Bunny stopped eating pellets

[Charlotteengland]

My nearly 1 year old lionhead has recently stopped eating her pellets... she’s eating her greens as usual as well as her Timothy hay, although I’ve noticed over the past 3 days that her pellets have started to build up and she’s not eating them ... she used to run over when I would put them out on a morning, although now the next morning when I go to top it up, as said before, there’s increasing amounts remaining each day.

Is this something to be worried about or anything I should do/try to help?

thank you so much! Any questions or details comment below and I can add!

Thanks again!

 

[Mariam+Theo]

Sounds like she is in pain, probably from a tooth issue. She will need to be checked out by a rabbit-savvy vet. If it is molar spurs, which is what I'm suspecting, they will need to file her teeth which is normally around £50 to £100. Make sure she is still eating tons of hay and veggies so she doesn't go into Gi Stasis.

 

[Preitler]

Hm, I've seen that too. Thing is, many rabbits know what they need, and don't eat what they don't need. That's a good thing. On the other hand, most of mine are greedy vacuums that inhale pellets like there's no tomorrow. Your rabbit is small, it doesn't actually need pellets, it's larger breeds like 10lbs and more that can have difficulties getting everything from grass, forage, hay.

Just offer some pellets, or just use it sparingly as treats (thats what I do with my 10lbs bunnies)

EDIT: I don't know too much about small breeds, but I guess there indeed could be an issue with the molars.

 

[Mariam+Theo]

Hm, I've seen that too. Thing is, many rabbits know what they need, and don't eat what they don't need. That's a good thing. Your rabbit is small, it doesn't actually need pellets, it's larger breeds like 10lbs and more that can have difficulties getting everything from grass, forage, hay.

Just offer some pellets, or just use it sparingly as treats (thats what I do with my 10lbs bunnies)

EDIT: I don't know too much about small breeds, but I guess there indeed could be an issue with the molars.

Smaller breeds actually need a small amount of pellets because they are normally more active and burn more energy.

Rabbits Indoors says: "Rabbits less than 5 lbs may also need 1/4 cup per day. Very small rabbits tend to be high in energy and may do best with less restriction on pellets. As long as they are eating their hay well, 1/4 cup is ok to feed. If they start to get overweight, just reduce the pellet amount. "

 

[Preitler]

Well, not necessarily. It's the size of the digestion system that matters, and anything close or below the natural size is well off under circumstances that mirrow their ancestors. But it didn't really size up when big breeds were created.
rabbits of small size would not, per se, need pellets, if their diet covers all their needs. But I reckon that almost no pet rabbits are anywhere close to a diet they would chose if they had free choice (I herd my rabbits on the meadow, so I have an idea about what they like), so pellets are definitly a nice addition to diversivy their diet. So, it definitly makes sense to recommend it for indoor rabbits.

Gosh, sorry, am I bored, and there's that thing about Lockdown beers....

 

[Blue eyes]

If she's eating her usual hay and greens, then she isn't in GI stress.

What is her age and what amount of pellets does she usually get fed?

Pellets should make up only a tiny portion (if at all) of her usual diet. Suddenly refusing to eat any pellets could be an indication of a dental issue. But if she is just eating a lesser amount, that wouldn't be my first thought. She could be just regulating her intake. So has she stopped the pellets altogether? How much does she usually get per day?

 

[Charlotteengland]

Thanks guys for all your replies! She’s 1 year old next week! But she’s a Dwarf Lionhead so pretty small. I give her 2 egg cups of pellets a day and she usually would have ate them all by evening time, but recently there’s been more and more being left over in the morning. She eats lotsssss of Burgess Timothy Hay, Spring greens, and herbs daily.... & has blueberries and/or apple as a treat. She’s not stopped the pellets altogether but each morning when I go to her bowl there’s more and more being left over the past few days - she’s definately always eaten some though it’s never the full amount still left

and poops look completely normal, same with behaviour seems like herself

thanks again for your replies I really do appreciate all your time and effort trying to help!

 

[Hermelin]

I would say it’s too much pellets. I know when my bunnies was fully grown the pellets they ate as kits was not the same amount as adults and you can decrease the pellets now

 

[Charlotteengland]

Oo thank you! I will try one egg cup a day maybe for the next few days and see how she gets on with this and eats them all? Thank you!

 

[Blue eyes]

Oh, you Brits! How much, exactly, is an egg cup?? I'm guessing it is about (less than ?) 1/4 cup??

After 6 months of age, pellets should be limited, not free fed. Sounds like she's getting plenty of other good things to eat. If she's getting 1/4 cup (roughly) per day, that is plenty.

 

[JBun]

It could be that because she is done growing that she no longer needs as many pellets and is self regulating because she is liking her other foods better. As long as she is eating hay and greens well, and is maintaining a good weight/body condition, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Unless you start seeing weight loss, difficulty chewing, drooling, and/or not eating hay and greens well, then it could be a dental issue. Usually though, if it's a dental problem causing selective eating, it will be the hay and veg they will have problems chewing, but may continue with pellets because they are easier to chew. But any change of eating habits could have to do with dental issues, so just something to keep an eye on.

 

[Charlotteengland]

Haha I’ve just googled what a 1/4 cup is and it’s 4 tablespoons so I guess that’s about the same amount . Thank you!

 

[Charlotteengland]

It could be that because she is done growing that she no longer needs as many pellets and is self regulating because she is liking her other foods better. As long as she is eating hay and greens well, and is maintaining a good weight/body condition, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Unless you start seeing weight loss, difficulty chewing, drooling, and/or not eating hay and greens well, then it could be a dental issue. Usually though, if it's a dental problem causing selective eating, it will be the hay and veg they will have problems chewing, but may continue with pellets because they are easier to chew. But any change of eating habits could have to do with dental issues, so just something to keep an eye on.

thank you! That’s good advice I’ll keep an eye for a few days and let you all know the outcome! Thanks again everyone

 

[Charlotteengland]

Hey everyone just an update!

Bonnies gone back to eating her normal amount of pellets again! Sorry for the worried post... I am always noticing any slight differences & was just worried about the fact it was food related!!

thank you again for all your help and replies I am so grateful Love to you all and your buns