Posted: May 27, 2009 7:30 p.m. EDT
Q: I have two small rabbits named Ash and Ruby. I don’t know their age. Recently, Ash got sick. His stool is loose and Ruby has a sticky eye. I am feeding them cabbage leaves. They only eat cabbage. How many times do I need to feed them? They keep on eating whenever they see food.
A: Unfortunately, a diet of cabbage only is not a balanced diet for rabbits. The ailments you describe may or may not be due to the diet but they do mean you should visit your veterinarian.
Any rabbit with loose stool likely has digestive disease. This may be due to the diet or partially due to diet. Either way, loose stools can quickly turn into a serious situation with your rabbit losing nutrients and fluids. Your veterinarian can evaluate this and decide on a course of treatment.
Your other rabbit may have an eye infection or another problem involving the structures around the eye. Again, your veterinarian will be able to determine the best course of treatment to improve the condition of your rabbit’s eye.
See all of Dr. Rosenthal's Critter Q&A articles>>