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New Bunny - Ellie

Hi Everyone

I have had a new rabbit for 2 weeks called Ellie and she will be 10 weeks old. I have not had a rabbit since I was little which was a long time ago. She is a Norwegian dwarf and lives in our home. When we first brought her home she did not eat which I put down to her settling in. I bought pellets that she ate before I had her but since she has started eating she keeps getting a runny bum which is getting me a bit worried, she looks healthy and runs around quite happily

I have read a few threads on here and seen that pellets can give her it as well as the usual greens so I have stopped the pellets but she does not seem to be eating very much hay, I tried her with a bit of broccili and that has given her a runny bum too. This morning I have fed her some dried herbs called naturals and she seems to be starving but these are a only meant as a treat so dare not give her too much

Can anyone suggest what I can give her to eat, someone suggested wheatabix but surely that would make it worse. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

thanks

Adele
 
I've just posted this on another thread -
I think you are feeding him fine for his age - 3 feeds a day sounds right as he's growing still, just don't top it up in between - there's no way he'll starve overnight if he has fresh hay - I give fresh hay twice a day as they tend to leave the less tasty bits and always enjoy playing with a new bundle, hunting through it. If you're changing over his dry food at the moment I can't see the rush to change another element of his diet by giving veg too - wait till he's settled on the new food you're giving him. I give my adult rabbits a small handful morning and evening.

When you introduce veg just give a small, postage stamp sized piece on day one, nothing on day 2, a small piece again on day 3, and so on over 2 weeks - patiently increasing the amount so his stomach can get used to it. Just one type of veg should be introduced at a time too. I give my adult rabbits about a small leaf of greens, a tiny piece of brocolli and a small chunk of carrot - so not a lot of veg but mainly they need hay.
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as you can see from reading it, she shouldn't really have veg at her age, and she should have plenty of pellets, and plenty of fresh hay. You need to shop around farms, markets, online etc for good hay, which is greenish, longish and smells nice. I would recommend science selective pellets, which can also be bought online, or some vets have them.

By runny bum, do you mean actual diarrhea or the sticky poops they usually eat? Diarrhea in baby rabbits is serious and needs vet attention, from a vet that's attended small animal conferences and understands rabbits (many specialise in cats/dogs) - but excess sticky poop imply she's not eating them, so you need to know why.

The main thing she needs is hay, so I would concentrate on finding some good hay, and also feed her pellets as an empty stomach will make her seriously ill.
 
thanks very much for your help. Bit concerned as seen threads about pets at home and that is where I got her from. I am giving her their timothy hay but she does not seem that bothered about it and their pellets for baby rabbits which gives her a runny bum, it is def runny but only once then is soft again.

Think I am panicking and trying to give her too many things which is upsetting her stomach instead of just introducing her to one thing at a time. I will go get some hay and some pellets from vets.

Thank you so much for your help, I think I may be busy for a while reading threads on here to get a better understanding of looking after Ellie,

thanks again

Adele and Ellie
 
Mine didnt like pets at home timothy hay either. You could try getting some from www.thehayexperts.co.uk or www.bunnybasics.co.uk they both do lovely hays - timothy and meadow hays as well as others. I get a bale of hay from a farm supplies place which is lovely hay and my lot love it. I also get oat hay, timothy hay and dried grass from online. My lot have allen and page pellets, they have had science selective in the past too which they liked. I assume your bunny is on burgess excel or pets at home pellets which are ok but not as high fibre as other pellets and i remember my simba had excess soft poos when he was young and had those pellets.. never had them since i changed the pellets over though.
I do hope you little Ellie is better soon and its nothing serious. If its real diarrhoea maybe you should get her checked out at the vets.. at the same time they can advise you about vaccinations, confirm her sex as it may be wrong.. and about spaying etc. Let us know how she does :D
 
mine thinks PAH timothy hay is yuckpoo too. He'll munch on excel superforage, oat hay and orchard hay. If pushed he might eat a little PAH normal hay but usually turns his nose up.
 
thanks for your help, I have checked the website and ordered a sample of different hays to see which she likes the best and also ordered some science pellets, will keep you informed.
 
Ellie seems a lot better

Hi

Just to let you know that Ellie seems so much happier, I ordered her a sample of hays from the hayexpert website but whilst waiting went and got some excel timothy hay with added herbs and when I took it home she clambered into it before I could get any out.

I also got her some science pellets which she has taken to straight away. It is really weird getting used to a rabbit roaming about the house though, she is starting to explore and just comes and gets on my knee for a stroke, bless, I feel like I have four children now: two toddlers a hubby and a bun.

thanks for your help

Adele and Ellie
 
Hi

Hope ellie gets better!!

How do you order a sample of the hays as my 2 need something different (hayexperts). sherbet eats the P@H hay fine but bitey my lop just fusses through the new hay for the choice bits and leaves the rest for sherbet to hoover up. O and how long til i swap them off P@H dwarf lop mix to an adult food (currently they are 12 weeks old)!!

Tho bitey does eat the hay in his bathroom. :lol:
 
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