Liquid in stool - part 2

Question
Thanks for your response about my mini lop mix with the liquid in his stool.
I have given him unlimited timothy hay for the last 2 days, and his stool is drying up and starting to look normal.  I will continue with the hay, he loves it.  
I did have a question about feeding other vegetables and fruits.  You suggested giving rabbits quite a bit more vegetables and fruit then I have been giving.  Should I start adding more now, or should I wait a bit until he has firm stool for a certain length of time.  
Unfortunately, I had been giving him unlimited hay in the past, along with fruits and veggies, but I was told by an old time breeder to give only pellets.  I was told that I was going to make my bunny sick with anything other then pellets.  I already had a rabbit die from Ileus and another from fly strike, so I don't want another rabbit to die from either one of those horrible things again.  
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions about my rabbit.
Shelley Garcia


Answer
Dear Shelley,

There's nothing wrong with unlimited hay, as long as it's good quality *grass* hay (e.g., timothy).  I don't trust the feeding advice offered by breeders.  They raise their rabbits with "quality" in mind (I think you catch my drift), and not longevity.  They really are very slow to learn, and many are downright hostile to anyone who wants to give a bunny a really good quality of life.  Feeding nothing but pellets is not only boring, but will not provide adequate crude fiber for long-term intestinal health.

While his stool is still soft, only gradually add vegetables.  Some rabbits can handle all manner of fresh food without problems, but a few are very sensitive to some items, and seem to become gassy and prone to cecal dysbiosis from some types of vegetables and fruit.  I suspect these bunnies have sub-clinical health problems, most often dental.  You can read more here:

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

and

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

Dental problems (particularly molar spurs) are very common in mini-lops, so I wouldn't let this go unexamined by an experienced bunny vet.

Good luck, and please don't hesitate to write back if you need help.

Dana