Care Fresh vs. Aspen Supreme & Sore Hocks

[Scarlet_Rose]

I just wanted to share that I recently just switched from a YN (Yesterday’s News) & Aspen Supreme 50/50 mix to Care Fresh because I think it will help Daffodils tendency towards sore hocks.  At first I was really skeptical about the odor control but was remarkably surprised.  The last time I used this product years ago, it didn’t do too well.  The best part is that it soaks up the urine really, really well and so there is no wetness sitting on the bottom that causes the smell and the urine salts don’t collect. 

However, something I have noticed is that Aspen Supreme used to have really dark colored pellets that swelled up and now they are lighter and smell much more like aspen and turn to sawdust and works really well with absorbing and odor control so it seems they have recently changed their product (perhaps it’s a regional supply thing).  But I am going to stick with the Care Fresh because it is much easier to find and I don’t have to drive so far to get it.  Because I have had to add two litter boxes to the cage I put the old mixture in one litter box and the Care Fresh in the other and they both preferred the softer texture of the Care Fresh.  So, hopefully this will mean less redness/swelling on Miss Daff’s hocks.  We shall see.

[Alicia Conklin]

I really liked carefresh too..I just didn’t like it’s price tag!  Luckily mine don’t spend a lot of time in the litter box so they do ok with the harder litter pellets.  YN though I found did a horrible job of keeping odors at bay…I really didn’t like that.  I prefer the feline pine because it works really well to keep the smells gone and it dissolves well once it’s wet. 

[Scarlet_Rose]

Tucker, I know what you mean but for the price of one big bag, about $20 I get a lot more than the Aspen Supreme. The YN wasn’t working so well for me either with litter and I think it attributed to Daff’s sore hocks. I haven’t tried the Feline Pine. Isn’t that a pellet consistency too? If so I think it might be too hard on Daff’s feet.

[Beka27]

did you do a half and half to switch? or just changed it all right away?

[Alicia Conklin]

The feline pine is hard, so it probably would be too hard for a bun with sore hocks.  I just meant that I liked the odor control and absorption of it.  Tucker loved the carefresh…but then again she was so happy in it that she’d sleep in and then pee/poop in a pile on the floor!  LOL.  Then for a while I used it as a bed for her, but then she’d get rowdy and dump it all over whenever she felt like it…she’s such a trouble maker!

[Beka27]

i’ve always used the same litter, so i wonder how mine would react? *shudder* LMAO!

i might need to do that, altho Mead’s feet are looking better recently. what about keeping a thin layer on top of the regular? i wonder if that would even make a different or if they’d just dig it out…

[Sarita]

How is for absorbency? It’s been ages since I’ve used this.

I think that the litter staying wet is bad for sore hocks too. Maxine came from the shelter with sore hocks (luckily the skin wasn’t down to the bones) and the vet felt she had been in unsanitary conditions including wet litter boxes (obviously this would have had to happen over time too) – I know that would never be the case with your rabbits. Maxine is a large NZ rabbit too.

I know that these large buns seem to be sore hock challenged.

Have you considered aspen shavings too?

[BinkyBunny]

I know at SaveABunny, if they have bunnies that come in with sore hocks, they use carefresh or do a “top off” of carefresh. They also give carefresh or carefresh mix to rexes since they are more susceptible. Keep us updated on how this works for your Daffs footsies.

[Balefulregards]

I only use Yesterdays News as the “bottom” of the litter – I have always put toppers over it – some carefresh or like material ( I just found one called “Boxo” which is essentially the same soft shredded cardboard. In addition, I use a bit of shredded aspen, as Coco seems to like the texture ( I assume it is from living in pine shavings for the 2 years before I got her) The combo does really well with odor and absorbency – and she lives in my bedroom, so I would notice very quickly.

I often find Coco simply sitting in her main corner litter box, so I assume it must be comfy.

Amazing all the things we learn from our buns.

[osprey]

A coating of straw/hay over the pellets can also help with sore feet. Of all the litters I have used, I think that CareFresh is the softest, but is has to be changed more often because it does little to control ammonia. We often use carefresh for litters of baby bunnies and for bunnies recovering from surgery.

[MimzMum]

I began using the Carefresh mixed in 50/50 with the Good Mews for Fiver. It improved his hock problem within 48 hours! I was amazed! And this time, he didn’t bother trying to shove it out of the box! ^_^

He actually ‘hangs out’ in there now. It’s so cute! My other two don’t find the litter box a ‘chilling’ place, so I was glad to see him in there.

As a matter of fact, I can hear him rolling his little ‘funny ball’ right now, so I think he’s trying to gain my attention. xD It’s one of those little plastic balls with a bell in it, it’s how he ‘rings for the bunny slave’. ^_^

[JK]

What also might work well is wood stove pellets with a topping of hay.  There is NEVER ever a smell of urine.  The stove pellets are so cheap too. $8 for 40 lbs. Since Edson turned his nose up at timothy hay awhile back I’ve kind of tricked him by putting a nice thick layer on top of a very thin layer of stove pellets.  He devours the timothy hay now that way BUT if I stuff his hay rack with it the little devil won’t eat it. So weird.

[BunMumTiff]

I use yesterday’s News but with my enw baby I am finding it doesnt hold smell well with him/her…….I might have to get something different for Harley and see where it takes us

[Scarlet_Rose]

Thanks you guys this is a wealth of information! I think I may have to go with the YN under the Care Fresh because Miss Daff was at first really cool with just CF (Care Fresh) and now pushes it around and loves to throw it. I think that she now believes it to be a toy. Ugh. Oh well, she seems to have a great time with it.

[MimzMum]

Heehee…I could never put Carefresh in with Pip because she’d just eat it. I was beginning to think I wasn’t including enough fiber in her diet.

[MooBunnay]

Regarding the high cost of carefresh – I was at WalMart a couple days ago and I think I saw a cheaper/generic version of carefresh! I use the lone star bedding (same as the wood stove pellets but sold as horse stall bedding) so I didn’t pay too much attention. But there were a few different colors like carefresh and it seemed to be a lower price – you might want to check that out if you are going to be using carefresh long term!

[MimzMum]

Here’s another thing, do you use the brown Carefresh or the white? I just blanked at the price on the white, which is the only one my buns will tolerate, sadly, I think (for the large bag) it was $30.00 + at my local PETCO! What’s up with that? Isn’t it supposed to be recycled paper or fabric or something like that?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I wish the colored care fresh wasn’t more expensive!! I’d love to use the pink stuff

[Scarlet_Rose]

Thanks Moobunnay for the tip! Mimz, I use the “natural” gray colored one but am finding that my stinker Daff (the one with the sore hocks) LOVES to dig it out! I don’t want to put a grate over it, but it looks like I might have to but I am thinking it will defeat the purpose of the softer Care Fresh litter. It looks like I am going to have to layer with some regular pelleted litter like YN or AS and put CareFresh over it.

I totally agree that is it expensive but if it saves Daff’s feet, I’m willing to make the sacrifice but I will definately check out WalMart.

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