Eating Grass

Question
We have a lionhead dwarf rabbit that is about 10 weeks old. He seems happy enough, but the past week or so has not eaten grass - just pellets and fresh vegetables (mainly lettuce). Also, be has begun leaving small dark pellets around (we let him fun free in the house). Not poo, but no raspberry looking either. Is this something to be bothered about? Thanks

Answer
Dear Brian,

Lionhead rabbits are notorious for having dental problems, and picky eating habits can mean that he's developing molar spurs, even at this tender age. You'll need a good, experienced rabbit vet to have a look and see if he has spurs that need to be filed:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Also please read:

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

If he has a mild malocclusion now, it's possible that as he grows this will go away, especially if any spurs or crooked snaggles are cut or filed as he grows, so they don't push his jaw bones into abnormal growth patterns.

Mushy poop can mean that he's uncomfortable or in pain, as this article explains:

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

I hope this helps.


Dana