What about the BlueBunny or Meadow Mix? Neither has timmy hay – BlueBunny has a little alfalfa but it’s only 2 percent.

Don’t ask me about the sugar content though.

She didn’t say the distended stomach was from the Orchard Grass did she? It’s high in fiber and many rabbit owners use this with no problems. Hopefully someone will else chime in on this that maybe has horses.

Er…this IS a rabbit savvy vet, right? 0_o Not to sound catty or anything, it just sounds like she’s not really all that informed.
I don’t know about sugar content in hay, but I do know that Pip (who is a sweets nut) has a tendency to prefer high sugar/high calorie food to that which is better for her. (Yah, like don’t we all? lolz) She adores orchard grass and usually snubs timothy when I offer it. But I’ve been putting her on a pretty strict regimen of it and so now she’s been eating it pretty well. I don’t think it has the fiber she needs though, because it’s changed her litter habits a bit.
I think Oat is okay, but honestly you’ve just switched Edson and now he’s going to be without you for a period of time (not too long I hope!) and I’m sure he doesn’t need to be switched to another hay at this juncture. It’s liable to throw him off his feed.
Plus, I don’t know about your pet sitter with her allergies, but oat hay makes me sneeze worse than timothy. You might want to consider this.

Another aside…don’t suppose the lift in his weight had anything to do with getting into all those Critter Berries, did it?

If you’re not going to be gone long, I would say, leave him on the orchard for now, it’s not going to hurt him. You just want to be sure he’s getting enough fiber. Then worry about putting him through his paces when you return. (After much snuggling and huggling of course, to let him know how glad you are to see him again!)

Why those? I would imagine like any other fruits they are as high in sugar as any other fruit. Will Edson even eat those.

Most vets would prefer we don’t give our pets treats but reality is we are going to in one form or another because it makes us feel good and makes our rabbits happy.

The other option for treats is the fresh herbs and I think you mentioned he loves mint.

I was thinking along the lines of MM’s reply. In fact, I was about to ask you if you’d ever given him papaya tablets. If you stop the sweets at the moment, don’t stop those because they are getting the fur ball moving. I agree that if he is not having a bad reaction to the orchard hay, just wait to make changes to his diet until you get back. It’s a very short time and he’ll have some changes just with you gone.

(pssst…Edson… the party’s still on at your house….we’ll convince her to leave, don’t worry…)

Aw, don’t cancel your vaca knowltons! ^_^ Geez, I didn’t mean to frighten you or anything.
I think the timothy hay just doesn’t do much for my two buns as far as helping them void…honestly I had them on nothing but wheat hay here for a few weeks and they were making bb’s as if it was a war effort! However, wheat hay is highly caloric, so I can imagine that they must’ve put on a little weight eating it. (They don’t look or feel fat to me, but Jennifer advised I should get them back on the timothy.)

You should do whatever works best for your bun and if the routine has been good so far, well, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! I can see the pineapple and papaya for the hair elimination, but I know my two won’t touch it! They prefer their carrot or Craisin fix. (I try to avoid looking them in the eyes if I don’t want to cave on those particular treats.)

EDSON WHEN MOM IS HOME…

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Doesn’t he drink alot of water? Hydration and grass hay are the best for keeping the gut moving and the hair and other matter moving through the gut. That’s really what you are trying to do. You are wanting to keep his gut moving.

I’ve had rabbits with “hairballs” and that’s not really a proper term for a rabbit and hydration helps tremendously so the mass does not “dry up”. And remember the purpose of the papaya and pineapple is the bromeliad to break up the mucuos and that may or may not work anyway. If you do use pineapple it must be fresh not canned, etc…

EDSON WHEN MOM IS AWAY!!! (I just love playing with this picture. )

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Oh that is too cute rabbitpam.

Make sure you reread Dana Krempel’s article too particularly the part on Enzymatic Digestive Aids.

Oh rabbitpam that is pee-your-pants funny! lolz…Can Mimzy and Pippi come to the party too?? xD

EDIT: and for some reason I have that old song “Wipeout” going through my head now…lolz!

