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Forum DIET & CARE Orchid Hay vs Timothy Hay / Picky Dexter

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    • Dextervonbon
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        Dexter lost a lot of weight so we took him into the vet to get checked.  The Vet took a blood test to see if it was his kidneys or liver but everything looked fine.  Then she brought up that his bottom teeth look a little long and that might be why he lost so much weight.  He went from 5 lbs to 3lbs.  Anyways..for a month she wanted me to give him twice the pellets morning and night as well as unlimited hay like I always did and veggies.  He seemed to have gained a bit of weight but the Timothy hay we have been getting has been so dry and sharp so to speak this whole summer.  I personally think that he might have lost the weight because he won’t touch the hay we have been getting him but we will see on his next vet visit.  He is very picky and will only eat Timothy hay that is a little soft and green.  I went to the pet store tonight to see if they had a softer Timothy because the one we bought a few days ago was horrible and he wouldn’t touch it.  The girl at the pet store told us to try Orchid grass but it’s really sweet so give him a little or he will get an upset stomach. He pretty much loves it but  I am scared to change things up for him and I can’t give this to him constantly as I do Timothy Hay if it’s going to make him sick.  (sorry so long). 

         I just wanted to know if anyone else solely gives their buns orchid grass instead of Timothy hay. Is this ok for him because he will eat Timothy hay but only if it’s a certain texture so I don’t want to replace it completely and the bags are so small that they would only last a few days anyway  


      • peppypoo
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          Yup, orchard grass is perfectly fine to give instead of timothy . Like many other people, I give orchard grass instead of timothy because timothy triggers crazy allergies.


        • Dextervonbon
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            Ok thank you I was just worried that it would give him an upset tummy.


          • Bones
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              I feed orchard to my rabbits because most other hays are hard on my allergies. Spelda was skinny when I was feeding her timothy but when I switched to orchard she gained a lot of weight.


            • LittlePuffyTail
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                Orchard and Timothy are very similar nutrition wise. My buns get picky so I switch between the Oxbow Orchard and Timothy.


              • Wendy_Japan
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                  I give mine oat hay, mine hate timothy and well, they haven’t tried orchard hay but I guess is fine   


                • TH004
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                    We had to keep our buns on double pellets, because he couldn’t keep his weight up. I think it is because he is so active at our house (he has a bedroom, so the running goes on all day). Just something to consider if weight keeps being an issue… Also, it is handy to have a small scale (like one made for food) in the house and a basket to put your buns in to weigh him. That way, you can see weight changes early on.

                    My buns won’t eat timothy hay and will only eat orchard grass or botanical hay.


                  • Dextervonbon
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                      Thank you guys for the responses I mixed the orchid grass with the dry timothy hay he hates and it seems to have tricked him into eating it lol. He does have his own room. The second bedroom is all his and he has a condo as well in there. I can try putting him away at night and see if that helps too. This has never happened with him before so I was just really concerned. I have had him for 4 years and he has always been a good healthy size until now.


                    • TH004
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                        Hmmm…. if you have had him that long, then IMO I would have more tests done to try to find the cause of the weight loss. Has there been any changes in the house or around it (such as construction)?


                      • Dextervonbon
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                          No nothing has changed at all here. I know that bunnies hide their pain and ailments but he is acting like his goofy energetic self and is still eating/pooping normally. It’s just that he lost a lot of weight out of no where. The vet did a fecal and blood test and found nothing. It has almost been a month so I will be taking him in again soon for a check up again. I can ask if she can do any kind of other tests to find out but after the blood test she said it might be his bottom teeth. I have no clue and im worried so I will see what she says.


                        • Sarita
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                            I definitely would consider the teeth – maybe she needs to put him under anesthesia and do a thorough check of his mouth.

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                        Forum DIET & CARE Orchid Hay vs Timothy Hay / Picky Dexter