greedy rabbit with gut issues. Any suggestions?

lunaoreo94 · Jun 10, 2017

So I had my rabbits in work today, Oreo had to get his 2nd vacc and because Luna hasn't been herself the past couple days I decided to take her along as well. She's always had a bit of trouble with her gut but it always clears up overnight.
So the vet checked her over and she still had gut movement and she got an injection to promote it to ensure that she would no deteriorate and go into gut stasis.
The vet has also suggested I pretty much cut out pellets (gradually) so she is getting plenty of fibre from just her hay, grass and vegetables she gets everyday.
The only thing about doing this is that I'm worried Oreo will not get enough to eat as Luna is very greedy and eats everything in one sitting whereas he likes to graze throughout the day. I was thinking about hand feeding but as I start work early I'm worried I wont have enough time to feed him in the morning.
Any suggestions on what I could do would be appreciated

Omi · Jun 10, 2017

Firstly, I think if you are going to cut pellets out of her diet I think you should do it gradually.

There shouldn't be a problem with feeding hay as that should be freely available for both of them thoughout the day. With grass and vegetables I would put them in different parts of their accommodation, so that they can both eat them. If necessary, I think you will need to distract Luna whilst you hand feed Oreo. I completely understand your concern regarding feeding in the morning before you go to work, but is it not possible to give the majority of the food, which is additonal to hay, in the evening after you have got home? Do you hand pick grass for them or do they graze on your lawn?

MightyMax · Jun 11, 2017

lunaoreo94 said:
So I had my rabbits in work today, Oreo had to get his 2nd vacc and because Luna hasn't been herself the past couple days I decided to take her along as well. She's always had a bit of trouble with her gut but it always clears up overnight.
So the vet checked her over and she still had gut movement and she got an injection to promote it to ensure that she would no deteriorate and go into gut stasis.
The vet has also suggested I pretty much cut out pellets (gradually) so she is getting plenty of fibre from just her hay, grass and vegetables she gets everyday.
The only thing about doing this is that I'm worried Oreo will not get enough to eat as Luna is very greedy and eats everything in one sitting whereas he likes to graze throughout the day. I was thinking about hand feeding but as I start work early I'm worried I wont have enough time to feed him in the morning.
Any suggestions on what I could do would be appreciated

Hi there and welcome to the Forum :wave:

I appreciate the problem of one rabbit eating more/faster than the other. What I've done in the past is temporarily separate them and give the slower eater a bit more time with the food. But this may not be possible with your accommodation set up?

Regards rabbit diet, there's some good info here:

http://www.therabbithouse.com/diet/components-rabbit-diet.asp

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/ar...heets/recommended-diet-for-adult-rabbits/view

If you cut out pellets (slowly) as your vet suggests, would Oreo have enough calories? I suppose you could still give him the pellets, and hand feed them in the evening when you have more time, to keep his weight up whilst encouraging Luna to eat more fibre?

Forage is also a good way to feed rabbits:

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/free-food-for-rabbits

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/free-food-for-rabbits/foraging

And a very good book written by Twigs Way called 'Foraging for Rabbits' which can be purchased from the RWAF bookshop

greedy rabbit with gut issues. Any suggestions?

lunaoreo94

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Omi

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MightyMax

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