Getting use to new diet or sick?

Hello,

So I have a flop rabbit (she's about 1 year old now.) I just took away her pellets and put her on a all hay diet a couple of days ago. I am going to start adding leafy greens into it also. I noticed since I did this she has been drinking a TON of water (also chugging it at times). I read that the more hay they eat the more water they will drink. Also her poop has been a bit bigger then normal (but NOT irregular shaped). Her pee has also been a light yellow/clearish white also. Are these symptoms of her just adapting to her new pellet free diet or should I take her to the vet on my day off?

Thanks!

Kel0518 said:

Hello,

So I have a flop rabbit (she's about 1 year old now.) I just took away her pellets and put her on a all hay diet a couple of days ago. I am going to start adding leafy greens into it also. I noticed since I did this she has been drinking a TON of water (also chugging it at times). I read that the more hay they eat the more water they will drink. Also her poop has been a bit bigger then normal (but NOT irregular shaped). Her pee has also been a light yellow/clearish white also. Are these symptoms of her just adapting to her new pellet free diet or should I take her to the vet on my day off?

Thanks!

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It may be that she's adapting to the new diet. Sounds a bit drastic though - why did you take her off everything except hay? Hay is very dry and with almost no moisture, so there will be lots of drinking.

What do you mean by chugging. Not choking?

Welcome to RU :wave:

MightyMax said:

It may be that she's adapting to the new diet. Sounds a bit drastic though - why did you take her off everything except hay? Hay is very dry and with almost no moisture, so there will be lots of drinking.

What do you mean by chugging. Not choking?

Welcome to RU :wave:

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I kept reading everywhere that pellets aren't actually good for rabbits (which I figured because they don't eat them in nature), so I wanted to put her on a more natural diet just to keep her healthy (hay and leafy greens). And by chugging I mean instead of going to her bottle and just taking a sip or two of water she sits there and chugs it down quickly/for a longer period of time.

And thanks so much! I always read posts on here so time for me to join!:wave:

hi, welcome :wave:

it's usually recommended that any changes to diet are done very slowly so the body has time to adjust. i would put it back as it was originally and then start off by very slowly reducing the pellets. whilst this is being done, make sure she is eating enough hay.

once that stage is done, then reassess and make another change if you wish

Kel0518 said:

I kept reading everywhere that pellets aren't actually good for rabbits (which I figured because they don't eat them in nature), so I wanted to put her on a more natural diet just to keep her healthy (hay and leafy greens). And by chugging I mean instead of going to her bottle and just taking a sip or two of water she sits there and chugs it down quickly/for a longer period of time.

And thanks so much! I always read posts on here so time for me to join!:wave:

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I would give her a bowl of water as well, because with the hay and the warmer weather she will need to be very hydrated. You could add in some forage and fresh picked grass maybe, for variety?

Yes, time for you to join and post a photo if you'd like to

Thanks! I've been leaving her with a frozen bottle of water everyday while I'm at work to keep her cool also, and brought her a cold tile to lay on at the bottom of her cage. That should hopefully help with heat too. I'll put a small portion of pellets back in and ween her off of them, and get her some fresh grass also! Thanks for the suggestions!!! If I still notice weird potty habits or drinking habits after trying fresh grass, and weaning her off I'll bring her to the vet to get checked out just in case!

I'll definitely add a photo! Most are on my phone so I have to upload them, but she actually looks like yours mightmax, just with floppy ears!!!

Was there a reason why you stopped her pellets? other than you have read they are not good for them. I don't think a small amount would harm her especially if she enjoys them.

The bigger poops are just a side effect of eating more roughage and not a problem Wee also changes colour depending on diet and that's still within the norm.

I wouldn't have thought removing pellets would have much effect on her water intake though. Could it just be you're noticing it as you made a change? They'll drink more with dry foods like pellets and hay and less with fresh foods. If she's got a bottle then add a bowl as it might just be she's getting annoyed with the spout.

If you don't feed pellets you need to feed a good variety of fresh foods to make sure you get a good mix of vitamins. That can be weeds/plants or human veggies. Some people prefer to feed a few pellets as backup for this (and as treats) but it's up to you.

