Rabbit Nutrition /Daily Diet

Question
QUESTION: Dear Dana,
I am looking for advice for my holland lop who is a 3-1/2 yr old male bunny.
He is not getting the nourishment that he needs. I cut back on his pellets months back because he was having other challenges of motility. So, he has plentiful timothy hay (he can't have alfalfa which has calories)so with less pellets 1/8 cup per day or sometimes less and lots of hay he has lost a lot of weight. I recently increased his pellets a bit but have to stop again and focus on hay or he gets super picky and only wants pellets, because I know he's hungry. What do you think is the best % hay and pellets for him so that he's not starving and with a low motility rabbit.
The other question I have is how can I boost his immunity and nutrition. He has low motility and can't digest greens etc well so I give him very very little of that, except an odd piece of carrot or herb that is medicinal or sometimes a tiny piece of a sweet apple. Is there a special food or drink that you can give a rabbit as you would a person who was malnourished to boost their system again? I don't know if there is such a thing for rabbits.
I want to find a consistent plan and stick with it without his tummy getting hard and struggling to digest the pellets i do give him and I want to see his nutrition level improve.
thank you for your feedback.
~Jen

ANSWER: Dear Jen,

Poor GI motility has a root cause; it's not a disorder in and of itself.  And if you have a Holland Lop, then the #1 suspect is usually molar spurs.  This would account for his being hungry and picky at the same time:  it's just not worth the discomfort/pain to eat normally!  Please read:

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

and find an experienced rabbit vet here who knows how to deal with this very common problem:

www.rabbit.org/vets

In the meantime, you might want to get some Critical Care from Oxbow Hay Company:

www.oxbowhay.com

It's an excellent "emergency food" that you can give him via syringe.  Good fiber, probiotics, and will give him the calories he needs to put on some weight while his mouth is examined and his problems fixed.

Hope this helps!

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dana, angel, our bunny was checked for molar spurs by a specialist and they said he didn't have these. This was earlier this year.
note: also he is eating.. it is just picky-ness because I know he's lost weight so he's wanting pellets, who wouldn't want the carb/protein over hay right? it fills the tummy quicker. But I know if I drop the pellets for a few days he'll eat his hay  more again and balance out more in proper %. Unfortunately, this won't solve the challenge how to get him his nutrients daily into his diet without being able to add greens very much. I'm thinking he has chronic GI problems and weakened immunity. do you have any suggestions for this?
The emergency food he reacted to the last time worse. I can't use that again, although I do use the oxbow pellets which he enjoys.
So, maybe he was overlooked for spurs, I'm not sure.
I do appreciate that you always look for the root cause. I will think on what you said and keep a loving eye on him. If you have any further comments in regards to GI problems and treating a weakened immunity, I'd appreciate it. Also I do sometimes sprinkle probiotics powder and coral calcium to strengthen his digestion and bones a bit, though not every day.
sincerely, Jen

Answer
Dear Jen,

It sounds as if your bunny is getting really good care.  But believe it or not, dental problems are sometimes overlooked, even by very experienced rabbit vets.  If the molars are smooth, there might be some other problem, such as an incipient abscess of a tooth root, or other problem causing discomfort.  

I would also ask about having blood work done, and a full check up of his urinary tract, since bladder sludge or a stone can cause discomfort and unusual behaviors.  Rabbits are so cryptic about their ailments that we really have to be good detectives to find out what ails them, sometimes.  :(

Good luck!

Dana