Rabbit ill or being a picky eater?

[Sir Hopsalot]

I’ve had my baby bun, Bumi for a few months after getting him from another women who’s had him a year but didn’t want him any more. He’s been great the last few months, eating loads and been a great hay eater too. But for the last week he’s been eating less and less but he will eat his pellets and herbs like mint, thyme and he will eat some hay but mainly picks at it, but he refuses any leafy greens (romaine, kale, rocket, watercress, cucumber) or anything like that. He’s still drinking water and pooping just they’re smaller cos he’s not eating. I don’t know if he’s just going off it or what? But the only rabbit savvy vet is quite far so I don’t want to stress him out with a long bus ride and the vets if I don’t have too. 

Any help at all will be appreciated 

[Lexiee]

Is there anything new in the house? Believe it or not, anything can stress a bunny out, and sometimes this is what happens. Also, If your bun is being fed unlimited pellets, then they wont be interested in anything else. My buns are almost 5 months and are supposed to be eating unlimited pellets but they are hardly touching their hay so I now limit them to 1/3 – 1/2 cup of pellets and a cup of greens, which they are being slowly introduced too. This too can cause problems. If you try to introduce a new green or veggie to their diet to fast, they will get ill and not feel well. I start out by using the greens as a treat during clicker training, or at the end of the day treat. Another thing would be to check your food. If it has been over 6 weeks with the same bag of food, buns will lose interest, and if the hay isn’t at least decently fresh, they will deny it. If you feed your bun fruits, like berries, or bananas, be sure not to give them too much, as this will upset their digestive system. I give one berry to a bun, and they usually stop half way through it so I give the rest to the other. Very small amounts of fruit are better.
When a bun is sick, they usually have a different attitude. They can become aggressive, or scared, or just act “blah”. If they are acting different, I suggesting finding a bunny vet. If they are acting the same, take the past information into consideration. I hope this helps!

[LBJ10]

My first thought was to ask how much he’s getting in pellets as well.

[Sir Hopsalot]

He’s not getting unlimited pellets at all, he only gets a tiny handful of pellets just enough to slightly cover the bottom of his food dish. He hasn’t been introduced to new veggies fast and I always buy small bags of greens so they’re always fresh and his hay is always “fluffed” about with new hay added in and I mix different hays as well. I’ve tried to give him loads of different types of fruit but he isn’t interested in them at all, he actually ran away from banana! His attitude is the same, he is a bit withdrawn but I think that’s because it’s just warmer inside his bunny castle, he still comes out to go to his litter box and for head pats. So I’m really stuck on what to do, or how long to wait and see 

[Sir Hopsalot]

He doesn’t get a lot of pellets at all, he gets a small handful just enough to cover most of the bottom of his food bowl (with just one layer) and that’s all 

[ergodic]

I would definitely look into finding a rabbit savy vet, however I have had lots of issues with mine. How much does he weigh and how big is the bowl?
Has the quality of hay changed? Any change in the pellets?

I noticed that you are in the UK I believe there is a forum with many UK members they might be able to help you find a vet in the your area. I believe the forum is rabbit rehome.

[Sir Hopsalot]

I found a rabbit savvy vet that people in my area recommend, but he’s super far out so I don’t want to stress out my bun for the long bus ride if there’s anything I can do from home but I will look at that UK forum! thank you!
He weighs 1.66kg (3.66 pounds) which I think is perfect for a 1 year lop and his food dish is one of them small cat dishes about the size of my palm. His hay quality hasn’t changed, it’s always green and fresh and I haven’t changed the pellets (I still use exactly the brand his previous owner fed him for a year)

[Vienna Blue in France]

Sir Hopsalot !! Brilliant !! Sounds as if it’s straight out of Blackadder !!

[Sir Hopsalot]

ahaha ha thanks! I do love a bit of blackadder :p :p

[Author]

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