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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum THE LOUNGE Uhhh what??? A site that recommends feeding drywall to your bun…

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    • Deleted User
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        Ok, am I crazy or does feeding drywall (sheetrock) to your rabbit seem like it’s not a good idea????    Please someone correct me if I’m wrong.

        I just came across this website though that says:


        “DO THEY NEED SHEETROCK?

        Sheetrock is an easy source of extra calcium and has some absorbent qualities for sore feet. But if you plan to ever have your rabbit in the house I don’t recommend giving him sheetrock to eat because that makes the walls of your house fair game!

        Beware of green sheetrock for use in bathrooms since it is treated and should not be used!.

        If you feel compelled to add calcium to your rabbits diet, try chewable Tums or oyster shell chips added to the feed once a month or so. Basically, the feed has all a non-nursing rabbit should need”

         

        Any thoughts on this?  The website in case anyone was wondering is http://www.barbibrownsbunnies.com/part3.htm

         


      • MarkBun
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          Some animals will chew on sheetrock if they have a calcium deficiency. However, the hay and pellets contain enough calcium for rabbits. They apparently absorb calcium more readily than other animals. Giving them extra calcium can cause cause bladder stones or sludge.

          In other words, this is a bad idea.


        • Sarita
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            Oh good grief. That’s absurd. Some of her advice is fine though but this is weird. Who would even knowingly feed their rabbit sheetrock!


          • Kokaneeandkahlua
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              UGH!!!

              I HAD to send her an email-I’m the kid in the playground with a stick bugging other kids

              “Hi there!
              While I would like to commend you on a beautiful website and having the heart to try to get information to bunny owners-some of the advice on your site is downright dangerous.

              Rabbits could easily get a blockage from eating sheetrock (just because it hasn’t happened to you-means your lucky-it doesn’t mean it won’t) and using that as a source of calcium is silly! Rabbits often have problems from too much calcium.

              I don’t want to get in argument. And a lot of your info is good.

              But I wish you would print some of your pages, have a vet review them, and make changes where appropriate. You don’t want to have incorrect info out on the internet for bunny owners to follow and have a potential death. I know your goal is to help-so please check with a vet on some of these items.

              You can also check on these reputable sites
              https://www.binkybunny.com
              http://www.rabbit.org

              1) Sheetrock feeding
              2) No lettuce or celery-its actually chopped celery and no iceburg-all other kinds are RECOMMENDED
              3) advice to add calcium to any rabbit diet-really really not recommended. Look up how a rabbit system deals with calcium and you’ll see why

              Don’t take my word for it. You don’t know me from Eve. BUT please see a vet on these recommendations.”


            • Jenna, Chubs & Comet
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                Nice going Kokanee!


              • Deleted User
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                  Thanks for doing that K&K, I certainly couldn’t have said it that well. Let us know if she emails you back.


                • Beka27
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                    Yay Lesley! That is kinda strange that she’d recommend that.


                  • Moonlight_Wolf
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                      Yea, I munch on the bottom of my drywall daily for calcium to strengthen my bones. I can’t afford calcium pills and the drywall sure gives me some good roughage.

                      JK! LOL why would anyone feed anything drywall?


                    • luvmybunny
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                        Posted By Moonlight_Wolf on 11/17/2009 06:33 PM
                        Yea, I munch on the bottom of my drywall daily for calcium to strengthen my bones. I can’t afford calcium pills and the drywall sure gives me some good roughage.

                        JK! LOL why would anyone feed anything drywall?

                        LOL Moonlight Wolf!

                        That is crazy! Where in the world did she get that info from? Glad you emailed her KK, set her straight!!

                         


                      • FluffyBunny
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                          Posted By Moonlight_Wolf on 11/17/2009 06:33 PM
                          Yea, I munch on the bottom of my drywall daily for calcium to strengthen my bones. I can’t afford calcium pills and the drywall sure gives me some good roughage.

                           

                          Definitely, MW! Do you prefer your sheetrock fried or baked? And have you tried it with broccoli? Yummy!

                          But really…that’s plain wrong. Would you feed sheetrock to your kid, dog or cat? Nope. I have a feeling this is a site that treats bunnies like cans of tomato paste, if you get what I’m saying.


                        • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                            I tried to be really non confrontational…I don’t like arguing (really really don’t like it) but that worries me…No email from her yet… Hopefully she does change it


                          • Adam
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                              Ok so this is really old, but was what came up when I googled it after my vet actually recommended it.  Says it’s safe and has a calming effect on them.  Considering getting some, since one of my buns eats his volume in cardboard a day already and acts very skittish.

