Changing Pellets for Bunnies

[SugarbearNPepper]

 Hello BB! I took Sugar and Pepper for their first well-check appt today.  Everything seemed good.  Told the doctor all about Pepper’s tummy troubles that happened a couple weeks ago.  She suggested that I switch her food to pure alfalfa pellets.  The kind I’m giving them now is alfalfa based but it also has a whole grain condition added (oats, seed, etc).  She said that may be causing Pepper’s tummy trouble.  I asked her if I need to switch the food gradually since I’ve read and heard numerous times that switching food needs to be gradual but she said I didn’t have to do that.

What do you think?

[Beka27]

Generally, you want to switch gradually between foods. I wonder if your vet’s reasoning is that you are going between two alfalfa pellets. Even still, if it were me, I would slowly transition. How old are they?

[SugarbearNPepper]

Hi Beka27, they are 3 months old… I actually didn’t tell her the feed now is alfalfa. I just checked when I got home and realized it….

[mocha200]

That is weird that she said you didn’t have to switch slowly…. If it were me I would to be safe. what brand of pellet are you switching to.

[SugarbearNPepper]

Mocha200, I’m switching to Oxbow 15/23. I think you’re right, I’m going to mix it for a couple of weeks. Rather not take any chances!

[mocha200]

Oxbow is a good brand. My buns get bunny basics T from oxbow. ( for 6-7 months + of age)

[SugarbearNPepper]

Yes, I’ve been reading lots of good reviews for Oxbow. I hope they’ll like it!

[RubyRain]

I just switched pellets to Oxbow as well. I mixed the Oxbow in with the old pellets and gradually added in more Oxbow until it was 90% Oxbow just last night. For the first few days I could tell one of the bunnies was picking his way around the new stuff. But after about 5 days he was eating it all.

[RabbitPam]

Darn. I just messed up my reply. One more time.
It sounds like she didn’t mention gradually changing because she wants you to stop the pellets with the seeds & other additives right away. If you are now using the pure alfalfa pellets, that’s better for them than the other kind. What I would suggest is beginning to gradually introduce the adult Oxbow with the baby alfalfa Oxbow now, so that in a couple of weeks or months, you can get them switched to that only. The alfalfa is good for babies, but many babies find it hard to give it up for the adult type when it’s all they’ve had. You can actually raise a baby on the adult pellets without ever feeding the alfalfa without any harm (my bunny started with the Oxbow 15/23 as did others I know, and she’s fine) so it’s not too soon to introduce it to them slowly so they can develop a taste for it when you begin to lose the alfalfa.

[Monkeybun]

My little Monkey was fed the adult Oxbow formula, she HATED the alfalfa stuff, so I had to! Silly thing. But she is just fine without them!

[SugarbearNPepper]

Thanks everyone! The doctor suggested I feed Pepper the Oxbow for bunnies since Pepper is a little underweight. I will continue to mix it for a couple weeks just to be on the safe side.

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