Picky Rabbit

Question
My rabbit has had to go on a low-calcium diet due to sludge in his bladder (he had to have is surgically removed) and is being very picky since the surgery.  He'll eat celery and romaine, but will not touch the Oxbow Bunny Basics / T pellets we got for him.  He often seems hungry, but nothing will entice him to eat his pellets.  I even sprinkled some treats in his bowl with his pellets, and he just picked out the good bits.  I don't know what to feed him, most of the veggies he likes are high in calcium (kale, broccoli, parsley) and so he can't have them anymore.  The only low-calcium veggies he likes are celery and romaine.  What can I feed this poor guy?  Is there any way I can make him eat his pellets?

Answer
UPDATE:

Hi,

yes you need to get a small amount of the former pellets.  Get the smallest bag possible that will allow you to blend them over the next month.  I understand they are high in calcium but the goal is to shift his taste over to more acceptable pellets over time.

And also I have never been dinged by anyone because they couldn't send me a follow-up.  Generally not something you downgrade someone for.

END UPDATE

Hi Natasha,

I am glad he survived the surgery.

The short answer is that you have to do a gradual shift over to the new pellets.  Most rabbits will not just eat a new pellet brand if you only give them that pellet.

First week: 75% old pellets, 25% new.  Don't give treats unless you see new pellets being eaten.

Second week: 50% old/50% new pellets.

Third week: 25% old, 75% new pellets.

Fourth week: new pellets.

I know they wnat you off the old ones, apparently, but most rabbits will just not accept a 100% shift in pellets in one day.  They will just eat other things and not eat the pellets.  

Rabbits need time to adjust to changes in what you feed them.  They are picky eaters as creatures of habit.  They get used to things and if they like them, they don't want to change.  That is why if changes must be made, they are made slowly.

It is not critical that he eats a lot of different greens, as long as he is eating hay.  Eating hay is THE most important thing.  Everything else is secondary.  He should be eating the most of this over everything else.

Another good green, if you need a backup or can't find one you normally give, would be green leaf lettuce.

Lee