Oh boy, what in the world.   How incredibly frustrating.  All before you have to go on vacation!  Isn’t that always the way!   Do you think you would be able to get a second opinion…call some other well-known rabbit savvy vets around here that could just offer a second opinion about the advice your vet gave?  They won’t diagnose edson over the phone obviously, but there would be no reason that they couldn’t give you their opinion about the hay and papaya advice.

Orchard is one of the highest fiber hays out there.  Though it is known for it’s “sweeter” taste, I do not know the sugar content, but that really is the first I have ever heard about sugar being higher in Orchard (Doesn’t mean it’s not true, but I just have never heard of that). It is higher in protein though than timothy.

Timothy 1st cut (the stalky crunchy texture) is right up there with fiber

Timothy 2nd cut (softer hay) isn’t as high in fiber, but still a good fiber hay.

I am suprised she suggested Oat because even though that too is high in fiber, it’s higher in calories because it’s a grain hay and should be used to mix with other hays or as an alternate hay, not as a solo hay all of the time. 

Regarding the brown texture that you’ll find in Oat hay:  Dead leaf brown may be scattered about, but typically Oat normally varies from green to yellow and how much green and how much yellow can really vary.   It depends on when it was harvested.  Usually summer harvests are more green, and so you will begin to see more green as the season continues.   But earlier harvests are yellow (it’s fine) – does not mean there is something wrong with the hay .  Some bunnies prefer the “green” taste, while others, like my Jack munch Oat down no matter what season it was harvested.

Someone else mentioned about making sure he is drinking enough water, which is great advice, but doesn’t  he already drink a ton of water?   Has that slowed down?

Also, is he moving around normally? 

aw man. this is weird knowls.

I just did a google search to try to find the sugar content of different hays (starting with Oxbow’s product content listings on line) and, well, came up crabgrass, to coin an expression. Many have Timothy and Orchard pretty much interchangeable, including Oxbow, saying that where and when it is grown (as BB said, a summer crop is different) is what makes a difference, so tropical hays are much higher in sugar content than more northern crops. Seems that some horse owners have to go out of their way to get special hay for diabetic horses, and a low-sugar crop can only be grown under special conditions.

Anyway, what strikes me as more to the point is that some bunnies eat lots of hay, and some don’t. That’s where you run into more trouble. That Edson gobbles up different hays is a sign that he’s eating right since he eats lots of hay daily. Adding the papaya and pineapple (BB, can’t knowltons use the tablets instead?) moves the hair, with his drinking water making that work better.

So I’d say don’t worry. Did he like the fresh pineapple/papaya you tried last night? If your bunny sitter isn’t allergic to what he’s eating this week, stick with it. Don’t have her give him high sugar treats rather than worrying about the sugar content in hay. I don’t want to put out misinformation, but as MM said, “if it ain’t broke…”. With all this worry you’re going to need a vacation!

As Mimzy leaves for Edson’s party, Pip refuses to go, preferring to brood over his beer. Jealous? You bet.

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Pip is such a party pooper :~)

Knowltons, I’d like to hear Saveabunny’s thoughts on these issues too.

I just never though sugar content in hay was an issue with rabbits considering the overall good that it does. And it does seem all the information on the internet pertains to horses not rabbits.

*gigglesnort* That’s too cute Rabbitpam, ‘cept for one little thing….
xD
Mimz is the boy of the pair. ^_^
(of course, with how the two of them work out their dominance differences…sometimes I wonder) 0_o

I have done a little research on the topic of carbohydrates in hay.  Apparently this is a big issue for horse people., as horses with laminitis are very sensitive to excess carbs in their hay.  Depending on the time of year the grass is harvested, and the condition of the plants at harvest, the carb levels can vary widely.  I can find no references on the web about rabbits and carbs in hay.  Anyone care to shoot an email to Dana Krempels?

Definitely want to hear what your advisors at “Save a Bunny” come up with today.

MM,
ack! ack! ack! I know why I had it backwards – Mimzy was used in the past as a girl’s nickname (like in the 1940s) and Pip was the name of the boy in Dicken’s Great Expectations.

