is it safe to give rabbits DE?

[tnchickenut]

Quote:
I don't have rabbits but I use them on chickens, ducks, goats (they actually love the taste and gobble it up), cats, and dogs. Put it this way... if I had worms... I'd take it.

Yes but is it safe for rabbits? they can have a lot of the antibiotics and medications that chickens have, but if its pesticide related then probably not.

Yes. Food grade. Make sure it is food grade.

Check ebay, your feed store may have it if you are in a good area (i'm not). It is all over online. Just make sure it is food grade.

 

[WallTenters]

Yes, it's safe for rabbits. << edit: DE is safe

If you do use a dewormer, use ivermectin instead. Way more effective, and kills ear mites and other pests along with the worms. I think it's easier to give as well (sub Q injection), no worries about dilution, etc.

 

[Eggstra New]

As I'm sure you know, rabbits are really sensitive to everything! Like having little horses, you look at them the wrong way and they get sick. LOL. I've used fenbendazole in my rabbits before. You have to buy a whole tube and then you use a pea sized amount. Be sure and check with your local vet for a dose before you give anything. What are you feeding your bun? How old? Breed? Does it have good teeth? When I worked in private practice we had a couple buns that had to come in on a regular basis to have their teeth cut. Good Luck. Hope you can start getting some weight on your bun.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I give all my critters DE... DE kills insects by dehydrating them... so make sure there is plenty of water.

It is fossilized diatoms (a algea) and is used as a means of absorbing liquids.

That is why it will NOT work for internal parasites. They are NOT insects
It doesnt work at all once it's wet​

 

[WallTenters]

It doesn't work as well when it's wet.

However, consider that in third world countries (and yes, even in the US, in the old days or in some rural areas still) doctors will recommend crushed eggs be fed to a child with worms. Internal parasites do not have a tough outer exoskeleton, and are encouraged to leave the host when conditions become unfavorable ie thousands of slashing diatoms shredding them up in the GI. The GI track of any animal is too tough to be effected in this same way.

BUT... DE is more of a good prevention. I would, again, go with ivermectin. It's far more affordable in the long run (since it also takes care of other parasites that the above mentioned dewormers don't) and is safer to use with no reported side effects other than irritation at the injection site (if you use an injection).

I know many people that use a horse dewormer of ivermectin on their bunnies, but I just think it's easier to watch your fingers and instead use the injection type. Horse dewormers are 1.87% (get generic brands for about $2-3, it's the same drug) and the injection is 1%. This is because of the loss of any drug whenever being fed orally.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

It doesn't work as well when it's wet.

However, consider that in third world countries (and yes, even in the US, in the old days or in some rural areas still) doctors will recommend crushed eggs be fed to a child with worms

It's never been proven to work at all for internal parasites.
The fact that a "Dr" recommends something doesnt mean it works either.
It just means the Dr doesnt know much

If you stick to scientific evidence, and leave out hearsay and anectdotal accounts, you'll find DE is only good for a couple of things, and internal parasite control isnt one of them​

 

[chinbunny]

Quote:
Ivonemc won't get all the parasites. Pancur will. (fenbendazole0

 

[chinbunny]

Quote:
Ivonemc won't get all the parasites. Pancur will. (fenbendazole0

 

[chinbunny]

Ivonemc won't get all the parasites. Pancur will. (fenbendazole0

 

[frankenchick]

Sorry, I should've put details in the OP. Ace is a 7m/o black otter Netherland Dwarf. We feed Purina Fiber3 and timothy hay. He is a chewer, I'll go have a look at his teeth. The thing is that he eats all the food we give him (snatches it out of the scoop, actually) but still is a little bony-butt. So I thought worms.