Update- Still refusing hay… What to do?

[Clarajb]

I posted yesterday and wanted to update…
My very newly adopted/ rescued 11 month old buck has only ever had alfalfa cubes and alfalfa pellets. He has not touched any grass hay since I’ve had him. I’ve tried meadow and Timothy with marigolds. If I hold up a piece he will mouth it and spit it out, almost like he isn’t sure what to do with it.
His front incisors are aligned and a good length. He is pooping normally.
I already switched him to 1/8 to 1/4 cup of Timothy pellets from the cup of alfalfa pellets that his previous home fed him daily. I also tossed the yogurt treats he had been given daily.
What should I do? I am very concerned that he is not touching his hay. Is it still just new to him, and will be eat when he is hungry?
I will also call the vet on Monday! I wasn’t going to take him in until his neuter but I will if they want to get a look at his back molars.

[Bam]

It is kind of early days yet I’d think. My first rabbit ate one 15 oz bag of Oxbow timothy hay his first YEAR with me. Bad bunny! I had to try many types of hay until I found one that he would accept. Then I found an organic meadow hay that was to his liking and that was like a starting-point, now he eats various types of hay and his stomach is a great deal better.

You’ve made several changes in his diet in a short time, so perhaps you should just wait and see if he starts eating his hay when there’s nothing else he can eat. But make sure there’s nothing else – my rabbit filled up on carpet-fibre without me noticing it and that caused stomach-problems of a more serious kind. Bunnies can eat towels and rag-rugs etc and threads of fabric can block their intestines.

If you can get twigs of willow or apple you could feed that and see if he eats those. It’s an activity as well as good fibre, nutrients and it’s beneficial for their teeth.

[Deleted User]

Bam makes excellent points and I do agree with everything she has said. However, since you are dealing with an eleven month old buck who has only eaten pellets I’d suggest that first and foremost you should follow through with a vet appointment ASAP and check his teeth. Once you are sure that he is Able to eat hay, then its time to help him adapt to his new and improved diet. From what I understand spurs on the back molers can make chewing hay painful while not interfering in the consumption of pellets. I’m particularly concerned by your description of his mouthing the hay but not chewing it. I know once mine (the two I have now, and the one before them) have taken something in their mouths they generally want to sample it, … unless they are moving it out of their way, but that’s something else. You and He have made a lot of big changes in a short time so hopefully he is just settling in and will start sampling and munching soon, but best to be sure there isn’t any physical problems before carrying on.

Since he is familiar with and appeared to like alfalfa cubes you could get some dried alfalfa (comes in bags like hay) and mix it into the hay, … might give it a more familiar and appealing smell to him. (And since he was eating it it wouldn’t truly be yet another change, .. probably best to try for some consistency at this point.)

Sorry for your rough introduction, … I’m sure things will smooth out soon. Best of luck and please let us all know how it goes.

[Clarajb]

Wanted to update –

Took my little guy to the vet yesterday. His teeth look pretty good! The vet said his molars are curved slightly, which could be a variation of normal, especially in Hollands. Thankfully his weight is just right and everything else checks out okay. The vet it sounds like he is very likely just being stubborn and picky, which is pretty much a given due to his previous diet.

So, he has had nothing except 1/8-1/4 cup Timothy pellets and orchard and oat hay. The vet said to continue offering that amount of pellets since it is very important to keep his GI system moving.  He eats all of his pellets (“grazes” throughout the day) but is still just nibbling on the hay. Here and there I’ll catch him eating a few strands but nothing significant. At least we are moving in the right direction!

Will continue posting updates….

[Author]

Messages