider that a win!

[Midori-chan]

@BZOO, hi thanks for recommending Sherwood pellet, I’ll give it a try 🙂

[DanaNM]

I would have his molars checked by a rabbit savvy vet.  Rabbits use their molars to chew hay, and if they have molar spurs it can cause pain when they chew (but they are usually able to eat pellets). It’s important to rule out dental issues any time you see “picky-ness” in eating, and especially if his hay eating is low enough that he’s having some soft 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.  

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