Should I start feeding my rabbit more or give her alfalfa hay?

[Number1Sticky]

My rabbit isn’t a senior yet. But she is almost 5 years and 10 months (born on January 29, 2006). So she’s almost a senior. I’ve always feed her ¼ cup of food, (oxbow-she hasn’t always gotten oxbow but this is what she’s gotten the past few months) along with unlimited Timothy hay and veggies. But recently she’s started to lose weight. For the past few days I’ve been giving her ½ cup of food instead. Should I continue to just feed her more? Or should I give her some alfalfa hay? I’ve read that it’s a good idea to start feeding senior rabbits alfalfa hay. She never eats all her food right away, but it is gone by morning. She is healthy, I just notice she’s lost a little weight. Also she weighs 5lbs normally and she is spayed (I’m not sure if that matters).

Thanks for any advice!!!

 

[LaylaLop]

I'd have her teeth checked as well if you've noticed weight loss. Have you tried orchard/brome grass hays as well? I don't know about the alfalfa addition, but I'd say a dental checkup and maybe even upping the amount of pellets to keep her at a good weight.

 

[Watermelons]

I would just feed her more if there are no underlying issues causing the weight loss. Vet check up and blood work sounds about right. At her age the last thing you want to do is offer high protein items, thats too much protein for bunny kidneys to process nevermind older bunny kidneys There are High calorie supplements out there for kittys/puppys that would be safe for bunnys. Check with your vet.

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

I'd start offering her more pellets if she's dropping weight. Could she be sick?

I have an older rabbit -maybe 6 or 7 years old- and he won't touch his grass hay so I do occasionally give him a small handful of alfalfa because it provides SOME fiber, better than nothing.

But if she's eating her hay, you shouldn't need to give her alfalfa. It's not that it has too much protein, but too much calcium.

Emily

 

[MiniLopHop]

Obviously check with the vet to make sure there is no underlying issue, but if it's just help maintaining weight I suggest a little bit of oats on her pellets. Use steal cut oats if you can get them (grocery store bulk section is cheap). Do NOT use instant oats.

My Becky came to me very thin and she just doesn't eat quite enough. Adding a table spoon of oats to her pellets has stabalized her weight and made her coat very soft.

 

[Watermelons]

BlueCamasRabbitry wrote:

But if she's eating her hay, you shouldn't need to give her alfalfa. It's not that it has too much protein, but too much calcium.

Emily

Actually it is that it has too much protein, kidneys can process the calcium but that has issues with other parts of the body. The kidneys/liver cant process the protein properly and too much protein will end up frying the kidneys. Theres a reason it shouldn't be given to animals over 6 months. Kidneys can't handle high protein. Same goes for the dog and cat world, why do you think puppy food is high protein/fat and senior food is low in protein/fat? If your animals are in kidney failure, the vet suggest to find a food with as low of a protein % as you can.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

:yeahthat: I'd up the pellet amount, if, there are no underlying issues.

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

Watermelons wrote:

BlueCamasRabbitry wrote:

But if she's eating her hay, you shouldn't need to give her alfalfa. It's not that it has too much protein, but too much calcium.

Emily

Actually it is that it has too much protein, kidneys can process the calcium but that has issues with other parts of the body.  The kidneys/liver cant process the protein properly and too much protein will end up frying the kidneys.  Theres a reason it shouldn't be given to animals over 6 months.  Kidneys can't handle high protein.  Same goes for the dog and cat world, why do you think puppy food is high protein/fat and senior food is low in protein/fat?  If your animals are in kidney failure, the vet suggest to find a food with as low of a protein % as you can.

I have never heard that it is too high in protein, only that it is high in calcium. CALCIUM is what causes kidney sludge & stones. Yes, you don't want to feed a TON of protein; 18% protein is what I feed.

Looking in the Guide to Raising Better Rabbits & Cavies, it specifically states that alfalfa has 16% crude protein - about as much as a normal pelleted feed would have. Compared to other hays, yes it does have a higher protein amount. But it is not what causes the kidney issues.

Emily

 

[Watermelons]

Im not talking about kidney sludge or stones. Im talking about the bodys ability to process the PROTEIN in the alfalfa and how that affects the kidneys. Medication can affect the kidneys as well and that has nothing to do with its protein or calcium content. Did you know Metacam can help fry the kidneys and liver too?

Normal hays like Timothy, Orchard, Oat, etc are less then 10%. So that 18% is WAY to high. Especially in the case of what the OP was actually asking.

Just do a google search you will see TONS of sites talk about how its too high in protein.

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

Watermelons wrote:

Im not talking about kidney sludge or stones. Im talking about the bodys ability to process the PROTEIN in the alfalfa and how that affects the kidneys. Medication can affect the kidneys as well and that has nothing to do with its protein or calcium content. Did you know Metacam can help fry the kidneys and liver too?

Normal hays like Timothy, Orchard, Oat, etc are less then 10%. So that 18% is WAY to high. Especially in the case of what the OP was actually asking.

Just do a google search you will see TONS of sites talk about how its too high in protein.

I feed 18% protein feed. It is not way too high.

 

[Watermelons]

That's your choice then, but please don't tell other people on here to do the same or that its safe, it's not.

In no way should we be recommending people to do the same for their pet rabbits or saying it's at all okay, and risk serious issues arising. Issues arising due to kidney failure in this regard are often invisible and not found out until its too late.

Which means saying no alfalfa for bunny's who aren't growing, and to find a low protein pellet diet for adult rabbits. For adults, the lower the protein the better both in hay and pellets. (Exceptions can be made for rabbits who are under high stress for showing and/or breeding, but that can be directed under the Rabbitry topic of the forum and is NOT advisable for pet rabbits)


Pipp has an excellent link here.
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=56821&forum_id=48
Well worth the read and it clearly outlines a good baseline for the nutritional content of your rabbits diet (pellets)

Protein - 12-16% (120-160g/kg)
Fibre - 20-25% (200-250g/kg)
Fat - 2.5-4% (25-40g/kg)
Vitamin A 10,000 IU/kg

Even this site here states less then 10% protein for adults and 16% max for young rabbits.
http://www.mybunny.org/info/rabbit_nutrition.htm

 

[Number1Sticky]

Thanks for advice. She has actually put all her weight back on since I started feeding her more pellets.

I don't think there's anything wrong with her teeth. She eats TONS of hay. I have to fill up her hay rack a few times a day because it's so small.

But I will still call the vet and at least talk to them about it. I also do want to get her some blood work done, just because she is getting older.

Also I just wanted to let everyone know that she wasn't an unhealthy weight, I definitely would have taken her to the vet if she was like skin and bones. I could just feel that she had lost a little weight.

Thanks again!!!

 

[Maureen Las]

Watermelons wrote:

Im not talking about kidney sludge or stones. Im talking about the bodys ability to process the PROTEIN in the alfalfa and how that affects the kidneys. Medication can affect the kidneys as well and that has nothing to do with its protein or calcium content. Did you know Metacam can help fry the kidneys and liver too?

Normal hays like Timothy, Orchard, Oat, etc are less then 10%. So that 18% is WAY to high. Especially in the case of what the OP was actually asking.

Just do a google search you will see TONS of sites talk about how its too high in protein.

Watermelons and Nancy are correct. Too much protein is harmful and unnecessary