Just brought bunny home today – only eating parsley – do I worry yet?

[Knabbel Did It]

We just brought home our rescue bunny today, but we’ve been home for about 3 or 4 hours now and he still hasn’t pee’d or poo’d.  He didn’t do either on the 3 hour trip home either, and now I’m getting a bit antsy about it. 

He has had a little water, no real hay to speak of, but has gobbled down three good bunches of parsley.  Should I just give him more parsley till he’s had his fill, or do I need to limit it to the 2 cups minimum per 6 lbs. per day?  If  that’s the minimum, is there a maximum?  Thanks for the help.  I’ll properly introduce him as soon as I get some photos downloaded to the computer .  He’s a real sweetie!

[Monkeybun]

I would limit the parsley, you want him eating hay. Keep an eye on him, often buns are very nervous when going to a new home, and may take him a bit to settle.

[Knabbel Did It]

Thanks, Monkeybun. When I went to close his bunny bungalow door just now, he was eating some pellets, but not many. Still don’t see any pee or poo though, but then again, I couldn’t see every spot of his nighttime home. If I don’t see something by the morning I’ll get on the phone to the vet that I have lined up.

[jerseygirl]

Congratulations! I’ve been following your threads, waiting for when a bunny would join you. : )

Did this bun receive much in the way of veggies/herbs etc previously? You’ll want to follow the diet he’s been on closely at first, then slowly introduce him to new foods. So give him what he was getting at the shelter or in foster care.

With greens there is not really a maximum but you don’t want to feed so much that they start eating less hay. With some types of veggie you do have to it to limited amounts. Some can cause gas, have high calcium, or too high in sugar etc.

I think just give him a quiet place to settle and keep watch. He might be in a routine with when he eats. There could be a time of day that he’s suddenly eating everything in sight.

[LoveChaCha]

Congrats

If given, a rabbit will eat the entire bunch of veggies lol! My rabbit snubbed lettuce for a long time.

Did you get any of the pellets from his previous owner?

What type of hay do you give to him? It is going to take a bit for him to settle down and relax. Reading your story reminds me of when I bought my little bunch of love home when she was a baby. She wasn’t pooping right away either.

[Beka27]

It’s not uncommon for them to be a bit unsure at first. The two buns I’ve brought home have both pooped/peed very minimally the first day or so. Keep a close eye on him.

[Knabbel Did It]

Very happy to report all is well this morning! Our little bun (still trying to find a name that fits him) had poo, and I assume pee, but it’s hard to tell, in his litter box this morning and was eating his hay. He’s been drinking out of both his water dish and his water bottle as well. My DH gave him a handful of parsley again this morning and he enjoyed it very much, even came out of his house to find and eat the rest on my DH’s lap.

We brought home a small amount of the pellets he’d been eating at the pet store (adoption only through NMHRS) and he’s been eating those as well as the new ones we bought, too. We have a small litter box with Timothy hay in his bungalow, and two more larger ones in his room also filled with Timothy hay.

We didn’t get too many pictures last night because we didn’t want to overwhelm him, but hopefully we’ll get a few today so I can post one here. Thanks again! You bunny friends are great!

[peppypoo]

Glad to know the little guy is doing well…I can’t wait to see pictures! I love dutch bunnies…they’re so beautiful and smart

[Huckleberry]

Squee! Im happy your little bun is doing better! Can’t wait to see those pics! Congrats!

[Elrohwen]

Congrats!! I can’t wait to see pics!

It’s common for bunnies to be a bit nervous at first, but it sounds like he’s settling in really well already.

[Author]

Messages