no pellets

[prince dorian the bun]

My vet is not a fan of pellets or treats and has suggested I don’t give them after a few gassy stomach issues. Dorian never got a huge amount anyway so it isn’t a huge issue, but he now seems a lot hungrier. Usually I would feed him dinner and he would eat a few bites then go to bed and eat the rest for breakfast, lately he eats the whole bowl and then is hungry again when he gets up and eats that full bowl. He also is more likely to come asking for food, he isn’t a food motivated bun at all so he rarely did this in the past (only if I had forgotten to feed him) I am figuring it is the reduction of calories? Should I be feeding him larger amounts more often? His has always eaten a lot of hay, so that seems about the same. Anyone do no pellets? Part of me thinks I may still give him like a teaspoon or so in the evening, and just not feed them when he is molting.

[DanaNM]

I actually see him being hungrier as an improvement, because I think buns should pretty much always act starving! He’s probably thinking, “umm excuse me… aren’t you forgetting something??”

My vet has also said that buns don’t need pellets, so since he’s had some issues lately and you give him a good variety of greens, I would give it a shot for a little while and see how he does.

I don’t think you’ll want to increase his greens, he should be satisfying his hunger with more hay. If you are concerned about his weight, you could start weighing him regularly just to make sure he doesn’t drop a lot of weight too quickly.

To see if it’s really the pellets causing the issue, I think it would make sense to not give any pellets for a few weeks, then if you want to try giving a bit again you will be able to tell if he reacts poorly to them.

. . . 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.  

[prince dorian the bun]

Thanks @DanaNM . Dorian has decided he doesn’t want pellets, so that’s sort of settling that one!  He is going through a lot more hay now as well as greens (he emptied both his litter in yesterday, that’s like 4 times his size in hay, seriously I was impressed), vet said based on the greens (mostly forage and grass) he gets and his weight I can free feed so I am giving little meals if he seems to want it. He said the water content is good for him as he is not a huge drinker. He seems to have mellowed out today, maybe he was making up for having an upset tum.

[ALRyder]

This is interesting. My buns has never gotten pellets on a regular basis. I’ve always used them as treats for tricks. Then again, he eats a ton of hay and he never leaves any of his fresh veggies from breakfast or dinner behind. Every meal is exciting to him. I always thought of this as normal bunny behavior.

[DanaNM]

It sounds like going pellet-free is agreeing with him.  🙂

 

. . . 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.  

[prince dorian the bun]

@ALRyder – I think that is generally normal bunny behavior! Well a lot of buns do seem to get regular pellets, but the other stuff. Dorian a little bit spoiled about his food, he won’t eat anything that he doesn’t find pristine and goes through phases of foods he likes, he also gets greens pretty much whenever he asks or can self serve in his little garden. He has periods he eats a lot and others when he just sort of picks at his greens. He always eats his hay though so I don’t worry, the amount can vary there too. He also always eats dinner with us unless he is not feeling well, even then if he is playing he won’t notice right off and them seem irritated with us despite the fact he was called and the bowl put down 😀 . I can’t use food to successfully get him to do anything he doesn’t want to do, he learned that one pretty early on, and has some will power there even if he really really wants the snack. He will try and steal it and run though.

[ALRyder]

What kind of set up do you have where he’s able to have his own garden and how big is the garden?

 

[prince dorian the bun]

I have a balcony and he has some pots with mint, parsley, grass or whatever cheap fast growing greens (sometimes he nibbles daintily , but often he just eats the whole plant 😀 ). It really is a tiny garden, I should maybe have been clearer!  It was more so he would stop trying to eat my plants, he can’t reach them but he would get pretty determined. Having a few of his own seemed to make him happy and less interested in mine. He occasionally digs in the larger pots or just sits in them looking smug. Right now it’s been a bit chilly and lots of construction so he hasn’t gotten to go out. I do have a larger patio with more veggies and lettuces, but those aren’t self-serve (see the non-dainty eating habit), though some are grown for him.

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