                              Anyone heard anything else on this since 09?


                            • BanditCamp
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                                I don’t like resurrecting old posts but there are far better ways to get calcium. Cardboard has cellouse which is good for bunnies and helps keep digestive moving. If your rabbit is pooping, peeing and being happy he’s fine. If he’s ignoring food like hay for cardboard then you have to intervene


                              • jerseygirl
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                                  They should be getting enough calcium from hay, grass, vegetables. 

                                  Drywall has a bunch of additives. I’d certainly think twice about giving it to a rabbit. 

                                  Ask at least 2 other rabbit-savvy vets for their opinions…

                                  As for your cardboard chewer; is he a good hay eater also? 

                                  For calming, there are herbs (fresh or dried) that can have calming effect and provide nutrition and some calcium too!  Plus it would have to taste better.   Sage, marjoram, basil, lemon balm, rosemary, lavendar, chamomile.

                                  Just want to note, the author of the site mentioned in the first post is not actually recommending feeding drywall. They are addressing FAQ’s. “Do they need sheetrock?”  Im assuming this was a practice at one time for people keeping rabbits…

                                  Reading that excerpt, they don’t recommend feeding it and go on to say   If you feel compelled to add calcium to your rabbits diet” and then names some alternatives.  Ones I personally don’t think are required either. If a rabbit had a metabolic disorder diagnosed, then perhaps it needs additional things in its diet.


                                • jerseygirl
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                                    This is indeed an old thread. Since it is in the Lounge, it is probably okay to leave open for a short time. We normally lock old threads that come back up with current ones. You can always start a new thread & discussion on a subject and just reference the old thread with a link to it.


                                  • LBJ10
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                                      Drywall these days has a bunch of stuff added to it. These additives can be for anything from fire stupidants to mold inhibitors to strengthening/bonding agents. Plus there is evidence that gypsum itself can cause issues if consumed in large quantities. Let’s face it, everyone’s rabbit has probably had a nibble on some drywall at one point or another. I know when Leopold did it (I put a stop to it, of course), he had gas and a tummy ache afterward. I think his case was mild, but here is what happened to another rabbit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28207316


                                    • LBJ10
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                                        LOL, I guess BB doesn’t like the proper term there!


                                      • Sr. Melangell
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                                          Drywall isn’t that nice, I found it rather tasteless and a bit gritty when I was little.


                                        • jerseygirl
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                                            CA.

                                            And lol @ BB’s autocorrect.


                                          • Sr. Melangell
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                                              Posted By LBJ10 on 4/16/2017 11:53 AM

                                              Drywall these days has a bunch of stuff added to it. These additives can be for anything from fire stupidants to mold inhibitors to strengthening/bonding agents. Plus there is evidence that gypsum itself can cause issues if consumed in large quantities. Let’s face it, everyone’s rabbit has probably had a nibble on some drywall at one point or another. I know when Leopold did it (I put a stop to it, of course), he had gas and a tummy ache afterward. I think his case was mild, but here is what happened to another rabbit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28207316

                                              Ooh  Poor baby, I hope he is better now, never ever let bunny chew walls.


                                            • Blue Moon
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                                                chickens do need extra calcium but there are special oyster shells for them and anyone who knows about rabbits knows that you DON’T FEED RABBITS DRYWALL!!!!!!!!!!


                                              • Sr. Melangell
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                                                  Its common sense Blue Moon, we don’t feed babies Vodka, right I’m off to eat my clothes iron in a bowl of milk, I’m low on iron.


                                                • Blue Moon
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                                                    what are you serious or just making a point


                                                  • jerseygirl
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                                                      Posted By Blue Moon on 4/25/2017 2:53 PM
                                                      what are you serious or just making a point

                                                      Charlie’s Angel was agreeing with you.
                                                      And she has a wonderfully dry and sarcastic sense of humour.
                                                      I’m still giggling…


                                                    • Blue Moon
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                                                        ok i just got confused


                                                      • Sr. Melangell
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                                                          Posted By Blue Moon on 4/30/2017 9:13 AM

                                                          ok i just got confused

                                                          You’ll get used to me soon.

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                                                      Forum THE LOUNGE Uhhh what??? A site that recommends feeding drywall to your bun…