Diarrhea with introduction of new food - ohw should I proceed?

[honeybunnylovesthumper]

I've been wanting to switch from Excel to Science Selective for a while and was sent a trial pack. I'm aware you need to gradually introduce it so I put a small handfull in their bowl last night after hand feeding them two bits each. This morning one of the buns had produced some diarrhea (not just soft poo) although it wasn't runny so much as a firm cowpat about 4cm across - but a worry nonetheless. Both buns seemed happy in them selves and were eating and drinking - no signs of stress or stasis etc.

Should I stop feeding them SS altogether or just drastically reduce the amount I gave them to a few pellets a day?

Many thanks

 

[tonyshuman]

I'd stop giving pellets altogether for a few days. Sounds like SS had something in it that disrupted their GI flora in a major way. Just give hay, water, and probiotic (Bio-Lapis?). Here's some info on it: http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Differential/mega_differential.htm

Most likely, the new food had too much carbohydrates in it which their GI tracts weren't ready to handle. A pellet switch should take 2 weeks and be very gradual.

 

[honeybunnylovesthumper]

Yeah, I tried switching gradually - sorry it wasnt clear. they had 2 small handfuls of Excel pellets along with the 1 small handful of SS. I was trying to do it gradually so only switched a 1/3 of their pellets for the SS
I have some bio-lapis so will give this to them and wait till the weekend to try again.
What quantities would you suggest over the 2 week period? They normally have 3 small handfuls of Excel between them at night (loads of hay and veggies)

 

[tonyshuman]

I think I would go to half new by one week, then all new by the end of the 2nd week. So, that would be 7 days to get to half new. I think you'd have to measure it out. Sorry, I can't do the math of 1/7 a handful, etc etc. Maybe if you give like 14 oz you could just increase the new stuff by 1 oz a day?

 

[honeybunnylovesthumper]

Thats perfect - I will weigh their food now to work it out. Thanks so much Claire as always you're a star

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

You might be better off to start with 3/4 old and 1/4 new for a week, then increase it slowly. It can take easy up to 2 months to get on the new diet completely when changing pellets.

If they respond to that change well, you could bump it a bit faster, but I would just go with the flow on it and increase slowly while eliminating the old pellets.

 

[honeybunnylovesthumper]

Thanks angel - I think that 1/4 new pellets would still be too much of a change for them since they got the diarrhea on the 1/3 new pellets (1/4 wouldn't be much less - may be 3 or 4 pellets less than I gave them).
I think I just have sensitive buns, well bun - im pretty sure it was Thumper as he has a history with diarrhea/stress although both little bottoms were clean. Its wierd - they eat all manner of veggies and herbs even have apple or pear once a week, its strange how the thing they get the least of makes them sick! ullhair: