Fat Baby Bunny/Diarrhea

Question
I got a 5 week old holland lop rabbit around a week ago from a breeder and when I got her she was very skinny and I could feel her bones. Now im feeding her 1/4 a cup of pellets a day and free choice alfalfa and grass. She is gaining weight at a alarming rate and her stomach feels huge and she has diarrhea. Is this normal? Should I feed her less? Should I feed her hay instead of alfalfa?

Answer
Dear Kylie,

Gaining weight is good, but diarrhea is definitely NOT good, especially in a baby rabbit.  It can kill very quickly.  Please read this immediately (the section on runny stool in baby rabbits):

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html

and find a rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

If you cannot find a rabbit vet, then please print this and take it with you to *any* vet who is willing to work with information from a stranger on the internet:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/squirts.pdf

If this is true diarrhea, you have little time.  Get the bunny the simethicone as described in the previous article, but don't give any other medications without the supervision of the vet.  Please waste no time getting her to a good rabbit vet, as her life could be in danger from the diarrhea.

I hope this helps.

Dana