My rabbit wont eat hay!!

Question
I got a rabbit from a rescue centre 6 months ago, he is 6 years old. When i got him, he was slightly overweight - a problem which i thought would be resolved with a proper diet of hay, small amount of pellet and fresh veggies every other day. However, since I have had him, he shows no interest in eating hay (ive tried all different types! tried using it in different toys etc) or any vegetables. Ive tried almost starving him to see if that will entice him to eat it, but was concerned as this can be dangerous in rabbits? So for the last few months i have dramatically reduced the amount of pellets - this hasnt worked either!
I took him to the vet a month ago, because i noticed his front teeth were what i considered abnormal (the top teeth about 2mm in length, and the bottom about 1cm in length!). I was told by the vet that this was normal, that rabbits teeth wear down in different ways. A month later, he's front teeth have gotten worse, and they are starting to go a brownish colour! With him refusing to eat hay, veggies and fresh grass ... i dread to think what hes back teeth must be like! I am going to take him back to the vet to get them checked over properly. Have you got any suggestions which could entice him to eat the hay/grass? Or anything else which might help to keep his teeth worn down? Thankyou.

Answer
Dear Sam,

Your instincts seem to be better than those of the vet.  This is very likely a tooth problem, and molar spurs can cause picky eating habits like those you describe.

I'm not sure where you are in the U.K., but if you're anywhere within driving distance of Harrogate, then it's worth a trip to see Dr. Frances Harcourt-Brown, one of the best rabbit vets in the world, and a true expert in rabbit dental disorders.  You can find her contact information here:

http://www.any-uk-vet.co.uk/harcourt-brown/

If you can't get to Dr. Brown's practice, perhaps you could call them up and ask for a referral to a good rabbit vet with dental expertise who is closer to you.

I hope this helps!

Dana