Are yogurt/animal foods really okay?

[PocketFaeries]

Hello, everybun!

This may sound like a strange question, and I apologize for asking a lot of them!   I was thinking today about how many yogurt based treats I see for bunnies and it raised a question in my mind that I thought maybe some of you bunny guru folks could answer.  In my *general* (but not bunny specific) knowledge about the way that food and digestive systems work, I have always believed that it is best to give animals of any type the kinds of foods that best suit their physical digestive make up.   For example, a dog is a true carnivore by nature and therefore should be provided with a carnivorous diet.  A sugar glider is an omnivore and should be provided an omnivorous diet.  But with bunnies, I know they are herbivores in bodily make up, but noticed that a lot of treats and pellets marketed specifically for rabbits contain dairy or animal products.

I again apologize for asking a strange question…but was wondering…if bunnies would not naturally or normally ever consume these types of products in the wild, is there a beneficial reason for providing them specifically to captive/house rabbits?   I understand that certainly, dietary needs can differ amongst same species animals when wild, outdoor, or indoor life quality is varied. I guess I’m just questioning the health benefits or potential hazards of putting animal or dairy into a body that was never designed to process them. Could anyone offer thoughts? Thanks so much in advance…you’ll notice I’m always very interested in quality of life issues for animals and particularly, ethics and such. I ask a lot of questions…but I do so out of very sincere interest to create the ideal quality of life for all animals who are in my care, including my sweet bunny Finn!

[Floppy]

I used to give my bunny those bunny yogurt drops, but I’ve heard that anything
with processed sugar in it is just bad. So I have a bag of it left and I still give my bun one
once in a great while, but mainly his treat is his pineapple tablets, if you can find a decent
petstore they should carry healthy fruit treats for your bun.

[Thumpers_Mom]

Hi pocket faeries, no need to apologize.  We are all here to learn and help.   I just got home from the vet with Thumper for his check up…The doctor was GREAT! She has a deep understanding for buns and is soooo good with them .  She said that the yogurt drops are a no no for the buns. Like you stated, it is not beneficial to their GI tract. So, I’ve been given the red light to finish the bag but no more after that. So i am sticking to what is good for him…vegtables and fruits (in moderation).

 

[PocketFaeries]

Thanks, Thumpersmom!  I am a big fan of tailoring any living being’s diet to what their body is designed to process, because it equates with longevity, health, and a strong immune system.  I appreciate you sharing what your knowledgeable vet said to you about Thumper and the yogurt treats. It makes good sense to me, but I do always like to ask before assuming anything.   I have found that most animal processed treats are loaded with sugars that the animals neither needs nutritionally nor benefits from in any other way.  So many pet animals are obese these days…then again, childhood obesity is an issue for the same reason.  I very much enjoy sweet treats myself, and I do not deprive any of my animals of treats that they enjoy, but I do try my best to keep sugar out of their diets and mine whenever it is not needed.

I have only had Finn here for a week, but so far, s/he seems happy with the natural stuff. I had been offering a small slice of organic baby carrot from my hand as a treat and as a reinforcement for becoming friends. So far, I find that feeding the fresh things as "treats" not only works for healthy treats, but creates a positive personal experience for both of us without me being a pushover for things the bunny shouldn’t really be eating.   I will stay away from all these bunny treats marketed with yogurt and such.

 

[Scarlet_Rose]

That is an awesome philosophy PocketFaeries and one very close to my heart.  Yogurt drops like everyone said are a definate no.  Bunnies should not be consuming dairy or all that sugar, especially refined. If you happen to shop at a health food store (it sounds like you just might) they’ll have dried fruit that is free of preservatives and phosphates, read the packages too because manufacturers can be real sneaky and soak the fruit in sugar water or apple juice. I like buying a brand called Just Strawberries and Just Bananas, it’s a line of dried fruit (100%) by a company called Just Tomatoes.  Someone else said that they found something similar at Big Lots too, hmm, I *think* it was gravehearted.

[Gravehearted]

no need to apologize for your question, we’re all learning new things here and sharing information.

that’s a great point PocketFaeries that I hadn’t really thought about, but it makes perfect sense. The yoggies aren’t a very healthy choice also due to the high sugar content. As ScarletRose mentioned – I did score some Dole brand freeze dried organic no-sugar added banana slices at big lots a few weeks ago.

[LillyBear]

I still give my bun’s yogurt drops.. I know they are bad so they are only a once in a while treat (like once every week or two).. otherwise I give them dried fruit (papaya mostly) for a treat.. its a little better than the yogurt, I tend to think.

[nutmeg183]

My bunny Nibbles loves her yogurt treats too, but I am starting to cut back, esp. after they are gone, I’m not buying anymore because that would mean giving money to PetSmart, which I boycott b/c they sell bunnies

[MsBinky]

I give my buns what they would normally eat in nature as much as possible. For us, the treats they get consist of fresh fruit and carrots. Seldomly, I give them a treat they go crazy for from the pet store. Other than that, I find no need to stuff them with preservatives and all that, and it also helps me pass all the fruit and veggies. I have recently taken to making them a salad every day every since Wiggles got ill and I realized how much she loved it.

The salad is made of the following:

– Lots of carrot tops

– Lots of parsley

– lettuce (not iceberg)

and any other greenery I can find such as chives, mint, dandelion, etc.

Then I add one of the following as a treat and rotate them:

– Spinach

– a tad bit of carrot pieces

– a tad bit of apple pieces

– a tad bit of banana

I use the pellets only because I am not satisfied with the quality of the hay I can get here. If I get my miniature farm though I will grow my own and have one garden just for them.

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