refusing pellets and veggies

[Bill Jesse]

Three of my four rabbits (English Spot, Dutch, Himalayan) have suddenly refused to eat their pellets. Their diet is mainly hay with about a third a cup of Martins pellets daily. The get a slice of carrot and apple and a piece of Romaine. And plenty of frsh water. They are only interested in the hay. Two live together and one alone. I have not changed food or surroundings. Their kennels are cleaned of bedding hay daily. The outside runsare clean and the hay they eat outdoors is the same as indoors and put down fresh daily. I have a male who shares one of the outdoor runs with the single female and he is not affected. They are active and are washing. They do not appear to be lerthargic and their droppings seem normal. I am baffled and obviously concerned. Thankfully they are eating hay.

 

[JBun]

Maybe there is just something wrong with that batch of pwllets and they don't like how they taste. You could get a new bag, maybe even from a different store so you don't end up getting another bag from the same batch, and see if they'll eat that.

 

[Bill Jesse]

I had thought of that and am planning to get another bag today. I don't know if that would affect them not eating the vegetables. As I said in my original post, I am thankful they are at least eating a lot of hay.

 

[Imbrium]

you might try changing veggies, too - bunns like variety in their greens

 

[Bill Jesse]

I had changed the Romaine lettuce and the apple source and thought that may have been the cause.

 

[ldoerr]

I agree with trying some new veggies. I am glad that they are eating their hay though. How about you try to give them a raisen or 2. When I have bunnies go off food that is the first thing that I try. 99% of the time it gets them back to normal eating. When Beauty got spayed a week ago she was eating less than 1 hr after surgery because I told the vets if she does not eat to give her raisens and they did. I have never had a rabbit that did not like them. (and I have had A LOT of rabbits).

 

[Bill Jesse]

An update. Late last night they ate pellets and some Romaine. Still eating hay. Today they ate their full ration of pellets and again hay. Vegetables are usually given at night. Now here is my concern. In the pen where the two females play there are no droppings or urine. They generally use a corner and I check it nightly. They had been outdoors for about 6 hours. The other pen with my other female and male had lots of droppings but it could have been from the male. Here is the question. If there is a blockage in their system would they still want to eat?