Semi-urgent – got new hay and then both bunnies got gas…should I take it away?

[FluffyBunny]

I went to a local pet supply store for the first time yesterday and got the bunnies a bale of fresh timothy hay. The hay was outside, but it was covered, kept above the ground and looked and smelled great. The bunnies chowed down as soon as I gave some to them, and I had to refill their hay container about five times yesterday.

When I fed the bunnies their daily chunk of carrot today, I noticed that Ms. Rabbit seemed a bit “off”. Later in the day, I noticed that she seemed bloated and wasn’t accepting food. I followed the usual treatment for gas (belly rubs, simethicone, papaya tablets) and then went out for a few hours.

Later in the day, when I got home, I noticed that Mr. Bunny also seemed a bit “off”. Ms. Rabbit still seemed gassy, but she ate most of her salad and wasn’t hiding as much. There was fresh poop in the litterbox from both bunnies, but it wasn’t as big or plentiful as normal.

It’s been about 8 hours since I started treating Ms. Rabbit for gas, and she still seems to be gassy. Mr. Bunny also seems to be developing gas. Nothing has changed in their diet or routine besides the fresh hay. I searched their room and thought through everything I’ve fed them in the last few days, and I couldn’t come up with anything else. Should I stop feeding them the new hay? Could fresh timothy even cause digestive upsets? I’m concerned that if I keep feeding them what’s causing their gas, I could be facing two cases of GI stasis.

Thanks for your help!

[BinkyBunny]

That is weird. Maybe they just ate so much…more than their system is used to and just filled right up. Do they normally eat five container worth?

Did you look closely at the hay? I know it smelled okay, but sometimes hay can have weird things in it as it is a natural product. (though most of the time it’s harmless to the health of the bunny) I have never heard of Timothy causing gas. Just a thought — are you sure it was Timothy only? No Alfalfa or some other mix? I am just grasping at straws here.

Also, could there have been anything they could have gotten into?

If nothing else is the culprit and the only thing that has changed was the hay, then I myself would stop feeding the hay (replace with another while I figure it out).

And obviously, if they do not get better or worsen, call your vet. 

[Sarita]

How are they this morning? I do find it odd that hay would cause gas…is it fully cured?

[FluffyBunny]

BB, five containers’ worth is actually a normal amount for them, especially if it’s nice and fresh. I have a bad grass allergy, so I didn’t really look at the hay too closely before I bought it. I’m pretty sure it’s just timothy, but I’m not certain. I took a close look at the hay last night (with a mask and gloves on) and noticed that there’s a lot of big round leaves mixed in. Could something like that be bad for bunnies?

As far as I know, there’s nothing they could have gotten into in the last few days. All of their treats and bags of veggies – besides a new carrot – are at least 4-5 days old. Nothing has changed in their diet and I haven’t given them any new toys.

The bunnies are doing okay today, but both (especially Ms. Rabbit) still seem to have gas. They ate most of their morning lettuce and carrot today, but they don’t seem very interested in food. There’s some new poop, but not as much as normal. I haven’t given them hay since yesterday afternoon.

One of my family members just suggested something – could the hay have some sort of pesticide or chemical on it that’s bad for bunnies?

[Stickerbunny]

Food quality hay meant for horses doesn’t usually have pesticides on it that would be harmful, since horses are sensitive as well and prone to colic. Was it horse hay, or bedding hay? Farm hay usually has some leaves and such in it, but typically it is weeds that are not harmful… though I guess the farm could have been bad at their management of what plants are in their hay fields, it isn’t usually a problem.

Powder, my male, got gassy the other day for no reason I could find and with no change in diet at all… I ended up throwing out my parsley that wasn’t quite farm-fresh but not anywhere near “bad” yet and was only 3 days old and got him some fresher parsley and after that I had no problem. Are any of your veggies, while not brown or going bad yet, kind of showing the starting signs of getting old?

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Are they playing as normal or just sitting hunched during there active hours? (dawn and dusk?).

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I doubt pesticides would cause gas but it also seems funny that hay would…I would take it away just for a couple of days and see-and then maybe try another small feeding of it (just to be clear, give hay just maybe not that hay)

[BinkyBunny]

I agree with KK’s suggestion if they are getting back to normal.

Keep us updated!

[Author]

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