Dull Coat Since Spay

[Ainsleys_mommy]

Peneloppy was spayed back in February of this year. Some of you may remember that there were complications during her spay with her heart stopping on the table and then her experiencing gastric stasis afterwards and having to stay in the hospital for three days. Since then her coat is really dull. She's black so it should be nice and shiny, but it's matte looking and constantly shedding. Three times a week or so I get her out and brush her to keep the shedding under control. Any suggestions?

Her diet is unlimited grass hay, Manna Pro (1/2 cup daily), and produce three times a week (on brushing days...that's how I remember to brush She is about 2 1/2 years old.

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

That's a good idea to give greens on brushing day. I think I should try that to remember when to brush.


I remember that happening with complications of her spay-now I'm worrying myself sick about neutering Ripley.

Maybe she's missing something from her diet (I really don't know what it would be exactly, I was thinking not enough protein but that doesn't sound right maybe) Our mini rex sheds CONTINUALLY it seems.. I don't know the last time she wasn't shedding that much-now I'm curious that cause of this.

 

[LakeCondo]

You could see if adding a few sunflower seeds [raw & unsalted of course] to her diet to see if that helps, or nut meats.

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

Yeah that's right^-I think I have heard of giving the sunflower seeds (not tons of course)

 

[Nancy McClelland]

I'd also call the vet with those concerns and ask for dietary help.

 

[MiniLopHop]

Steal cut oats can also help- just a table spoon a day, as long as there isn't a weight problem.

I would think that she should molt into a better coat. When the body is really stressed things like hair and nails take a back seat to important protein use in healing. I had surgery myself in March and now my hair is falling out (I notice, but it's not enough for others to notice). I could see in a low protein diet such as a rabbit's that all the protein they get would be going towards healing.

I wonder if a hand full of alfalfa a day for a couple months might help? I give my angora a little alfalfa daily because they need more protein for wool production.

 

[candykittten]

Is she maybe just moulting?

 

[Ainsleys_mommy]

Bunny, I wouldn't worry overmuch about neutering. I've never had a problem with neutering any of my rabbits, and the only problem I've had with spaying were my two Hollands. The Hollands were ok with neutering every time *knock on wood* And everytime I've seen a mini rex, with the exception of a 3 week old kit, they shed a lot. I think it's just the breed.

I've called the vet about it and they said they don't know what to tell me. They're not dieticians... Helpful, eh?

As for her molting... It's been continous since around March. Non stop. Constantly brushing out dead hair until she has a little saddle on her back.

 

[LakeCondo]

A new edition of Rabbit Nutrition & Nutritional Healing is in the works, which I'm really looking forward to. Lucile Moore has lots of the knowledge we need, though it's a bit hard for us regular people to figure out. She does her best to translate journal articles into things we can use, but it's still a bit unclear to us lay people. I can read journal articles in my field, but not in this.