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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.

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Forum BEHAVIOR Not eating his pellets..

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    • PeachyCream
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        I give Bright Eyes Alfalfa Hay pellets in his bowl but he seems to be very hesitant to eat them… Not only that but he always tips the bowl over, and I have to refill it because it looks similar to his poop, so I end up throwing a lot of his pellets out (there’s probably a bigger difference between his droppings and the hay pellets than I notice, I’m just not used to it all)

        Should I get him a different brand of pellets or what? He eats his veggies ok, and he did eat his oats and corn but because of diarrhea I stopped feeding them to him… I’m at a bit of a loss as to what to do X.x


      • Chronicambitions
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          Try to find a bowl with a heavier bottom so that it’s harder to tip. Also what brand of pellets are you feeding him and how old is bright eyes?


        • PeachyCream
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            “little friends Original Rabbit Food” is the name of the brand…. As for how old he is? I’m not entirely sure… The breeder we got him from said he was like 7 or something but he seems way too energetic to be an older bunny…


          • Stickerbunny
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              Those are pretty low fiber, high protein for an older bunny. I would recommend a timothy hay pellet. Alfalfa is for young buns. Is this something the breeder was feeding him? Bunnies don’t like changes. If it’s not the food the breeder was feeding, is it possible to get a small baggy of the food they had so you can transition him to a new one?

              Also, oats and corn are not good for bunnies. So it’s good you stopped feeding that.

              Ack and I just looked at the feeding guidelines on that food… 1/2 to 1 cup is a lot of pellets. 😮

              What quantities of food should I feed mature adults? (1 to 5 years)

              • Unlimited timothy, grass hay, other hays including oat, brome, Bermuda, etc.
              • 1/4 to 1/2 cup pellets per 6 lbs. body weight (depending on metabolism and/or proportionate to veggies)
              • Minimum 2 cups chopped vegetables per 6 lbs. body weight
              • fruit daily ration no more than 2 oz. (2 TBL) per 6 lbs. body weight.

              (from HRS)


            • Sarita
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                7 years old? Or 7 months old?


              • PeachyCream
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                  Timothy hay you say? I’ll check with the breeder but I’m pretty sure she used the same kind of pellets as me… She was also the one feeding her bunnies oats and corn so I’m not sure if she knows as much about rabbits as I thought she did.. But I’ll see if I can get a bit of the old food from her…
                  It’s odd that the woman at the pet store picked out these alfalfa hay ones when she knew we were getting an adult bunny… But I do feel bad wasting the pellets since someone else bought them for me :/ However, I am worried because some of his poop doesn’t come out in pellets.. Most of it does but some of it is softer and seems to immediately smear on the cage and smells a lot fouler than the rest of the stuff….taking away the oats/corn mixture seems to have lessened it but I’ve been told that a higher fiber pellet is better for a bunny’s intestinal tract and digestion…
                  Is there any other way I can get more fiber into his diet? Like any veggies I could feed him? Or maybe mixing in some higher fiber pellets with the stuff I already have?


                • Sarita
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                    Is he getting any hay – regular hay not pellets.


                  • PeachyCream
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                      yes we have one of those hay feeders on the side of his cage and I also put some hay in his litter pan… he seems to eat it ok…


                    • PeachyCream
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                        It’s natural Timothy hay….
                        also I forgot to answer your question before… I don’t think the breeder mentioned whether it was months or years but apparently he was often used for kit-making so I think she meant years….


                      • Sarita
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                          If he’s seven years I would highly recommend a trip to the vet as he would be a senior. It would be a wise idea to have bloodwork done and a full dental exam as rabbits this age tend to have dental problems and all his issues with not eating pellets and mushy poo could be a sign of a dental problem that needs to be addressed.


                        • PeachyCream
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                            Will do, again I’m not sure if he’s actually that old… I think a vet could help determine around what age he was, right?


                          • Stickerbunny
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                              Curious, are the poops that are soft cecotropes? Or mushy / runny normal droppings? You mentioned they smell foul, which has me wondering if he is just not eating them like normal and/or producing too many.

                              Pet stor employees often know nothing about the animals they sell stuff for. Many, just have dogs and cats and read like the bags of food for the rest. They will give you toxic foods, seeds, dairy, etc. Not a trustworthy source. And breeders .. well, there are good ones and bad ones. If he is seven years and has had oat/corn/alfalfa pellets his whole life, a checkup is a great idea. Discuss his weight and teeth and see if they are healthy.

