Hi, I'm new here. I don't own rabbits, but I am caring for my sister's two rabbits while she's on holiday. I apologise in advance for the length of this thread...
Bobbi is a six-year-old, spayed doe, who lives with Wellie, a two-year-old neutered buck. Bobbi began dribbling last week, and was taken to the vet where her mouth was found to be full of assorted dental spurs and ulcers. The vet has trimmed the spurs, treated the ulcers, and Bobbi has made an excellent initial recovery from the surgery - that was Thursday. Vet said Bobbi and Welli MUST change their diet, otherwise there is no chance of long-term solution to the dental problem.
The trouble is, my sister, though absolutely not meaning any harm, has been feeding the bunnies on a mixture of two different mixed rabbit foods (not sure what makes, but they're the sort that look a bit like coarse muesli) as well as curly kale, spring greens and carrots. There is always hay available, but because of the other foods on offer, Bobbi never eats hay, and Wellie nibbles a bit now and again.
So the bunnies were delivered to me Friday evening, and I now have the huge responsiblity of getting them onto a "proper" rabbit diet of mainly hay before my sis gets home from Thailand. The rabbits were delivered along with two bags of Timothy hay, and a bag of Excel pellets, as recommended by the vet. Trouble is, the pellets are not being touched, Welli nibbles a bit of hay now and again, but Bobbi really is not interested. They both love their kale and spring greens, so I am giving those, but I'm terrified they'll both starve to death before their mum gets home, and I feel utterly mean and heartless.
PLEASE - could someone please advise me the best way to help these two gorgeous bunnies onto a healthier diet, and reassure me that I'm not actually going to end up starving them to death in the process?
(BTW, they are both medium-sized, uppy-eared bunnies, with standard coats; Bobbi looks like a chinchilla and Wellie is white with pink eyes. They are both a healthy weight and have good coats and are in good condition)
Bobbi is a six-year-old, spayed doe, who lives with Wellie, a two-year-old neutered buck. Bobbi began dribbling last week, and was taken to the vet where her mouth was found to be full of assorted dental spurs and ulcers. The vet has trimmed the spurs, treated the ulcers, and Bobbi has made an excellent initial recovery from the surgery - that was Thursday. Vet said Bobbi and Welli MUST change their diet, otherwise there is no chance of long-term solution to the dental problem.
The trouble is, my sister, though absolutely not meaning any harm, has been feeding the bunnies on a mixture of two different mixed rabbit foods (not sure what makes, but they're the sort that look a bit like coarse muesli) as well as curly kale, spring greens and carrots. There is always hay available, but because of the other foods on offer, Bobbi never eats hay, and Wellie nibbles a bit now and again.
So the bunnies were delivered to me Friday evening, and I now have the huge responsiblity of getting them onto a "proper" rabbit diet of mainly hay before my sis gets home from Thailand. The rabbits were delivered along with two bags of Timothy hay, and a bag of Excel pellets, as recommended by the vet. Trouble is, the pellets are not being touched, Welli nibbles a bit of hay now and again, but Bobbi really is not interested. They both love their kale and spring greens, so I am giving those, but I'm terrified they'll both starve to death before their mum gets home, and I feel utterly mean and heartless.
PLEASE - could someone please advise me the best way to help these two gorgeous bunnies onto a healthier diet, and reassure me that I'm not actually going to end up starving them to death in the process?
(BTW, they are both medium-sized, uppy-eared bunnies, with standard coats; Bobbi looks like a chinchilla and Wellie is white with pink eyes. They are both a healthy weight and have good coats and are in good condition)