shedding related to diet?

[meow1]

I know that sometimes in dogs, shedding excessivley can sometimes be helped with diet.  Can this be the case for rabbits, too? Is there anything diet related that can affect shedding?

[Tate]

I would think that because rabbits have a fairly limited variety of foods, this isn’t so much the case. Excessive shedding in dogs and cats is due to so much “crap” and fillers in their food. What kind of food are you feeding them? ZuPreem is a really good, underrated food. It doesn’t contain wheat or soy like Oxbow and other bun foods. This *may* cause “skin irritation” but I wouldn’t say that for certain. Overall, I wouldn’t assume food is an issue. You could always increase hay and decrease pellets if you’re concerned though.
I’ve read that rabbits shed about every 3 months and right now (spring) is probably optimal shedding time.

[Monkeybun]

Many bunnies shed small amounts all year round, while others do major sheds a few times a year. I ahve 3 buns, 2 that shed all year, one that blows her coat regularly Stress can also cause shedding too, but I haven’t noticed diet being an issue with any of mine, or the bunnies I handle at the shelter either.

[meow1]

How long should a major shed last? He has been shedding REALLY bad for a while now. I guess it is quite possible that it is normal. I just thought I would check

[LoveChaCha]

It depends.. I believe.
My Chacha will blow her coat for an entire month, sometimes it lasts a week. I try to groom/pluck her fur once a week to make sure there are no loose furs sticking out!

[jerseygirl]

I suspect diet can effect shedding. There was someone knowlegeable on angora rabbits who posted once that they can trigger a molt by feeding linseed. I think it was linseed…. I’ve read that on ingredient lists for pellets and treats before. I used to give sunflower seeds and pepitas as a small treat but then I thought it was causing continual light molting. That was some time ago. Lately my 2 seem to constantly shedding and it’s hard to know why.

[meow1]

The only real change in diet we’ve had is the transition from alfalfa hay & pellets to timothy hay & pellets, and since he’s been shedding really bad I’ve been giving him one of those papaya plus tablets. He loves them. he also eats plenty of oat hay. I do brush him but it seems like it’s never ending. I held him outside the other day and just brushed my fingers through his fur and loads and loads came out. My entire upper half was literally completely covered in hair! It took like 10 lint roller papers to get it all off of me, and the fur STILL wasn’t done coming off!lol

[BinkyBunny]

Like Jersey mentioned, I have also heard that certain seeds or seed mixes can trigger shedding. As far as temperature goes in your home — have things heated up or cooled down this last month? Though season, the amount of light throughout the day, can also affect molting, temperature can to.

Some bunnies do some heavy molting over a few weeks. But, in general, I don’t know if it’s due to Jack and Viv’s age, our pretty mild temps throughout the year here or what, but they don’t molt much anymore, (of course, as soon as I say that, you know they will just go into some crazy molt. With the days becoming longer here, and temps warming up slightly, I wouldn’t doubt that because I wrote that they don’t molt as much anymore, I will have an explosion molt happen.

[KatnipCrzy]

Schroeder was on a cheap pellet diet before I adopted him and he had a harse hair coat- nothing drastic just not as soft and plush as my other Mini Lop’s fur. He did not shed much at all until about 6 months after I got him and he grew in a thick plush coat that sheds normally. So good diet in his case increased his shedding. But it was obviously because the poor diet of cheap pellets and limited to no veggies was not ideal.

[Author]

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