How common is it really?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 5sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 10 months ago by Sarita.

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- 05/03/2009 at 4:50 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  As a total paranoid hypochondriac , I am preoccupied about my hay and the fear of mycotoxins.
  
  I recently bought a 9lb bag of Oxbow Timonthy. I usually buy the small bags but this big bag would save me from running to the pet store every few days. I found a big clump of something in it, looks like grass you would find on your lawn, it didn’t look moldy but it was brownish and green and the clump was quite dusty. I took the clump out but am using the rest of the bag because it looks really good. Nice and green. I emailed the company just out of curiosity and she said that Oxbow has extremely high packaging standards and they check for mycotoxins routinely and have never had any concerns.
  
  I just tend to worry so much because it would be so devastating for all of my buns to get sick. I’ve seen topics of this concern before but I’m just wondering, how common is it? Does anyone actually know any bunny who has had this illness from hay or pellets?
- 05/03/2009 at 5:46 PM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  I’m not familiar with this illness, but if you’re concerned you might put it back in the bag and return it for a fresh one. I know the point was to save you the trouble of shopping frequently, but I have a feeling the store will not object to an exchange when you show it to them.
- 05/03/2009 at 5:47 PM
  MooBunnay
  Participant
  3087 posts
  I actually get my hay from feed stores, and have found the ocassional odd thing in them – but have never had a bunny get sick from hay. I would guess that you probably did find a clump of grass in your hay, and I think that there would probably have only been a danger if the clump looked moldy. It was a good idea to call Oxbow and I think that if it were me I would probably still go ahead and use the hay if it looked nice. Maybe to be on the safe side you could shake it out a little extra before feeding it.
  
  Does anyone else have any other opinions? I have found grass in my hay before but never too large of a clump.
- 05/03/2009 at 6:57 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  I was wondering about this as well. I guess the best thing would be a reputable company who tests for them in quality tests but how do you find that out? I try not to worry about it as I’ve never heard of anyone having an issue with it but it’s in the back of my head…who has more info for us?
- 05/04/2009 at 8:21 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I did some research and Oxbow is said to be one of the best. I was a bit reassured when the lady from Oxbow e-mailed me and said they do regular tests. I think it’s the whole “media scaring the pants off you” situation where you read articles and it sounds really common but it’s not. It’s made my standards for hay near impossible, which is very annoying. Pretty much every bag of hay I’m concerned about at least a bit but I see the hay that gets fed to Henri at my barn sometimes (not by me, I feed him the best hay I can find when I’m there) and sometimes it’s stuff I would NEVER feed my buns and he’s just as healthy as can be. Also, I read that Timothy hay is less likely to harbor mycotoxins than any other type of hay.
- 05/04/2009 at 8:33 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  My understanding is that it would be more of a problem in the feed rather than the hay.
  
  I’ve never had a concern in my American Pet Diner hay.
  
  If you were to have it tested it would have to be an independent tester not from the hay company – they are going to tell you this anyway.
  
  I’ve never had any rabbit contract this nor anyone I personally know have their rabbit contract this.
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