Preventing Cancer

[Carolyn]

Experience has shownthat the basiccases of cancer in rabbits are from two main sources, toxins and a weakimmune system.

Toxins come from the air the rabbits breath, the food they eat, thewater they drink and are believed to be contributing factorsin a rabbit getting tumors or cancer. The best wayto prevent such exposure is to keep your rabbits away from toxicchemicals, drugs, water, and toxic foods. Some folks 'de-tox'their rabbits with herbs.

The herb cilantro will help flush out heavy metals like lead, aluminum,and mercury. Dandelions is one of the most de-toxing herbs inthe world, it is said. Some cultures will add andelion leavesand flowers to their salad or tea each spring to rid of the impuritiesthat have accumulated over the winter.

One way to keep their immune system strong is to keep their stresslevels down. By doing so, the rabbit's nature immune systemwill fight off disease more efficiently. Make sure yourrabbit isn't overcrowded, has enough of ventilation, is always in aclean environment. Extreme temperature changes must becarefully monitored, loud noises can stress a rabbit, etc.

Although we can't always stop cancer, we can be aware of the environment and some of the things we can do to prevent it.

-Carolyn

 

[m.e.]

Thank you, Carolyn

 

[Lissa]

Their food (pellets) can cause cancer? Which kind? Is Kaytee okay?

 

[Stephanie]

Thank you. There's some good information in here,and I just happened to have bought some fresh Cilantro today. Now thatI know this, it's going to be a regular part of my rabbit's diet.

 

[Carolyn]

Lissa wrote:

Theirfood (pellets) can cause cancer? Which kind? IsKaytee okay?

Not necessarily pellets, Lissa. You just want to try to givethem more organic foods when you give them vegetables ifpossible.

A good rabbit pellet has about 12% crude protein and 18%+ crudefiber. I'm careful of pellets that have colorfultreats in them because oftentimes, they have more sugar inthem. Actually, the more boring they look to us, in manycases the better for the rabbit. I steer away from Kayteemyself and go with brands such as Oxbow, Purina, Blue Seal, Buckeye,Heinold.

-Carolyn

 

[Bo B Bunny]

That's great information! I always have cilantro for bo! I am so glad it's good for him this way

He's not fond of Dandelion greens, but maybe he will eat fresh ones this summer :?

 

[Rowan]

Thanks Carolyn, I love this sort of post . I'vebeen lazy about picking them dandelions over the winter but they'reback on the menu as of tomorrow .

Kate

 

[Carolyn]

It's recommended to 'detox' your rabbit every 6months at a minimum to keep your rabbit healthy.You can put natural herbs, as mentioned above, in your rabbit's waterfor two or three weeks at a time. They'll bring out thetoxins in your rabbits liver, kidneys, and body tissues.

Organic farmers use a product called Worm-Out and some say it's veryeffective in de-worming pets. Why use it? Becausesome of the lethal chemicals that de-worm a pet can get lodged in theirliver and kidneys and eventually cause kidney or liverfailure. The same holds true for flea collars from what Iunderstand.

I realize that you can't live with your rabbit in a bubble, but I do think it's important to be aware of such things.

I've heard it said that rabbit health manifests what is going on in allof our society. Cancer is rampant in rabbits the same as itis rampant to the human population in the USA.

-Carolyn

 

[AnnaS]

I never bought cilantro before, but I'll make sure get some.

 

[pamnock]

Nutri Cal contains Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids which are also supposed to help combat cancer.

Unfortunately, the exact causes are often unknown. Pinebedding has been blamed for a myriad of health problems includingkidney and respiratory as well asbeing named acarcinogen. Our little mouse "Ruth" didn't live very long,and we recently lost our little hamster. Pine shavings toblame? Nope -- they were both housed in a more "natural"environment of sterilized potting soil and peat moss as well as bothbeing kept on diets including more natural foods.

Pam

 

[Lissa]

The stuff I buyKaytee brand are pelletson - none of that other garbage. I don't believe Petcocarries anything besides Kaytee pellets.

 

[Carolyn]

I'd check the levels on the pellets your getting, Lissa, just so you know.

Other than that, you can only do the best that you can.

* * * * * * * *

Pam,

Didn't know that about Omega3 and Omega6. The more I learn about NutriCal, the more I love that product.

So true that we can't always tell what causes cancer - be it in therabbit's history, etc., but at least we can be aware of the things thatcould cause it.

