House Rabbits Blog

Turns out, Bao Bao is a girl!

I got a call today from Christine and she gave me the low-down on Bao Bao’s diet and health for the past year.  This is what I know now:

• Birthday is March 11, 2007
• Her main diet was Timothy hay
• Her secondary diet was Bonanza brand pellets – with nuts and dried fruits inside
• She had romaine lettuce once a week

The reason I had to ask Christine all these questions was because:

• Bao Bao weighs 5.5lbs, which is obese for her breed and size
• She did not have regular bowel movements and her poops were either really small or they were wet
• I saw some cecals in the litter box which suggests to me that she’s over-nourished
• She wasn’t eating the plain pellets I was giving her and the fresh veggies.

Putting everything together, this is the analysis (with a lot of help from Emily today) – Bao Bao is overweight because she’s been eating “junk” pellets.  Bunny owners think that the pellets with  more nuts and fruit in it are better for the rabbits because it costs more and it’s also fancier.  However, the opposite is true.  The plain timothy pellets are actually the best for them.  The nuts and fruits put too much calories and sugar into their system which makes them obese and also creates the excessive cecal and wet poop situation.  The nutrients have no where to go so they get left in the poops which makes them wet and makes the bunny over produce cecals. The dried fruits found in the “junk” pellets are used for treats for bunnies.  They should not be eating more than 1 piece of dried fruit a day.

A bunny’s main diet should be timothy hay.  Secondary to that is pellets and then fresh vegetables every day.

A lot of bunny owners are hesitant to give fresh vegetables because they start to see diarrhea or wet poops.  This happens because the bunny is usually not used to the fresh vegetables but if you slowly ween them onto it, they will adapt and it is overall, better for their health.  Iceberg lettuce should never be fed and carrots should be limited to a minimum.

So now that Bao Bao’s situation has been accessed, this is the plan – she will be placed on a strict diet.  No pellets whatsoever because she’s fat.  She will be on a mainly hay and vegetable diet.  Currently she’s being fed “Critical Care” because she needs to eat so that she can start her bowel movements again.  Once that is stabilized, she will start on her new diet.

Bao Bao made a new friend overnight.

Last night was the first night Bao Bao spent in his new home.  I’ve noticed a few things that I’m concerned about.  Tomorrow, Bao Bao’s old owner Christine is coming over and I will ask her about some of concerns.  Also, Emily will be coming over after that to sex the bun and to give him a general check-up.  In return, I have to take her to Kam Man Supermarket.

I’ve been concerned about the size of Bao Bao’s poops.  They look unusually small but then she does have some soft poops – both of which are unusual for rabbits.  Their poops should be a good size, dry and hard. I’m also concerned about Bao Bao’s eating habits.  He hasn’t eaten much of the pellets I’ve given him, he’s nibbled on the leafy parts of the veggies he was given and he chews hay.  I feel he might be eating too little and pooping too little – a possible sign of impending stasis.  I’m also concerned about Bao Bao’s teeth.  While Joey was holding him last night, I looked in his mouth and noticed that the front teeth, though straight, were very long.  I’m not entirely sure this is unusual since Ginger doesn’t have teeth and Juju would never let me look in his mouth.  Eventually, Bao Bao will need to go to the Vet to get a once-over.

Other than my concerns, Bao Bao seems perfectly comfortable, at rest and happy.  He loves his new digs, he lays down with his feet spread behind him – the signs of a comfortable bunny.