Feeding an elderly Rabbir

Question
My rabbit turned 10years in January. He is a rescue rabbit that I have had for 9 years.  He just lost his mate in December.  He seems to be doing ok however he has gotten fussier with his food and I don't want his weight to decrease too much.  He normally eat his timothy pellets quite well now he picks at them. Also he picks through his hay as well.  He eats his vegetables so I have increase those a bit.  I'm wondering if I should give him alfalfa hay and/or pellets instead they have more calories however more calcium also.  On occasion he does have a bit of sludge in his urine.  He is not active because we had to amputate his hind leg(he was a rescue rabbit that was brought in with a bad abcess in his hock after months of trying to cure it thought it was best to amputate to prevent the infection travelling through his body.  He got around quite well when he was younger but I think he has arthritis in his hind end and cann't lift his hind end up but pushes himself around the pen. Also would fist cut thimothy be better than second cut.

Thanks for any help
Debbie

Answer
Dear Debbie,

At his age, he might be developing molar spurs that make it difficult for him to eat.  Please see:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/dental.html

and find a rabbit-savvy vet here:

http://www.rabbit.org/vets

who can look deep into the mouth and see if there are molars that need to be filed.  This can restore his oral health and keep him happy for quite a long time.

Second cut timothy will be very nice for him, though it's not as high in coarse fiber as first-cut.  But if he eats more, then that would make up for the difference.  :)

If he has a very sludgy bladder, that could be painful and curbing his appetite.  Ask the vet about fluid therapy, and how to gently express his bladder after giving it a good jiggle (when full) to suspend the sludge and make it easier for him to pass.

I hope this helps.

Dana