Rabbit not eating much is normal it seems

[Tweetiepy]

I wrote last week or so about my 4-5 month old lionhead who wasn't eating much. He wouldn't eat all his pellets even though he was only getting 1/4 cup per day. He's not eating much hay either, neither alfalfa nor timothy. Popcorndoesn't get excited like Peaches does when I give him veggies. Here's the thread: http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=63166&forum_id=48

I brought him (Popcorn) to the vet today - let's say he's about 5 months old, turns out he weighs the same as Peaches did when I brought him in to be fixed and he was about 8 months old then. The vet checked everything, his teeth are fine, both front and back, his ears are clear and she could feel his poops inside his belly. He still eats and drinks, pees & poops but just so much less than Peaches does. Peaches will spend a good 10 minutes munching on his hay or he'll clean out his pellets within a sitting ortwo. Popcorn will munch on hay for a minute or two and he'll nibble on his pellets here and there but will still have some leftover from the morning when I fill his bowl at night.

The vet said that they're like our kids, all different, as long as he's eating he's okay - she said he had some meat on his bones and he wasn't super skinny or underweight - he's about 2.6 pounds now.

Maybe it,s just because Peaches seems to eat so much that Popcorn seems like a picky eater. Maybe I just haven't yet found out what kind of food drives Popcorn crazy.

He won't eat veggies out of my hand, it has to be in his bowl - very diva of him

 

[elrohwen]

Well that's good! It's always nice to get a vet's opinion on stuff like this. I'm glad he doesn't have an underlying problem and is a good weight.

 

[Tweetiepy]

My only problem will be when leaving food for him at the vets for him to nibble on after he gets neutered. She asked that I leave them some critical care in case he doesn't start eating there since they don't keep him overnight - which I thought was good - I mean how much oatmeal can I leave him to eat? He,s scheduled for Feb 9 for his neuter.

 

[elrohwen]

I wouldn't give him any oatmeal to eat at the vet's - just some pellets and hay (if they don't have hay) and maybe some veggie that he likes. Just the basics. If they're not keeping him overnight it doesn't matter much what you leave because he doesn't need a full meal - just to prove that he is willing to eat.

Also, don't be surprised if he doesn't eat. My boy was neutered in the afternoon and didn't eat until the next day - he may not eat before he comes home, but that doesn't yet indicate a problem.