Problem, or just picky eater?

[LittleFluffyBunnies]

Hello all!
My 7 month old Dwarf buck Gandalf has not been eating properly. We went on a trip for three weeks while all my rabbits stayed with friends, and ever since we got him back, a week and a half ago, he won't really eat his pellets. The whole time we've been back he has probably only eaten two or three of his normal servings. Otherwise he just picks at it. We did have to get a new food, because we ran out and the only shop with their normal pellets was closed, but my other rabbits are eating it fine, and he wouldn't even eat his other kind when we had it.

But, he is eating his hay, he ate some carrot I gave him, and he was eating grass when I was exercising him on leash. He is just as active as usual, acting normal. He is drinking, and he is still pooping normally. But he is acting hungry, and starting to get skinny. I tried not giving him anything, not even hay, just his pellets, but he still wouldn't eat them.

Every day I throw out wasted pellets and give him fresh, and I am getting frustrated and very worried. I don't know what's wrong. Has anyone had a rabbit do this before? Or do you know what might be wrong?

 

[Marinea]

Is he kept outside? I ask because mine seem to eat less when it's hot.

Maybe try a little plain, uncooked oats? Or some BOSS?

 

[MaggieJ]

The problem seems to have started while you were away. Did your friends perhaps feed him differently? Give him extra treats?

Another possibility is that there is something he doesn't like about the new pellets. I know you said that he wasn't enthusiastic about the old ones when you still had them, but I'd buy a bag of his usual brand and try.

Rabbits do not have to have pellets. Many of us feed our rabbits good quality hay, safe plants and small amounts of grain or oatmeal. You'll find all kinds of information about this in the Natural Feeding for Rabbits forum.

The third possibility is that he is ill or suffering from internal parasites. Was he down on the ground at your friends' place? I'm not really knowledgeable about parasites because they have never been a big problem here, but other members may be able to help you.

 

[michaels4gardens]

in addition to what Maggie said, -also-- check his teeth / mouth ..

 

[LittleFluffyBunnies]

Thanks all for the help!

He is outside, and the weather has been super hot. It might just be that.
I don't know if he was fed differently, I know he had the same food but I suspect he was overfed a bit.
He wasn't on the ground, but when I went to get him there was a buildup of poo underneath his cage, so I will keep an eye on him. Is there a safe way to deworm a rabbit?
I looked in his mouth, I didn't see anything and his front teeth weren't overgrown.
I will look in the natural feeding forum!
The good news is that he did eat a little bit if pellets today. I'll keep watching him though. We should be getting his normal food within the next week.

 

[michaels4gardens]

Thanks all for the help!

He is outside, and the weather has been super hot. It might just be that.
I don't know if he was fed differently, I know he had the same food but I suspect he was overfed a bit.
He wasn't on the ground, but when I went to get him there was a buildup of poo underneath his cage, so I will keep an eye on him. Is there a safe way to deworm a rabbit?
I looked in his mouth, I didn't see anything and his front teeth weren't overgrown.
I will look in the natural feeding forum!
The good news is that he did eat a little bit if pellets today. I'll keep watching him though. We should be getting his normal food within the next week.

as long as he is eating a good amount of hay-- I personally,- would not get too worried if he doesn't eat very much of his pellets, ...

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I would give him some parsley daily, either fresh or dried. It is an appetite stimulant. You can sprinkle the dried parsley on his pellets to encourage him to eat them.