New caption: Pip looks askance as Mimzy leaves for Edson’s party. Brooding in her beer, she realizes where her favorite purse had gone…Learning it’s a tropical costume party she thinks, “oh that silly, silly Mimzy” and binkies to her feet. She quickly dons a mu-mu and joins them.

Edson discovers that clever Mom has left them fresh pineapple and papaya. Yum!

oh my word. Mimzy is a cross-dresser. (lol.)

sorry knowltons, i’m not trying to joke in your serious thread, but that was way too funny. i could not let that pass.

isn’t sugar a form of carbs? or am i incorrect? i’m not sure what to tell you, but i am interested in how this turns out.

I think the sugar and carbs are more of an issue for horses according to what I’m reading. Sugars area a form of carbohydrates along with fiber and starches.

knowltons – sorry you’re not going to SAB after all. Actually, I AM trying to joke with you – ’cause I know how much you worry about your little guy and I think Edson is doing pretty well so far, so trying to give you a laugh.

Do you notice if the harder spot in his doughy tummy (I think they’re supposed to be doughy – the better to squish your nose into) has softened after eating the P & P slices? He seems to love all things good for him. Also if any pearls show up then the fur is exiting as hoped.

Let us know what Dana says Knowltons – I’d love to hear her take on this :~)

Oh my, that is quite a dream.

I wish you wouldn’t worry so much :~(

Better stick with “distended” since doughy was the problem and by squishy I just mean soft. Is it still distended?

And that’s a horrible dream. This may not make sense to you, but I’d like to suggest that you have the maze be just one story for him while you’re gone.

Forgive me if I forgot, but where are you going on your vacation?

Well it’s all as you suspected so at least it’s good to get another opinion from someone as highly regarded as Dana.

Sounds like you should continue with the orchard hay for now and eliminate the papaya/pineapple.

that’s interesting. thank you for posting it. is this your regular vet you go to (the same one you saw for Edson’s water issue)?

If I had to frame an opinion, I’d say you just got an A+ in bunny care from Dana Krempels! ^_^
I agree that Edson is probably picking up on your stress. I would highly recommend beginning to tell him stories at bedtime of how much fun the two of you are going to have when you return, instead of the possibility of him sensing your tension and maybe thinking, “What’s wrong with mommy? Did I do something wrong?”
They’re like little children, aren’t they? But like little children, they can be soothed and encouraged.

Mimzy also has a relatively firm abdomen. In fact he just went in for a quick trip today and the vet palpated him and didn’t see anything wrong with it. I’ve noticed Pippi’s is soft and these days is gurgling a little bit more often than she used to. But other than a missed cecal or two, she is normal. I try to take the tummy condition day by day and keep their food as regular as possible. I think that avoids a lot of problems.

BTW, honest mistake, rabbitpam. ^_^ And shame on you, Beka, Mimzy is most definitely masculine, although Pip certainly can henpeck him. (I keep seeing him as the little bald husband to the big mean wife with the rolling pin, always having to say, ‘Yes, dear…’poor thing!)

This is sort of off topic but it is related. Knowltons – Is Edson molting right now?

wow wow wow catching up here….How confusing!?! I didn’t think hay could get any more complicated and then this! LOL

When do you leave knowltons?

On the funny side of things, instead of a keg (of beer) Edson has a bale (of hay) delivered for the party!!!

(k&k, It’s the extra-sweet South American Hay, smuggled in by a mule…)

knowltons – I don’t blame Marcy for that reaction. The vet’s advice just seemed so off from what I have ever heard. I’m assuming Edson is eating and pooping just fine? Do you still feel like there is something odd or wrong with him?

It’s a combination of the different foods that he’s eating. I notice then when I change up pellets or hay with my rabbits. As long as they are pooping and it’s a hard fecal matter I feel okay about it.

As for the stinky and the sheen, I’ve noticed they are more like this right after they poop if I happen to be cleaning and have to pick them up. I do think the sugar from the fruits probably has something to do with it.

i think it’s plain old sabotage…

sneaky Edson. lol.