Beating the summer skinnies

[FreddysMom]

my vet advises not to feed oats. she said theyfall under the simple sugar catagory and are just as detrimental as toomuch fruit/treats

 

[JimD]

Carolyn wrote:

Actually Zee, on the subject of Oats, I tend to agree with you.

Everyone and their brother feels that they're fine. The truthof the matter is that oats can play with the chemical balance inrabbits.

When Fauna and Tucker's cecotropes were smelly and clumped together, itwas suggested to me by Kathy Smith (author of Rabbit Health in the21st Century) to stop all oats.

Especially with Fauna getting on in her years, she's a Holland that is5 years old, she just wasn't able to process them like she usedto. Kathy used the analogy of just as we can have some foodsas we're young, as we get older, we have reactions to the same foodsthat we once never did.

-Carolyn

S'more has developed this same problem. She's dutch and about 2 yearsold. She started having problems a few months ago. She'sotherwise healthy, but can't seem to keep her tushie cleaned. I wasstarting to suspect too much protien in her diet, but I don't thinkit's a problem with quantity, rather a problem of quality.

I usually give my bunnies a teasppon of oats every other day. I'll beeliminating them from her diet and I'll let you know how things workout.

....and the learning experience continues

Jimmney Krickets!!!....I love this forum!!

~Jim

 

[LuvaBun]

I, for one, will be interested to find out things go with S'more, Jim.

Jan

 

[Kricket]

Aren't carrots good? I have heard they are full of calories...

I've seen nutri-cal at local feed stores here

 

[Carolyn]

Dear Jim,

You bring up a Very Valid Point.

Ever since I stopped oats with my rabbits, no more cleaning or trimmingtails. Poor Fauna. I was thinking she was getting old and couldn't getdown to clean herself.

Nooo, in this case, it was the oats, and I had to put her on a limitedpellet diet. I went back to the specified feed amount for her breed andage, and loaded her up on hay.

She now has her cottontail back. :mrsthumper:

Jimmney Krickets, and this forum loves you!

-Carolyn

 

[Carolyn]

Kricket wrote:

Aren't carrots good?? I have heard they are full of calories...

I've seen nutri-cal at local feed stores here

Carrots are high in sugar, as is NutriCal, so you don't want to overdue.



-Carolyn

 

[rabbitgirl]

hmmm, this all is very interesting. I can attestthat oats can be "miracle food" sometimes, but I should do someexperimenting. Most of my rabbits don't get them--Fenny's allergic--butSmokey does. It's all she seems to want to eat, and at her age....

I did notice an increase in pellet consumption when I add them to food.Alfalfa, I didn't consider. I should give that a shot if I can find agood hay supplier. My last batch was nasty, moldy and dusty.

Interesting also that ferrets get the "summer skinnies".

Oh, the things one learns....

Rose

 

**" Please do not feed your bun Oats. This is on the NO NO List of foods." **

this a BS thingI give mine oats all the time ,It hasnt hurt them a bit it isgood for them and cleans their systemalso .

 

[rabbitgirl]

gypsy wrote:

**"Please do not feed your bun Oats. This is on the NO NO List offoods." **

this a BS thingI give mine oats all the time ,It hasnt hurt them a bit it isgood for them and cleans their systemalso .

I imagine there might be some who react badly to it also, like Fenny.He sneezes his head off. Loves oats, but can't have 'em anymore.

I'll probably experiment with different food remedies, but I'd sayoverall that oats aregreat--like most things--in moderation.

Rose

 

[Jenniblu]

Thanks Carolyn -- your oat observation makesperfect sense. Vash has been having 'poopy butt' and horriblegas this week.I have been giving him extra oats oflate to make up for my extended absences this week. Poorbaby's tummy must be upset.