Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS.  SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED.  We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. 

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time. 

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR Picky Eating?

Viewing 3 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • Marsh
      Participant
      17 posts Send Private Message

        My rabbit used to be very food motivated, but now he isn’t eating his leafy stuff. He’s not sick— he’s still enthusiastically munching away at his hay and pellets, it’s just the leafy greens. I thought maybe he was just bored of what I’d been giving him? But whenever I try and give him something new, he doesn’t even try it. If I leave a brussels sprout or leaf of romaine out for him, he’ll usually get to it eventually, but that’ll be twelve hours later sometimes. I’m not excessively worried—he’s still eating hay, pellets, and the occasional bit of fruit—but I know he’s not getting all the nutrients that he should be.

        He’s also been molting. Could that have something to do with it?


      • GlennTheLionhead
        Participant
        377 posts Send Private Message

          Often picky eating is a classic symptom if dental issues. Molar spurs can sometimes be very difficult to see in routine vet check ups. Also sometimes the tiniest spur can cause them to become picky. Dental issues can be slow and progressive before any serious symptoms start to show and often the rabbits will act fine until they develop tounge lesions and find it painful to eat anything.

          Molt can sometimes cause GI slow down, in my experience the symptoms are usually gas, low appitite, belly pressing.

          Hope you get to the bottom of it soon!


          • Marsh
            Participant
            17 posts Send Private Message

              But the stuff he’s refusing is often softer herbs, and wouldn’t he refuse the brussels sprouts all together if it was dental issues? When I give him swiss chard from my mom’s garden he’ll nibble at the leaf but eat the whole crunchy stem (he used to eat the whole leaf but not touch the stem at all) He’s also eating a lot of timothy hay. Other than this, he’s not shown any behavioral changes. He’s pooping and drinking a normal amount as well. Are there any signs of molar spurs that I should watch out for?


          • DanaNM
            Moderator
            9055 posts Send Private Message

              It does sound like a medical issue, and most likely dental. Dental issues are weird because there isn’t one thing that buns will stop eating. Some go off their pellets, some go off their hay, and others weirdly enough don’t want greens and go for crunchy stuff. It may have to do with the nature of the problem, but it’s hard to know.

              It’s good that he’s still eating hay and drinking though. I would still book him in at the vet and have them do a very thorough oral exam. Light anesthesia or xrays are needed to see what’s really going on because they have 24 molars in that tiny mouth!

              . . . 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.  


            • LBJ10
              Moderator
              17046 posts Send Private Message

                Yes, I think it would be a good idea to rule out a dental issue. They can present differently sometimes.

                Another thought… has he ever seemed uncomfortable after eating veggies? Some bunnies have tummy trouble from veggies. If he felt ill (i.e. gassy) after eating some, he may think he needs to avoid them.

            Viewing 3 reply threads
            • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

            Forum BEHAVIOR Picky Eating?