Bo B Bunny
Well-Known Member
theevenstarlight<WBR> wrote:
I've seen too many rabbits get malnourished because someone told them something like "A mini-rex shouldn't weigh more than 4.5 lbs." - well, not all mini-rex are built the same. There's a reason some of them aren't in shows. They are built bigger! (I tell Bo that all the time so he doesn't feel fat! lol) Unless you are raising show rabbits - go with your vet's suggestion for your particular rabbit. I also know someone who lost their bunny because some "volunteer" told them wrong things to do. Bigger breeds need more things than smaller ones. Just like in dogs - some breeds have hip issues while others don't.
Our Exotics vet is world renowned. I just can't say enough about her and her staff! People come from other states to have her treat their animals. She's a professor part time at Purdue University Veterinary school (one of, if not the, top vet schools in the nation/world), and just a wonderful person. I have to admit, I'm very blessed to have her to guide me with my bunnies. Bo thinks she is pretty cool, too! It might very well be that since he's a smaller breed she felt it better to hold off a bit on veggies. Plus, her asst. vet back then was a mini-rex guru!
HRS is a great guideline and my vet's office will agree. It's just good to research the breed, and watch closely. I know a lot of people who still don't get that part; BUNNY POO = IMPORTANT INFO.
I'm not saying one or the other is wrong - I'm just saying be aware of what greens do or could do with a young or even an adult rabbit. Someone told me their rabbit got the diarhea from one of the greens - I believe it was dandilion - Bo loves those and has no trouble. I also believe the coloring in some of the tasty twig treats causes Bo to have the soft poos. He loves them and he can have them but only a little, while Clover could eat an entire bag and have no trouble at all!
I swear by the lowering blood calcium page from HRS by the way. It also helped my sister since she had to lower hers! LOL! I think Bo's first green was cilantro. He and Clover go crazy when they smell it now! :colors:
My point is - there really isn't a blanket statement about anything to do with feeding. There are certain things you must avoid and certain things you must include and that's about it. Rabbits have very delicate digestive systems sometimes and just because someone says "don't feed him greens" doesn't mean a whole lot if he likes them and needs them in his diet. My Bo has to have some cause his poos get too dry and hard without some but if he gets too many then we have soft poos!
I've seen too many rabbits get malnourished because someone told them something like "A mini-rex shouldn't weigh more than 4.5 lbs." - well, not all mini-rex are built the same. There's a reason some of them aren't in shows. They are built bigger! (I tell Bo that all the time so he doesn't feel fat! lol) Unless you are raising show rabbits - go with your vet's suggestion for your particular rabbit. I also know someone who lost their bunny because some "volunteer" told them wrong things to do. Bigger breeds need more things than smaller ones. Just like in dogs - some breeds have hip issues while others don't.
Our Exotics vet is world renowned. I just can't say enough about her and her staff! People come from other states to have her treat their animals. She's a professor part time at Purdue University Veterinary school (one of, if not the, top vet schools in the nation/world), and just a wonderful person. I have to admit, I'm very blessed to have her to guide me with my bunnies. Bo thinks she is pretty cool, too! It might very well be that since he's a smaller breed she felt it better to hold off a bit on veggies. Plus, her asst. vet back then was a mini-rex guru!
HRS is a great guideline and my vet's office will agree. It's just good to research the breed, and watch closely. I know a lot of people who still don't get that part; BUNNY POO = IMPORTANT INFO.
I'm not saying one or the other is wrong - I'm just saying be aware of what greens do or could do with a young or even an adult rabbit. Someone told me their rabbit got the diarhea from one of the greens - I believe it was dandilion - Bo loves those and has no trouble. I also believe the coloring in some of the tasty twig treats causes Bo to have the soft poos. He loves them and he can have them but only a little, while Clover could eat an entire bag and have no trouble at all!
I swear by the lowering blood calcium page from HRS by the way. It also helped my sister since she had to lower hers! LOL! I think Bo's first green was cilantro. He and Clover go crazy when they smell it now! :colors:
