Layla is a scrawny bunny and I’m worried about her

[Cassi&Charlie]

So Layla came to me from a rescue place, she’d only just got in there and I pretty much adopted her immediately. The rescue said she was abandoned and I guess thats why she’s so skinny. She’s not a fussy eater but she seems reluctant to eat much hay. She’ll pick at it but wont eat heaps. She is just so skinny, I can’t believe that a bunny can be so skinny and not be dead.

My question is…can I feed her lucerne based pellets? I found one with 15% protein and 22% fibre but lucerne based because in Oz there aren’t any that aren’t lucerne based unless I order from Oxbow. Can I feed her the lucerne ones until she gains weight and then just feed her hay and greens? At the moment she doesn’t get any pellets because I’m worried about the lucerne issue.

She also drinks a lot of water, and I thought maybe she had teeth issues and thats why she was picking at the hay? She wont let me pick her up so I can’t see her teeth.

 

[MarkBun]

I hate to sound like a broken record but when in doubt, head to the vet. They can check the teeth, weight and see if there’s anything amiss.

[Deleted User]

Yes I agree with Markus … take your bun to the vet and see if there are any underlying issues which may need addressing.

How old is she?

 

[Cassi&Charlie]

The prob is I have no idea how old she is. She was desexed so I feel like she should be at least 6 months old but who knows? I’m taking her to my vet anyway so they can get to know her and stuff, but any opinion on the pellets?

[Deleted User]

Good girl that you taking her to the vets to get checked over.

I would be giving her some pellets regardless … I can only get the lucerne pellets too here (well, at least I think they are those type … no labelling here, so who knows).

 

[Deleted User]

And I should of asked … are you giving her veggies yet … these should be introduced to her now.

[jerseygirl]

She was desexed thru the shelter wasn’t she? Would they have record of vet who did this? There might be an indication of her age on those records. I’d weigh her also so you can keep an eye in things (or get vet too). I usually get on bathroom scales while holding the bun then deduct my weight from the total. It may be that she’s just young and they don’t really have that fat layer yet and if she’s fairly active, she’s prob burning up the energy. She didn’t look too skinny pics but it’s hard to tell. Vet is way to go.

[jerseygirl]

Just to add.. Maybe get a copy of her record too if you haven’t been given it.

What did they feed her at the shelter? I think it would of been pellets! She’s probably turning up her nose at everything else because she got used to pellets and likes them. Just a guess!

[Sarita]

Yes, I would try the lucerne pellets – usually rabbits with dental problems won’t eat the pellets first but it’s worth having the vet look at her.

As far as hay – she may not even know what this is and it may take her awhile to start eating it.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Keep us posted! I hope she’s alright!!

[MarkBun]

A skinny or malnourished bun should be allowed to eat as much pellets as she can. I wouldn’t worry about the lucern at this time.

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