Kel0518 said:

Thanks! I've been leaving her with a frozen bottle of water everyday while I'm at work to keep her cool also, and brought her a cold tile to lay on at the bottom of her cage. That should hopefully help with heat too. I'll put a small portion of pellets back in and ween her off of them, and get her some fresh grass also! Thanks for the suggestions!!! If I still notice weird potty habits or drinking habits after trying fresh grass, and weaning her off I'll bring her to the vet to get checked out just in case!

I'll definitely add a photo! Most are on my phone so I have to upload them, but she actually looks like yours mightmax, just with floppy ears!!!

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You're welcome :thumb:

She should be fine without pellets. A water bowl is easier to access for a bun that's thirsty. x

Tamsin said:

The bigger poops are just a side effect of eating more roughage and not a problem Wee also changes colour depending on diet and that's still within the norm.

I wouldn't have thought removing pellets would have much effect on her water intake though. Could it just be you're noticing it as you made a change? They'll drink more with dry foods like pellets and hay and less with fresh foods. If she's got a bottle then add a bowl as it might just be she's getting annoyed with the spout.

If you don't feed pellets you need to feed a good variety of fresh foods to make sure you get a good mix of vitamins. That can be weeds/plants or human veggies. Some people prefer to feed a few pellets as backup for this (and as treats) but it's up to you.

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Tamsin has given you some good advice here. Also, in some cases if a Rabbit is really hungry and in the absence of enough nutrition they will try to fill up on water. I too much prefer my Rabbits to be on a pellet free diet, but it is not something that is appropriate for all Rabbits. Before going down the 'Pellet Free' route it is important to make sure the Rabbit actually eats A LOT of different types of hays. For example, a Rabbit who already has some dental abnormalities (due to previously eating too many pellets and not enough hay) they may not be able to eat enough hay now as they are unable to use the correct dental attrition to do so. Therefore they will not be able to ingest enough to meet their nutritional needs.

It would also be a good idea to accurately monitor your Rabbit's weight, weighing her every 2-3 days to make sure she is not losing weight. This is something that can prove to be a very useful part of general Rabbit care, but especially so when making dietary changes.

Good luck !

No other reason then almost every site I've seen said pellets are bad for rabbits. Of course I want her to live as long as possible so I want her to go on an all natural diet.

Thanks so much! I've been giving her a small amount of pellets everyday, until I have watched her for about a week or so on mostly just hay. Though every time I look over she seems to be eating a lot of hay! I'm also adding leafy greens. Keeping track of her weight is a good idea! I will definitely watch that also!!!

Kel0518 said:

Thanks so much! I've been giving her a small amount of pellets everyday, until I have watched her for about a week or so on mostly just hay. Though every time I look over she seems to be eating a lot of hay! I'm also adding leafy greens. Keeping track of her weight is a good idea! I will definitely watch that also!!!

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There are specialist vets who recommend that a rabbit eats only grass (aka hay). Your rabbit is very obliging by eating so much of it. Many of us have to resort to all sorts of bribery and corruption to get them to eat a few strands :roll:

Kel0518 said:

Thanks so much! I've been giving her a small amount of pellets everyday, until I have watched her for about a week or so on mostly just hay. Though every time I look over she seems to be eating a lot of hay! I'm also adding leafy greens. Keeping track of her weight is a good idea! I will definitely watch that also!!!

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One of my Rabbits is seldom seen without hay in his mouth ! I swear he must eat it in his sleep :lol:

Kel0518 said:

No other reason then almost every site I've seen said pellets are bad for rabbits. Of course I want her to live as long as possible so I want her to go on an all natural diet.

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Pellets are very fattening, for sure! Rabbits don't really need them, and of course don't eat them in the wild.

Have you thought of foraging for food as well as the leafy greens? There's a great thread around at the moment

welcome to RU :wave: Going pellet free has so many advantages with no significant risk of overfeeding, keeping calcium at the right levels, helping teeth wear. Some bunnies choke on pellets too. I only feed my bunnies a tiny amount of pellets but totally respect your decision to feed your rabbit as natural a diet as possible - as you say wild rabbits don't get pellets. They do get an amazing choice of weeds though I'm a big fan of foraging & its a great time of year for it.

Her poo sounds really good, if they are round the bigger the better in my book. You'd probably cause poo envy if you posted photos of that here:lol: