Busterthelionhead
New Member
Two years ago I got my little man Buster, who was four at the time. Before I got him he lived in a small cage, was fed primarily pellets, iceberg lettuce, apples, carrots and cabbage - no hay. His owners were removing diarrhea from his behind every day, and said he seemed unhappy.
When I got him I had him in a cage until his diarrhea was under control, and I changed his diet. I feed him burgess excel, but not a lot, and he is eating different kinds of lettuces - not iceberg, other veggies, dandelions and grass, no cabbage, small amounts of fruit - given as a treat, and lots of hay. His tummy got much better, but we have had three instances of what would have become GI stasis if I hadn't taken him to the vet. He has always been VERY picky. When I gave him his veggies and greens, he would not eat before I left for school or I had gone to sleep, and the chance of treats was gone. He would often not touch new foods. I have been massaging his belly to help relief any gas and he's been fed probiotics to support digestion. He has become very happy here, started binkying and flopping as soon as he became cage free. He has always been interested in treats, me, and his surroundings, which is why I didn't euthanize him.
In November or December 18 he started showing a greater interest in food. All of a sudden he was willing to try new foods, i.e. beetroot and celery. He eats as soon as I feed him. His poops are bigger than what has been normal here, they are uniform in size, and I see no cecotropes. But he seems to be constantly hungry. If I do anything in the kitchen, he is always standing right behind me begging for food. If I place the bag of groceries on the floor, he will try to steal food, and if I put a trash bag on the floor for even a second before bringing it outside he's in it, trying to steal old food or wrappers from veggies. He'll try to steal bread, pasta, candy, flour, etc. His reacting to lettuce and veggies has become the same as when I feed him treats. He has gained a little weight - not too much, and is more active than he has been before.
I want to think he's healthy, but I honestly don't know if he is. His digestions seems to be good, but his constant hunger is worrying me, as he's never been like this before. Should I take him to the vet, or is it normal bunny behavior?
If there are any spelling/grammar mistakes, I apologize - I'm from Denmark
When I got him I had him in a cage until his diarrhea was under control, and I changed his diet. I feed him burgess excel, but not a lot, and he is eating different kinds of lettuces - not iceberg, other veggies, dandelions and grass, no cabbage, small amounts of fruit - given as a treat, and lots of hay. His tummy got much better, but we have had three instances of what would have become GI stasis if I hadn't taken him to the vet. He has always been VERY picky. When I gave him his veggies and greens, he would not eat before I left for school or I had gone to sleep, and the chance of treats was gone. He would often not touch new foods. I have been massaging his belly to help relief any gas and he's been fed probiotics to support digestion. He has become very happy here, started binkying and flopping as soon as he became cage free. He has always been interested in treats, me, and his surroundings, which is why I didn't euthanize him.
In November or December 18 he started showing a greater interest in food. All of a sudden he was willing to try new foods, i.e. beetroot and celery. He eats as soon as I feed him. His poops are bigger than what has been normal here, they are uniform in size, and I see no cecotropes. But he seems to be constantly hungry. If I do anything in the kitchen, he is always standing right behind me begging for food. If I place the bag of groceries on the floor, he will try to steal food, and if I put a trash bag on the floor for even a second before bringing it outside he's in it, trying to steal old food or wrappers from veggies. He'll try to steal bread, pasta, candy, flour, etc. His reacting to lettuce and veggies has become the same as when I feed him treats. He has gained a little weight - not too much, and is more active than he has been before.
I want to think he's healthy, but I honestly don't know if he is. His digestions seems to be good, but his constant hunger is worrying me, as he's never been like this before. Should I take him to the vet, or is it normal bunny behavior?
If there are any spelling/grammar mistakes, I apologize - I'm from Denmark