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Twiddling hay instead of eating it!?

elaine84

elaine84

Warren Scout
Hi everyone,
I wondered if anyone else has had this problem and is it a sign of needing a dental?
Billy had his first dental not long ago under GA and once he'd recovered he was eating lots of hay. He's never been a big hay eater so it was great to see him enjoying it for once! The past week he's not eating as much hay - if any (I'm not sure if I miss when he eats it) but he just twiddles hay for ages without it going further into his mouth. He snips it off and leaves it. He's eating everything else and is active like normal. I haven't changed his food or given more pellets or anything. Really hoping he doesn't need another dental they scare me so much and he takes ages to recover! (He's a rescue bun so not sure on age but I've had him 6 years).
 
I would get his checked out to be sure. Refusal to eat certain things often signals the need for a dental.
 
elaine84 said:
Hi everyone,
I wondered if anyone else has had this problem and is it a sign of needing a dental?
Billy had his first dental not long ago under GA and once he'd recovered he was eating lots of hay. He's never been a big hay eater so it was great to see him enjoying it for once! The past week he's not eating as much hay - if any (I'm not sure if I miss when he eats it) but he just twiddles hay for ages without it going further into his mouth. He snips it off and leaves it. He's eating everything else and is active like normal. I haven't changed his food or given more pellets or anything. Really hoping he doesn't need another dental they scare me so much and he takes ages to recover! (He's a rescue bun so not sure on age but I've had him 6 years).
Click to expand...


Hi Elaine :wave:

Have you tried Billy on fresh grass or readigrass? If he can manage those, he should be able to manage hay :)
 
Hi MightyMax, you remember Billy from his stasis trouble cos of his teeth a few months ago! There's only one type of hay that he'll eat but that's the one he's twiddling, he doesn't really eat grass or readigrass (I know so fussy!) He's still eating pellets, leafy greens, dried plantain that looks like hay, and some bits of the Vetcare digestive health hay sticks which are mixed with other things.
 
Last edited:
elaine84 said:
Hi MightyMax, you remember Billy from his stasis trouble cos of his teeth a few months ago! There's only one type of hay that he'll eat but that's the one he's twiddling, he doesn't really eat grass or readigrass (I know so fussy!) He's still eating pellets, leafy greens, dried plantain that looks like hay, and some bits of the Vetcare digestive health hay sticks which are mixed with other things.
Click to expand...


... and his teeth are looking OK? :wave:

Some bunnies don't eat hay, ever. They either don't want to or more likely find it difficult. It's kind of good to know whether he's able to or not. Then you won't wonder if it's his teeth :D
 
MightyMax said:
... and his teeth are looking OK? :wave:

Some bunnies don't eat hay, ever. They either don't want to or more likely find it difficult. It's kind of good to know whether he's able to or not. Then you won't wonder if it's his teeth :D
Click to expand...

He's super fussy all the time with hay but I've found he'll eat Burns Green Oat Hay. This week he's just been twiddling it though but tonight he has just eaten some! Made me so happy! Keeping the vet appointment tomorrow so they can check his teeth and give him the VHD2 vaccine they've just got in. It's the one that you receive in two goes. Hope it doesn't affect him badly.
 
elaine84 said:
He's super fussy all the time with hay but I've found he'll eat Burns Green Oat Hay. This week he's just been twiddling it though but tonight he has just eaten some! Made me so happy! Keeping the vet appointment tomorrow so they can check his teeth and give him the VHD2 vaccine they've just got in. It's the one that you receive in two goes. Hope it doesn't affect him badly.
Click to expand...


That's a good idea to get the vet to check his teeth at the same time :D

Yes I hope the vaccination doesn't affect him badly too.

If you feel like it, do post on this thread - it's good to have reactions, etc. Also the fact that your vaccine seems to be a two part one, which I haven't heard of being given since the beginning of the year :)


http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?456446-RHD2-Vaccine-*UPDATED*-16th-Sept-2016
 
elaine84 said:
Oh also if some bunnies never eat hay how do they keep their teeth trim?
Click to expand...


If he eats the green oat hay, then his teeth should be fine to eat all other sorts of hay and grass.

As for bunnies never eating hay, I usually give fresh grass mixed in with forage, and that usually helps the teeth to wear down :D
 
elaine84 said:
Oh also if some bunnies never eat hay how do they keep their teeth trim?
Click to expand...

If they have access to grazing all day every day then their teeth would wear down. But if a Rabbit has any sort of malocclusion no amount of hay/grass etc will prevent the crowns of the teeth becoming too long and spurs developing. Have you had a feel along his mandible for any odd lumps and bumps ? Is he drooling at all ? Are his eyes a bit watery, especially during/after eating ? Is he maintaining his weight ?

Personally I would pop him back to the Vet to get him checked over again :)
 
Hey thanks for the replies :)
Well I went to the vet this morning and Billy had a couple of tiny spurs starting. The vet did a (conscious) rasping of the teeth as only a few strokes of the file were needed. Just got back home and straight away Billy is eating hay! Without me wafting it in his face :D
He didn't have any of the normal signs of needing a dental that you mentioned JacksJane, but I'll remember now that when he twiddles hay (looks like he's waving a wand around casting spells) that it means he has a tooth issue! Hope that helps other people too who may see their rabbits doing it.
 
Glad that Billy is eating hay again. Phew.

Is that him in your avatar? So cuute. More pics of him would be lovely.
 
elaine84 said:
Hey thanks for the replies :)
Well I went to the vet this morning and Billy had a couple of tiny spurs starting. The vet did a (conscious) rasping of the teeth as only a few strokes of the file were needed. Just got back home and straight away Billy is eating hay! Without me wafting it in his face :D
He didn't have any of the normal signs of needing a dental that you mentioned JacksJane, but I'll remember now that when he twiddles hay (looks like he's waving a wand around casting spells) that it means he has a tooth issue! Hope that helps other people too who may see their rabbits doing it.
Click to expand...


I'm glad you got it sorted! Yes, I wondered with that behaviour whether it was teeth - great news.

It's also good to have a vet who can do a dental like that on a conscious rabbit, as it saves all the time, expense and recovery time for the rabbit :thumb:
 
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