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New Bunny Lover Seeks Advice

22 10:15:03

Question
I have just adopted a bunny about 6 days ago.  My new friend was surrendered to a pet store and they had no history for him.  I set up a nice cage for him to live in and have been letting him around the house to play and bond for about two hours per day.  Here are my main concerns:

He seems to munch on the store bought pellet food mix, but he is less interested in greens.  I place some fresh lettuce and kale near his food twice per day and he kind of ignores it.  He does eat pieces of apple and carrot like they are going out of style.

Gunther also doesn't seem to be drinking water.  The first day I brought him home he guzzled a whole bottle, but then, nothing, he won't touch his water. I set a small bowl of water for him, and he has dipped his tongue in a few times, but by no means is he "drinking".

Should I be concerned by his habits?

Thank you.  I am growing so close to him and things I've been reading have been scaring me about Gunther's health.

Answer
Hi Kendra,

thanks for taking care of him and giving him a forever home with you.  I have found that animals who have been surrendered/abandoned really appreciate the person who rescues them, because they know what it's like to be unwanted, and are very grateful to the people who find them to be the best little joys they are.

Don't push the greens.  One, he doesn't need them.  What he needs more than anything else is hay.  Hay keeps rabbits healthy.  It pushes things through the gi tract.  It prevents hairballs by pushing the fur through the gut.  They are designed to eat hay.  Timothy hay or Orchard Grass hay are great.  Oxbow packages excellent hay and food timothy hay food pellets.  

Hay is also important to keep his teeth from overgrowing - they grow at about an inch a month, and eating hay and chewing on wicker balls, toys, tents, etc from a pet supply store (or Busy Bunny) help keep the teeth worn down properly and aligned right.

I would also watch how much fruits you are giving him.  They are high in sugar and carbs and this can cause gut problems.  A few small coins of carrot, and a small apple wedge may be okay, but you should not give him a lot of this.  It will throw off his gut bacteria for the worse.

For the water, give it to him in bottle form.  That apparently is how he wants to drink.  You can offer him both and see if he will start learning to drink from a crock/bowl, but if he has a preference, let him decide.

What I would do, as you are a new owner, is one: pick up the House Rabbit Handbook.  It is great for new rabbit owners.  Second, go to the House Rabbit Society web site and find a good rabbit vet near you, and have the vet give him a good once over (wellness exam).  He should have one every year.

Start looking for a rabbit vet (not all vets are good rabbit vets) here:

www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

and find a House Rabbit Society recommended vet near you.

Ask the vet about any questions you have.  They will help you.  I would also spend time on the House Rabbit Society web site reading their articles on all aspects of rabbit care.

Write back anytime.

Lee