Bunny wants meat!

Question
Thank you for your help. I have not heard of acidophilus?

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Followup To

Question -
Hi, Molly is a 7 month old lopped earred rabbit who is insistant it likes meat. She is currently living inside (with my cat) because it is getting cold in the UK now. Molly is particuarly keen on getting our cat's dry biscuits. On occasion she did manage to get some dry food, I don't think she ate any pure meat but I cannot be certain. She was ill for a day - very lethargic, but was never off her food. The next day she had diarohhea. I made sure she had plenty of water and dry hay to try and flush the meat through her system. Since then she has been back to normal but I am concerned as to whether this has done any long term damage as she is meant to be stictly vegetarian!? Thanks

Answer -
Hi Sarah,

it is not uncommon for rabbits who are hungry to eat the dogs' or cats' food.  Some develop a taste for it.  Rabbits should never be given meat (or dairy, or fish, or sugary items).

However you are right to be concerned because it is dangerous to rabbits' health to eat it.  They are not designed to eat it, or meat.  Their gut can't process it right, and the results you saw confirm it.

I doubt it has done long-term damage or turned her into a carnivore.  Just find a way to feed your cat(s) that she can't get into their food.

It was excellent you pushed the hay (long fiber) as it would help to get her stomach/gi tract back to normal.  If you can pick up some acidophilus and give her some of that, either sprinkled on her greens or pellets (or if it is a hard pill, she cold chew it), that would help give her stomach a boost of good bacteria to compensate.

The House Rabbit Society web site (www.rabbit.org) has excellent articles on nutrition.  Go to the bottom of their main page and type in the search box, "nutrition" and you will get dozens of articles back to look through.

Write back anytime.

Lee

Answer
Hi Sarah,

you can get it at many pet stores, but you can also get it at Walgreens or a health food store.  It's just a common good gut bacteria that helps to keep bad bacteria in check and also promotes good digestion (in both people and rabbits).

You can get it in capsules (I open them up and sprinkle the powder on their pellets or a wetted piece of lettuce.  There are also chewable tablets that many rabbits like, especially if they are flavored like banana.

An online store that carries them is: www.rabbitshop.com.  Go under the "For the Bunnies" area and thumpb through the pages to find them.

Lee