Bunny still eating hay but not pellets

[Calluna]

Hi, I am new to the forum and to bunny ownership. I have a 4 month old female Netherland Dwarf (her name changes with the day and her own little personality), and I have a question. As reccommended by HRS, I feed her unlimited pellets, unlimited alfalfa hay, and occational small treats of a piece of lettuce, papya, grapes, etc. Yesterday she had stopped eating and drinking, but was still pooping although smaller than usual. After a bit of coercing, attention, and a few furry poops later she seemed to be back to normal: crazy running/binkying, regular size poops, and eating and drinking. This morning though I noticed that almost all of her hay is gone (there is usually half of what I give her left) and she barely touched her pellets (which is usually practically licked clean). I gave her more a hay for the day and she went for it like she’d never seen food. When offered a pellet she turned her nose like I was suggesting she eat poison, but when I offered a piece of papya (her favorite) she was climbing up me to get at it (which is typical of her).

Is it time to call the vet? Or is it just her being picky? (She is very picky about certain foods. She won’t eat pieces of carrot or bell pepper or even anything that just so happens to be near a piece of carrot of pepper.)

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Bam]

Is she pooping? Hay is the most important food for them. Many rabbits are kind of clever when they have a bit of stomach-upset and will only eat what they need, which most often is food with lots of fibres. Like hay. Papaya is traditionally used to help a rabbit’s stomach function properly, it’s to do with enzymes. So perhaps she’s “self-medicating” – in a good way. You could give her freshly rinsed greens or herbs like parsley, mint, tarragon, dill, so she gets enough water. And you can rub her tummy gently.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Well, it’s good that she is eating lots of hay. It’s suppose to make up a LARGE portion of their diet. I’ve read 80-90% of their diet should be hay. Then it’s fresh greens, and then at the bottom of the list it’s pellets.

[hannaroo]

If she’s eating hay and drinking I wouldn’t worry too much as long as it doesn’t go on for too long. Sometimes buttons will leave his pellets and go on a hay binge. Make sure there’s always lots there so he doesn’t go hungry.
It sounds like your rabbit had fur in his poop. Make sure you do some extra grooming to keep the fur at bay

[Calluna]

Thanks everyone! This afternoon she was back to eating all her pellets.

[Author]

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