Bunny eating less than usual

[ILikeBigBuns]

Hello!

My bun is about 5-6 months old. Around 3-4lbs. In the morning I give him romaine hearts and in the evening a 1/2 cup pellets. He has always loved romaine and would chow down the moment I filled his bowl. The past few days he has been eating less and less of it. It used to be gone before I even left for work but now about half the bowl is left after a full day. He has also started turning his nose up as mint Timothy sticks, which again he used to snarf down. He still eats pellets as usual. And LOVES Apple as a treat.

I’d also like to mention that he has worms at the moment and I started him on dewormer (wazine 17) two days ago. Also he doesn’t have a lot of worms. Just noticed a bit in his poops. But the eating change started a couple days before that.

Should I be worried at all? His behavior hasn’t changed. Maybe his taste preference changed? I am about to leave on a 5 day vacation and will have my boyfriend monitor him.

 

[Orrin]

All of my buns cut way back on their appetites in the past week. I cannot explain it. I wonder if it has something to do with the shorter days. (We don't usually expose them to artificial lighting.) Dunno.

 

[Blue eyes]

Does he get hay? (it wasn't mentioned) Hay should make up over 80% of his diet. He should have hay available all throughout the day, every day.

On a side note, the dark green romaine leaves (outer leaves) are more nutritious than romaine hearts. The darker the green, the better. You can also try offering some other dark green lettuces like green leaf or red leaf lettuce for variety.

 

[JBun]

Even though this started before you saw the worms, the worms would have already been there in his digestive tract. Intestinal parasites can certainly upset a rabbits digestive system and cause lack of appetite. As can the worming process because of parasite die off, and the medication itself can also cause nausea and lack of appetite. So all of these things could be contributing to his current reduced appetite.

I too would suggest offering a good quality grass hay like timothy. Sometimes when a rabbit has an upset stomach they are more inclined to want to eat a high fiber food like hay, to help increase the movement through their digestive tract. A good quality grass hay is also the least likely food to cause any digestive upset for rabbits, and it actually helps to establish good gut health and microflora.

 

[ILikeBigBuns]

He has all he can eat orchard and Timothy hay all day, every day. Maybe his teeth are bothering him? I’d be afraid to limit his pellets and/or veggies(to get him to eat more hay).

Most likely will take him to see the vet in the next week.

 

[ILikeBigBuns]

Hello! Update!

After about a week of this he just flipped back. He’s eating everything as usual. In fact today he was GORGING on everything he could.

He is starting to molt so maybe that’s it? Starting to get cold so maybe he’s trying to be a little fatty? Anyway I’m just happy he is eating everything as usual.