American Indians have useda combination of herbs to rid thebody of cancer with regard to some fatty and non-fattytumors. If you look up Essiacin the internet,you'll see that it's supposedly a wonderful natural cancerremedy. The herbs in it are burdock root, turkey rhubarb,sheep sorrell and slippery elm. Some people have added it totheir animal's water for a number of different ailments and have seenremarkable results as explained by Rosemary Grady.

-Carolyn

 

[Cinnabun]

Thankyou soo much Carolyn for that info! i wish iwould have known it before Missey died.. that is how i believe she diedbecause like 4 or 5 days before she died i discovered a huge lump onher leg... i showed my mom and dad and my dad said if that is a turmorit already spread because of how big it was.. i just wished i MADE myparnets bring her into the vet but i didnt, because my dad said that italready spread throughout her body.. Which is fine because she's withher Half brother, and her friend Goldie <Goldie was my dog thatdied 7 years ago>

 

[m.e.]

Carolyn wrote:

Organic farmers use a product called Worm-Out and some say it'svery effective in de-worming pets. Why use it? Because some of thelethal chemicals that de-worm a pet can get lodged in their liver andkidneys and eventually cause kidney or liver failure. The same holdstrue for flea collars from what I understand.

Where did you hear this, Carolyn? Because the vet's going to trytalking me into deworming the kittens (for the second time) and I'm nottoo sure about it. As it is, I've already put my food down in regardsto spacing out vaccinations and their wet-food only diet...

(that's me: the neglectful mom)

And is there ever a need to de-worm a rabbit?

[BTW, the flea collar thing is true. Topical treatments are a lot saferand more effective (but not Hartz!). In addition, flea collarscan really irritate an animal's skin (I've seen photos of cats thatnever grew back the hair on their neck.)]

 

[Lissa]

Stephanie wrote:

I just happened to have bought some fresh Cilantro today.

Where do you buy this stuff? What is it? How much do you give them?

 

[Carolyn]

It is what a veterinarian who specializes inrabbits told me and also read it in an article by Rosemary Grady, awoman who used to write for the Rabbits Only magazine.?

Do what you feel is best, m.e.? You don't necessarily have to de-worm arabbit, but some folks do like to give a bit of something to preventany problems. ? I've used Ivermectin for mites. I'm not saying that'sthe best thing to use, but it's what I used this past year only once.?The other times, I used medication given by the doctor.

Since speaking to the vet, I am going to look into this product calledWorm-Out.?? I have a couple of friends that are organic farmers andwill follow up with them as well. Don't know if it will be aseffective, but I'll look into it.

Thanks for the clarification of about the Hartz collars.??

-Carolyn

 

[m.e.]

No, thank you. Yet another post to bookmark for later use

And for clarification, any type of flea collar is unwise to use,so topical treatments (i.e. drops) like Frontline or Advantage aresuggested instead *. But, Hartz topical drops are deadlyto cats and the manufacturer refuses to pull them off the market. Ijust want to warn as many owners as possible that may try to save abuck and go for the cheaper treatments. It's not worth it.

* - I e-mailed a vet once and asked her if there was a fleatreatment safe for rabbits. Let me see if I can find her response...

 

[JimD]

Lissa wrote:

Stephanie wrote:

I justhappened to have bought some fresh Cilantro today.

Where do you buy this stuff? What is it? How much do you give them?

Hi Lissa,

You should be able to get it in the produce section of thegrocerystore. I can get it at the farmers market down the street fromus.

 

[JimD]

Carolyn wrote:

I'dcheck the levels on the pellets your getting, Lissa, just so youknow.

Other than that, you can only do the best that you can.

Timothy based pellets seem to be closer to the numbers needed. Mostcommercial brands are alfalfa based. I know that Oxbow and KayTee bothmake timothy based pellets. It's definately more expensive and onlysold in smaller quantities. I need to buy 25 lb bags with 5 buns chowindown. $$$$$

 

[Bo B Bunny]

Lissa wrote:

Stephanie wrote:

I justhappened to have bought some fresh Cilantro today.

Where do you buy this stuff? What is it? How much do you give them?

Cilantro is like parsley only it's .... cilantro LOL.... it's not highin calcium so you can give them cilantro all the time as a green if youlike. Bo LOVES it. It has a strong smell, but afterawhile you get used to it.

The dried form used in cooking is called corriander.

I went today and got a good sized bunch for $.59. I give Boabout 6 or 8 little stalks each day. He'd eat more if I lethim, but I mix up his greens.