Not eating his pellets

[GrayDustie]

Hi, I am concerned with my little bunny, he’s not been eating his pellets in a few days, he eats four or three grains and then ignores it, he does drink his water and eats his veggies as usual, he eats his treats and is still being active (digging around and roaming the garden).

He is one year old with 2 months, and a spoiled little cutie (loves giving kisses, he is still giving kisses) and a few weeks back he had a small sore hock problem (it had a minor wound that was looking purplish, but it was treated, it look pinkish now and it’s still a bit swollen, he was still eating his pellets after it was treated).

I’m not sure what to do, our other bunny is eating his pellets just fine, so I don’t think they are caducated.

I keep their cage clean (they have separated cages, since they are both male bunnies, the youngest being the son of the one that is eating normally)

I am a bit scared that he might be sick, can someone help, please??

[Wick & Fable]

Does your rabbit eat hay at all? Selective eating can be a sign of dental problems, in that foods that require more teeth grinding and effort to eat become painful/uncomfortable to eat, therefore they stop. I ask about hay because that is usually the first food to go when dental problems arise, and also because hay is the number one food item to prevent dental issues.

Also, is there any chance the pellets have gone bad?

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.

[DanaNM]

Does he eat his hay?

Not eating a particular food can be sign of a dental problem, so having his teeth checked would be a good first step. Sometimes bunnies will also snub pellets if they are starting to have some gastric trouble. I don’t usually force the pellets on them (because pellets are kind of a treat anyway), but I do push hay and water on them to make sure their tummy keeps moving.

. . . 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.  

[GrayDustie]

He started eating again, he doesn’t eat hay because it’s rare to find it here, he does eat chamomile to help his teeth, maybe he was just bored of it, thanks for the advice, I will take him to have his teeth checked just in case.

[DanaNM]

Hay is very important for digestion and to keep the teeth healthy. Not sure where you are in the world, but you may be able to find a hay source if you seek our feed shops of livestock, or ordering online?

. . . 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.  

[Hazel]

Hay should make up 80% of a rabbit’s diet, they should never be without hay. Agree with Dana, you should try and find a way to get hay for them, keeping a rabbit healthy without it is pretty much impossible.

[GrayDustie]

I live in Nicaragua, cows eat a mix of grains and … food scraps to get big, no hay,  petshops rarely bring hay, and most of the bunnies here are raised with lettuce and certain herbs that are found in the wild, and they are healthy even without the hay (which is a huge relief) they get apple wood branches to chew on for their teeth.

[LBJ10]

Can you grow fresh grass to help supplement?

[Kenny]

Give sticks and wood to chew on. Is straw or grass available?

[Author]

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