dumblepaws
Mama Doe
Why would a bunny be unexcited about food?
The little guy we are bunny sitting is a really selective eater and really unexcited about food. It’s not that he’s not eating – he’ll nibble on some fresh grass or coriander or have a pellet or two and he’s is weeing/pooing, but there’s no excited running up to you to see if you have food, no snuffling through the hay box to find nyommy bits or eating things as soon as they’re put down. He won’t eat hay – I’ve tried him with about 12 types, from hay for pets timothy&rye, to readigrass to wilkos to oxbow orchard and oxbow timothy and deans meadow hay, even with blackberry leaves and nettle and plantain and mixed dried herbs and grated carrot in. He likes carrots – but again not super excited when he gets it, but eats it eventually.
I’m not sure if
- it’s a habit he’s evolved to make sure he doesn’t run out of food
- he’s depressed
- he doesn’t have food competition from another bunny so there’s no need for him to eat it straightaway
- he’s got teeth problems
- he’s a sugar addict
- he’s got tummy problems
- he’s in pain
- he’s got a UTI
He’s off to the vet tonight for a health check, and I’m going to take a poo sample and hopefully a wee sample too but any other thoughts on what could be up/what the vet could do to help him? The vet we’re seeing went to the RWAF conference so is hopefully a bit bunny savvy!
Thanks in advance
This is the little guy:
The little guy we are bunny sitting is a really selective eater and really unexcited about food. It’s not that he’s not eating – he’ll nibble on some fresh grass or coriander or have a pellet or two and he’s is weeing/pooing, but there’s no excited running up to you to see if you have food, no snuffling through the hay box to find nyommy bits or eating things as soon as they’re put down. He won’t eat hay – I’ve tried him with about 12 types, from hay for pets timothy&rye, to readigrass to wilkos to oxbow orchard and oxbow timothy and deans meadow hay, even with blackberry leaves and nettle and plantain and mixed dried herbs and grated carrot in. He likes carrots – but again not super excited when he gets it, but eats it eventually.
I’m not sure if
- it’s a habit he’s evolved to make sure he doesn’t run out of food
- he’s depressed
- he doesn’t have food competition from another bunny so there’s no need for him to eat it straightaway
- he’s got teeth problems
- he’s a sugar addict
- he’s got tummy problems
- he’s in pain
- he’s got a UTI
He’s off to the vet tonight for a health check, and I’m going to take a poo sample and hopefully a wee sample too but any other thoughts on what could be up/what the vet could do to help him? The vet we’re seeing went to the RWAF conference so is hopefully a bit bunny savvy!
Thanks in advance
This is the little guy: