Bunny Nutrition

[MS9325]

also rabbits can get hair balls, and a cheap way to avoid that is dry papaya or pineapple juice, you will have to put the pineapple juice in a syring and shoot it in to the mouth though.

 

[d.k]

*How long could a bun survive eating only hay though?? I think I'd be looking for a second opinion-- one with MORE information, too! ~:[ (Some dried papaya sounds like a good idea for hairballs, but pineapple juice is awfully acidic for an irritated G.I. illness-- might put a little in the water, but I'd never go shooting it in her mouth; she might aspirate it into the lungs even.)

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Quote:
From the Miami link: Sometimes, a rabbit suffering from GI stasis is diagnosed as having a "hairball." In reality, an apparent hairball usually is a result of GI stasis--not the cause. A vet who has not palpated many rabbit abdomens may be unfamiliar with the normal, sometimes "doughy" feel of the healthy rabbit stomach. A "doughy" stomach is usually cause for concern only when accompanied by an empty lower GI and symptoms of abdominal discomfort.

 

[MBLayfield]

My rabbits eat good quality rabbit pellets, grass hay daily, and everyother day in addition to the above they get either a few leaves each of a green leaf lettuce or kale or carrots (whatever is on sale). They eat more hay than anything else and they are very healthy.

I'm not too new to bunnies but not an expert either. I've read somewhere that you shouldn't give your rabbits any type of grains. Rabbits guts are very sensitive and they need to have access to food all the time. The rule of thumb i use is if it isn't likely for them to find in the wilds then i wouldn't give it to them. Like bananas or oranges or a tomato or something. I save all my veggie trimmings for them.

Follow the vets advice and I would hold back on all treats and stuff. Maybe supplement with green leaf fresh veggies in small amounts. just my 2 cents.

 

[d.k]

* Yeah, but. . MBL you're SUPPLEMENTING with hay, it's not your bun's sole subsistance; 'natural' diet is always a good idea, and that's the point-- a "whole hay" diet isn't! GI stasis means stuff isn't moving down the digestive tract normally: Is Bun-bun pooing normally, CF?? Or, at all??

 

[ksacres]

Most good bunny pellets are based almost exclusively on high quality hay.

If your vet said go with the hay, it would be a good idea to stick with that. After all, you did pay him/her for their advice, you may as well take it.

If you have any sick "prey-type" animal, it is often recommended to put them on an all hay diet until things get better. You will be fine on hay for the duration of the sickness.

 

[chickensforever]

Thanks for all the great information. She's doing good, pooping normally (but lighter color) and my sister has started giving her a tablespoon of her usual rabbit pellets every other morning and about a leaf of lettuce at night. She seems to have stabilized her weight and isn't losing anymore. Again, thanks for all the advice!

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Good to hear!