Trixie's not eating much - Update! :)

[maherwoman]

Guys, I'm wondering if you can help me...

Trixie's not eaten a whole heck of a lot since being home. She's chewed (and consumed) the heck out of her basket (which is on the bottom floor), but seems not-so-keen on being on the top level (where her hay, pellets, and litter box reside), and thus isn't eating a whole lot of either her hay, and definitely not a lot of her pellets.

She's been given the same exact kind of pellets she had at Denise's, so it's not like she's been given a kind that's not up to snuff in her book.

I gave her a slice of banana last night (because she HAS to get her daily slice of nanner!), and she didn't snub that or the one offered tonight. She was more than happy to DEVOUR the handful of hay I gave her.

I'm wondering...is she spoiled ALREADY?!

What can I do to promote eating? She's active as a normal bunny, laying and sitting and playing as a normal bunny (of course, I have nothing to compare her activity to since she's hardly been here 24hrs...but compared to my other two girls).

She doesn't seem to be any different at all...so I'm wondering if she's being picky and waiting for that banana. Should I not give her anymore banana for a few days?

Also, her litter box has plenty of poops (that look nice and fresh) and pee in it (as well as another corner of her cage...but that's a whole other thread to post), so she's definitely going.

Any ideas? I'm getting worried...is it just the stress of her new environment? The stress of a cage being a different setup than she's used to?

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Rosie*

P.S. My husband just noticed that she seems to be being picky and princess-y about the banana...how do you handle a bunny that's trying to fake us out, only to get more banana. Could that be what's happening here? I put a little piece of banana (just a tiny nibble) on top of her pellets, to try to persuade her to eat them...and she ate the nibble, then snubbed the pellets. Am I a sap?

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Rosie, honestly, I think Denise will tell you that it's just her being in a new place. She'll come around here in a few days at the longest. I just know it. Don't worry too much! I bet you odds, that's all it is,

Hugs and Love,

Crystal and the buns!

 

[maherwoman]

Okay, I think I found a solution (at least a temporary one). I think I remember Denise saying that her litter box was in the bottom left hand corner, so we put one of our other litter boxes there, and put a good layer of hay on top of the wood pellet bedding (which is the same kind Denise was using with her, but she didn't put hay on top there). She's now gone right into the box, and is grazing on the hay, so I feel MUCH better.

I think the setup was different enough, she's being a bit of a bunny diva about it.

What I'd like to know is...just HOW did she know that I knew where things were supposed to be?? I was hoping she would just adjust, given that her additional levels were a different shape and such as well, but it seems that will be more difficult than planned.

I'll consult with Denise to figure out EXACTLY where things were, and just set it up that way. Not like I'll not know when to change her box. I fully empty out and replace everything in my girls' boxes every other day, so I'll just do it right along with theirs. Haven't quite figured out how I'll do the hay (I have their hay on the top level because I have bad knees, and kneeling is really painful for me), but all in good time. If it means I have to have that additional box on the bottom level with the hay IN it, that's just fine with me! Heck, it's what I do with Flower, so no big adjustment there!

Okay, so I just cleaned out her other box, too...I'll be watching the status of pee and poops.

I'm hoping this is the solution...

Thanks for the encouragment! I'm sure it's just stress...and stress on my part for having a new girl, and being nervous about her stress level from things. Hehe...stress all around!

I'll keep ya'll posted.

Rosie*

 

[naturestee]

She's probably stressed from the flight and new home. Have you tried mushing some pellets into the banana?

Do you have Nutri-cal? That can stimulate appetite, and it's supposed to taste like banana so she might like it.

 

[maherwoman]

Quick update, though I wouldn't mind still receiving ideas from you guys:

I realized that Denise had her litter box in a different corner, so I put one of our extras in that space, and put some hay on top of the wood pellet bedding (same kind of bedding Denise used), and she munched away on the hay for quite a while.

As long as she's eating hay and drinking lots of water, she's fine, right?

I'll wait until this time tomorrow to be suspicious of the pellets. We also just cleaned out her regular litter box, so we'll be able to accurately monitor her poops and pee.

Like I said, though..any ideas would be great!

Thanks!

 

[maherwoman]

No, we don't have any Nutri-Cal...where would we find it? What does it look like? How much does it normally run? (Not that price will influence, but just curious, so we're not shocked when we get it.)

Also, Denise has mentioned that when she's had to give her meds before, she's smooshed it up in some banana.

I'm worried that if I give her anymore banana, I'll make the situation worse...:?

 

[maherwoman]

Is this the right kind? Or is there a formula specifically for bunnies?

http://www.petco.com/Shop<WBR>/Product.aspx?R=664&Nav=1<WBR>&N=0&Ntt=Nutri-cal&amp<WBR>;sku=15563&familyID=7708<WBR>&amp;

 

[TinysMom]

I know that after a long road trip- I rarely feel like sitting down and eating a big meal.....and sometimes don&#39;t even want a normal sized meal. (I want to sleep and maybe drink a bunch).

It could just be adjustment time- especially since she is at least eating something...