                              A vet can make a guess at his age. They will know if he is adult or baby though for sure.


                            • PeachyCream
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                                soft cecotropes? Is that when they come out like in a clump? If so then no… they just seem to be mushy normal ones and worse smelling than usual…

                                Yeah I’m beginning to think that people talk out of their arse sometimes (pardon my language)… What I’ll probably do is write down a list so that I know exactly what I want to get when I shop and that way I don’t have to rely on bad advice… I will definitely look into a checkup.. I’m looking at a vet in Goderich, Ontario who has apparently had experience with rabbits…

                                By the energy he has and the feisty attitude he has (also he’s still ripe for mating obviously, since he’s attempted to mount my cat, my feet and a towel..) I would only put him at 4 or 5 years old…. But I know very little about the biology or personality of a rabbit in relation to his age so who knows? I will definitely get him checked up asap.


                              • Deleted User
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                                  A few things occurred to me reading this thread. First, does definitely sound as though a vet visit is in order to answer some basic questions. Do make sure your vet knows about rabbits! Wonderful cat and dog vets can do their best and still make awful mistakes when looking at or treating a rabbit. There is a list on the rabbit.org website of vets, and yes there are some in Ontario. There are several in Toronto and Ottawa (other places too but those didn’t stick in my mind) so if there isn’t one close to you an idea might be to phone one in the nearest large city and ask if they could recommend any vets closer to you. The nearest SPCA that has an exotic pet facility would also have information on local vets. That doesn’t mean there may be one close by, the closest options I have are Montreal and Ottawa, and I’m about dead centre between them, a minimum hour drive either way.

                                  Secondly, he hasn’t been with you long and you have been making major (and wonderful) changes to his diet so some upset in his system is probably to be expected. I’d still set up that vet visit but I wouldn’t get really scared.

                                  A seven month old rabbit could breed, … I don’t know if a breeder would use them that young but I know it is physically possible. However, doesn’t sound as though you were given much reliable information.

                                  The absolute best way to get more fibre in his diet is to give him hay, and lots of hay! There are different kinds, timothy’s is a staple, but orchard and meadow are just two of the other kinds available. You can try mixing a few kinds for starters, and make sure he always has plenty in his rack etc. No matter what age he is having more different kinds of hay will be good for him. I’d think it would be best to be cautious, he’s probably an adult so simply avoid all alfalfa, dried, and pellets. Martin’s original adult is an excellent timothy based pellet. Many people feed Oxbo, they are roughly equivalent. (If you do go with Martins’ make sure it is the original, because they also have an alfalfa based pellet.) Up to you of course but I’d start phasing him off of those pellets, and wouldn’t worry too much about whether or not it was what the breeder used to feed him. Sorry about the waste, that never feels good but really his health is the bigger issue. But the more hay he eats the better.

                                  And yes, pet shops are Not the best place to get info, … even for dogs and cats (although they are better about those) they still sell toys that are dangerous and food that is bad. Much better to check the HRS’ site, search on this forum, and if in doubt ask!

                                  Oh, and sorry but humping is a dominence thing, he may stop doing it, or do it less if he is fixed, but he may keep right on doing it since he’s proving to your cat, and you, and lots of other things that He’s Top Rabbit!

                                  Let us know how things go.


                                • PeachyCream
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                                    I am nowhere near Ottawa or Toronto.. I am as far away from those places as can be… I’ve found a vet a little bit away from me who has experience with rabbits… The problem is I don’t have a ride very often and vets close on weekends… SO… getting there would be a problem…


                                  • Deleted User
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                                      My point was vets know of each other. Frequently contacting a vet in one place can get you a recommendation for one in another city. Toronto being so big has several so if you wanted to do research it would have been a good place to start. Same thing for the SPCA or other shelter/rescue. And you have my sympathy, I know all about living in a rural area and not being able to drive, … still if you have a pet there are things that should be looked after and you need to plan for them.


                                    • PeachyCream
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                                        yes yes of course… Luckily there is a vet who lives like a 30 second walk from me, so maybe she would know some vets in the area who know rabbits.. I do have back up plans luckily I don’t think the vet clinic in the town I live in has a veterinarian who deals with rabbits but I’ve e-mailed them anyways.. I will get a vet for him if it’s the last thing I do!

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                                    Forum BEHAVIOR Not eating his pellets..