New bunny

Question
Hi,

I am an owner of a new baby Holland lop.  He is very sweet, playful, healthy and happy boy. He is 3 months old.
Yesterday, I noticed that his muscle mass was down,and he was a little floppy in his limbs.  I've owned rabbits all my life and I recently lost three rabbits in the past three years.  At their end, they all lost a lot of their muscle mass before they were put down.  
Lately, I've been having bad luck with bunnies. I had three in the past four months!!  Two went back because they were mean, and this one seems to be a little sick.  He is still hopping around and seems in good spirits.
He eats a lot of alfalfa, but I stopped giving to him because I read it has too much calcium, and Blue Seal pellets. He tried carrots, but only as a treat because I felt bad....Is bedding is woodchips and hay, and he has a litter pan, and newspaper on the bottom. I don't want to pay for a vet just yet....Can you help me??? Thanks

Answer
Amy,

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "his muscle mass was down."
Is he limping?
Has he lost his appetite?

He seems healthy by your description. It is possible that you are just a little paranoid because of the loss of your other rabbits. I've done it myself and can relate. Sometimes pet owners are too quick to jump to conclusions just because of a prior experience.

You are right, alfalfa is not the best type of hay for rabbits because it is too rich in calcium and protein. A grass hay such as timothy hay is better suited for rabbits.
Good quality rabbit pellets and fresh water are the most important part of a rabbit's diet.

Signs of a sick bunny:

Loss of appetite
Lethargy
Grinding teeth
Diarrhea
Excessive shaking
Limping
Overly aggressive when it isn't normal behavior
Uneager to move for long periods of time

Good luck with your new bunny!

-Lia