Can sweet hay cause gas?

[Jenk]

Does anyone know if sweet meadow hay can cause a bun gas?

Over several weeks' time, I started feeding sweet meadow hay as a treat to one of our rabbits. I slowly increased the amount fed, though he continued to eat the same amount oftimothy hay, pellets and greens.

A few nights ago, he showed signs of gas (i.e., loud gut sounds and a disinterest in greens before receiving two doses of Simethicone). I'm wondering if the sweet hay--even if introduced slowly--could've prompted the gas episode?

Thank you,

Jenk

 

[aurora369]

I'm not sure. I've never had any of mine react badly to any types of hay. And I've fed mine all sorts of hay from local grass cuts, meadow hay, many cuts of timothy and blue grass.

--Dawn

 

[tonyshuman]

I haven't heard of it either. However, having said that, if it contains more sugar or carbs, that can lead to GI slowdown and thus gas. I assume it may contain some sugar or carbs because it's called sweet meadow hay and bunnies seem to like it more than timothy. I think introducing it slowly would make this not a problem, so perhaps it was something else that led to his gas.

 

[Jenk]

tonyshuman wrote:

I think introducing it slowly would make this not a problem, so perhaps it was something else that led to his gas.

It was introduced slowly and fed over several weeks' time without any incident. So either I tipped the scales by feeding him a bit too much of it (over time), or perhaps he was just "due" to have a little gut upset. (He recently started a light shed, which may have been part of the issue, too.)

Why can't our bunners just speak plain English and tell us what ails them? :?

 

[JadeIcing]

Odd hay is one thing I have never heard of giving gas before. :shock:

 

[Jenk]

JadeIcing wrote:

Odd hay is one thing I have never heard of giving gas before. :shock:

It may not have been the hay, but I've still cut back on his daily amount of it. He still eats mostly 1st-cut timothy hay and receives one smaller handful of meadow hay. (I'd slowly increased him to two large handfuls of it.)

Again, for all I know, the gas could've been a just-because kind of thing (like he was "due" to have a gut issue...). Or maybe the start of his current shed somehow upset his digestive tract (even though I've been plucking and brushing his loose fur since it began).