Please help. 8 week old feeding

[Johnson-frank]

Me and my boyfriend got two baby rabbits at a pet store. There was no intention of getting the bunnies but they were all over my boyfriend and I noticed that the pet store was not taking care of them.

The first day we got them they would not stop eating hay. They are eating the Timothy Hay and the reason we stuck with this was because this was what the pet store was feeding them. Then on top of that they were being fed Timothy Pellets. 

As I am reading this i have noticed that it is adult pellets.

Second day.

Due to them sneezing and seeming under the weather we took them to the vet straight away. Of course they both have chest infections and have been px antibiotics for the next month.

They have now all of a sudden stopped eating the hay and will not eat anything besides the pellets. I am worried because it is adult pellets.

They are a lot better, running around and doing their jumps and playing. They nibble on everything and this worries me when they are not eating the hay. 

Please help!!!!!

PS. every night me and my boyfriend sit down and have dinner with them. we give them a variety of veggies. They engulf the veggies however, frank seems like he has a difficult time chewing the harder veggies like celery. 

The vet said that they were fine besides the chest infection…

[Monkeybun]

I would not give them a ton of veggies at this age. 12 weeks old is about the age to introduce them, slowly. Timothy hay and pellets are fine if thats what they are eating, 2 of mine dont like alfalfa at all, and never have.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

I’ve had Sally on adult pellets as a baby mainly because no stores around here carry the young pellets. It’s really ok. For the veggies I would slow down on that definitely and introduce one veggie at a time to pinpoint which one, if any, have any negative side effects with the buns tummy. Some buns have sensitive stomachs and can’t handle certain veggies.

For the hay if they quit showing interest, put a fresh pile out if its been laying out for awhile. Sally always munches on the hay when I put more fresh hay out for her even though there was still some in her litter box. She just can’t seem to ignore the fresh smell of hay!

[Roberta]

Celery can be a bit stringy for a young bun. Maybe stick to just the dark leaves.

[Johnson-frank]

Im sorry, I should have mentioned that the vet had said that they are 8 weeks – 10 weeks old. We have had them now for two weeks and have started to introduce veggies. We have introduced veggies slowly. Johnson will not eat cilantro and loves celery. Frank hates celery and loves cilantro. They drive me crazy, but in a good way! They both do not like the beet leaves and it made their stool a little softer and darker so i have left that out.

I tried giving them fresh hay last night by making them smell the bag. Johnson ate some hay but Frank did not have any. 

In regards to the medication. Last night Frank freaked out when I gave him his meds. He was making all sorts of noise. 

Does anybody know how this is going to affect our bonding?

I feel like they will never trust me at this rate. Feeling hart sore and very bummed out that they seem so upset with me.

[jerseygirl]

Medicating won’t be forever so there’s plenty of time to regain their trust after.

How are you giving the antibiotic? Take care not to place the rabbit upside down when giving anything by syringe. They can easily aspirate fluids.

They’ll feel much safer if they can keep their feet on a solid surface. So I find it easiest to lean over them, hold head still, covering eyes, and placing syringe into side of the mouth.

[Johnson-frank]

I normally keep them on the ground. But man o man does frank get mad.

[Author]

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