Peg

 

[pamnock]

maherwoman wrote:

Is this the right kind? Or is there a formula specifically for bunnies?

http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=664&Nav=1&N=0&Ntt=Nutri-cal&sku=15563&familyID=7708&[/url"]http://www.petco.com/Shop<WBR>/Product.aspx?R=664&Nav=1<WBR>&N=0&Ntt=Nutri-cal&amp<WBR>;sku=15563&familyID=7708<WBR>&]http://www.petco.com<WBR>/Shop/Product.aspx?R=664&amp<WBR>;Nav=1&N=0&Ntt=Nutri<WBR>-cal&sku=15563&familyID<WBR>=7708&[/url]

That&#39;s the brand I use. It has complex B vitamins to stimulate appetite. It&#39;s easily absorbed into the intestinal system and great to keep on hand for rabbits off their feed. (tastes like fish oil)



Pam

 

[HoneyPot]

Found this in the NIC Cage post...

"]forums.com/attachment.php?id<WBR>=9058[/img][/url]



____________
Nadia

 

[jordiwes]

Hey Rosie,

If Trixie is eating something, I wouldn&#39;t worry too much. When we took my bunnies to my parents cabin, Jordi refused to eat her pellets for a whole two days. I was ready to just go home early and she started eating. She was eating hay that whole time so that&#39;s why I didn&#39;t worry more.

 

[pamnock]

:yeahthat I agree - it&#39;s a good sign that she&#39;s eating hay and a piece of banana. It may take a few days before she starts to eat the pellets.

To make sure she&#39;s getting enough moisture, you might try a little piece of apple, carrot or small amount of greens. Check droppings.



Pam

 

[maherwoman]

Okay, great...thank you so much, guys.

Her poops look nice and moist, so I&#39;m not worried about moisture...not to mention I&#39;ve seen her drinking a lot, so we&#39;re all good on that front, too.

Thanks so much...I was so worried, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I was "new mommy" worried...

Thank you for your reassurance, though...I really needed it!

 

[maherwoman]

Thank you so much, guys...and HoneyPot, thank you for the picture!

I went over this morning to check her pellet consumption (which looked like maybe a little bit was consumed) and her poops and such, and she hopped right over into her bottom litter box and nibbled some hay, as if to say, "Don't worry, Mama...I'm eating...and look at my beaufitul poops!"

She had plenty of nice, moist poops (some spread throughout her cage that weren't there yesterday...marking of territory) and is clearly eating hay and drinking enough, so I'm gonna relax and just be watching. If she still isn't eating pellets by tonight, I'll post about it, but I think it'll be just fine.

Also, if it doesn't improve by the end of the day (pellet consumption), I'll have my husband pick up some Nutri-Cal to give her.

Bottom line: she IS consuming things (hay & water, which are really the two most important), so she's not going to go into GI Stasis...so she's doing wonderfully. I just felt panicky about her not consuming pellets, but in thinking about it, I realize it's probably just a bit of stress in a new environment.

Thanks, guys!!

Rosie*

P.S. I'll keep you up-to-date about it.

 

[maherwoman]

Update: The pellets look just a tiny bit lower than they were yesterday, so she&#39;s eating a bit of them! Not a whole heck of a lot, granted, but she&#39;s continued eating a TON of hay and drinking plenty of water, so looks like things are getting on track!

 

[TrixieRabbit]

Hey Rosie!

I know we chatted briefly via email about Trix's pellet consumption, or lack thereof.
I think part of the reason she is not eating them is because she is so used to her food, hay, pellets and litter box being on the ground level of her cage.
The reason I put everything down on that level is because that's where Trix picked to eat and poop! LOL...she chose the spot, and I obliged, as a good bunny slave should.
It could just be she is not used to the new set up and doesn't even really remeber to go to the upper levels to check out the goodies up there.

She always has had 1 litter box on the bottom backleft with her hay rack attached to the wall on the left side hanging above the box. SHe likes to sit in her box and munch on the hay....
Her pellets were in a small porcelain round bowl in the front right bottom and her water bottle was placed right next to that.

Also, how much pellets are you feeding her? She is used to eating about 1/4 cup in the am and 1/4 at night. She mostly eats at night....the food and hay tend to sit longer during the day and most of it is still there from her am feedingwhen I come home from work, but is usually empty when I refill in the evenings and wake up in the morning...
Maybe you are just giving her more pellets than she is used to eating?

Actually, come to think of it...she has been eating less pellets the past week or so, but I think she knew something was up. We changed her cage, moved things around, got her a new carrier...she could also be a bit stressed.

Anyway, I think I covered everything. I think it's a combo of new surroundings and stress.

hope she's eating those pellets soon!
~Denise

 

[maherwoman]

YAY!! I&#39;m happy to report that Trixie has been eating her pellets very nicely today!

Though I have yet to see a complete DBF, I have seen some binkies here and there, so I know she&#39;s adjusting nice and smoothly.

Thanks for all the ideas, guys!

And don&#39;t worry, Denise...just took a bit of adjustment for her. Our girl&#39;s doing wonderfully!