Dried Herbs

[Sarita]

Hi, do any of you feed your rabbits dried herbs?

I have a rabbit who is very sensitive to sugar, gets the runs – we’ve had every fecal test run that there is and I think the bottom line is that it is a sensitive stomach issue.  At one time my vet thought it was Giardia and we tried everything that we could for that (flagyl, panacur and another dewormer) and still not better – sent the fecal out to a lab and it came back negative.  The vet said she saw what she thought was Giardia in her fecal exam and at times he had really gummy cecals.

He’s had 2 bouts of stasis since I’ve had him and we got him through that.  Also he is overweight and we are working on that – he is now out running free in hopes of losing some weight.  I don’t think his weight has anything to do with the runny cecals though and they are liquid like.

I am know just doing one type of vegetable over a period of time to see how he reacts to that – gave him a carrot yesterday – big mistake and I should have known better.

He no longer gets sweets except for a half of a cherry flavored gas-x a day to help with gas and this has less than 1% sugar – I’m not certain this helps but I figure it cannot hurt.

So I’ve decided perhaps dried herbs might be a good treat for him – I hate to totally deprive him of everything.

Also he is off pellets too – not sure if that’s the problem yet either – this has been going on for a long time too.

I’ve also heard of some rabbits being sensitive to greens so if our experiment with greens doesn’t work – I’ll try the pellets (timothy based).  He does get unlimited hay and I cannot imagine that hay would have any cause for the liquid cecals.

Any other suggestions are welcome also.

Sarita

 

[Scarlet_Rose]

Two bouts with stasis wow.

Sarita, did your vet advise you to administer the gas-x? I’m not entirely sure that is the best thing for a bunny and would advise you to stop.  Really, I do not think it is something that is going to help.  Usually runny poo is the result of an imbalance, your vet tested for parasites but what about a healthy floral balance in the GI tract? Have you gone the route of acidophilus? If not I would suggest trying an acidophilus tablet (chewable) or some yogurt to help get him back in balance.  I would talk to your vet before proceeding so that they know what you are doing.

This is a good article called "The Mystery of Poop" that I think might help you also:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html

As for dried herbs, make sure they are organic, My two seem to enjoy lavendar and hibiscus flowers but could give or take chamomile.  It might be worth noting that chamomile has been an ages-old stomach tonic.

I sure hope you are able to find something to help him.

[Sarita]

Thank you for the reply Scarlet Rose. I’ve done the acidophilus and prozymes and benebac too – just about it all. I cannot remember if the vet and I discussed the gas-x or not, I’ll have to have another conversation with her about that….she know’s Mango very well LOL. I’ve had other conversations with different vets about simethicone and some say it’s okay and some say it does nothing so there seems to be no consensus on this.

I’m going to try some various dried herbs now and thanks for those suggestions.

I’ve read that article too and emailed Dana Krempels too about his problem.

He’s just a high-maintenance rabbit I think and I have no idea why he has so many problems, none of my other rabbits have ever had these problems and they all eat the same things more or less.

Any other suggestions?

[Scarlet_Rose]

You’re welcome Sarita.  A bunny with a sensitive stomach can be tough to cope with and wow, it sounds like you’ve been around with everything and your guy.  Simethicone I hesitate to say if it really is OK because like you said, some vets will say it is OK and others do not. My thinking is, this means they have not done enough research and so don’t really know and so I avoid those types of things.

Has your bun been on antibiotics and if so how long ago was that?  It may have killed all the "friendly" bacteria in the gut. I’m just brainstorming here, so please be patient. Has your vet checked to see if your bun may have enteritis or toxemia? Has your bun been prescribed any motility drugs for the intestine? Have the molars and teeth been checked? I would assume your vet has, but since I do not have access to your bunnies medical records I’m going to ask a ton of questions.

In case you want to do some looking too, this is a good informative site:

http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabrefs.html#entero

This type of thing can be very frustrating to try and figure out but my hope is that your vet and some research can help resolve this.

[Gravehearted]

I had a bunny who was on simethecone due to chronic gi issues for several years and both of the bunny experts I saw recommended it as part of his daily regiment. Although, his tummy gurgled so loud that you could hear it across the room :-(however, I would recommend one of the liquid child’s formulas rather than the adult mango one. But, I wouldn’t offer simethcone just to offer it unless your bunny is having a rumbly tummy or gas pains. So, I would consult with your vet.

My vet at the time put the fear of god into me about treats. Niklaus never got them again. period. It just was not worth the risk to me. He did not have the runs like your rabbit, but was always on the edge of a bout of stasis. He was on unlimited hay – both timothy and oat, small amount of pellets and some limited veggies.

Carrots have a lot of sugar, so are a treat food and not really a vegetable. I think trying the veggies one at a time is a good idea – my kids get herbs most days and they love parsley, dill and basil.

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

I’ve been sick all day and i’m having one of those nights were EVERYTHING is funny… I must say that the title "The Mystery of Poop" got me laughing like a dumb butt.

[Sarita]

Scarlet Rose – the last time he was on medications was in May 2006 when we thought he had Giardia. And I know he went back sometime even after that for another bout of stasis – he may have had actually 3 or 4 bouts of stasis or more. We’ve checked teeth, bloodwork, etc…I actually think I need to take him in soon for another check-up since it’s been awhile.

The only time we’ve had him on gut motility drugs was his bouts with stasis but I often wonder if he just has a slow gut that causes the runny stools. I’m pretty sure I’ve talked to her about eneritis too – I’ve had discussions on just about everything with her about him. I wonder though if daily doses of cisapride might be worth talking to my vet about…what do you think?

I’ve recently let him have free roam downstairs which I hope will take off some of his weight and also since he’s not with the other rabbits it’s been easier for me to monitor and control what I get him. When he was with the other rabbits when I gave them treats I would feel bad and give him some too but I don’t have that problem now that he doesn’t see me giving other rabbits treats.

This week I’ve started with fresh cilantro and dandelion greens to see how he reacts and hay only. It’s too soon for me to tell though how his poop problem is with this.

I think I’ll also try some fresh herbs along with the dry herbs for treats for him.

Thanks for all the responses and good advice too.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Gravehearted I had a big blonde moment and was so focused on flowers, my land sakes alive I wasn’t even thinking about the obvious like parsely (which has also been used as a digestive aid for ages). I was giving my two the Botanical blend hay and so got stuck in that mode. Sheesh. So thank you!

Sarita, I would really see if the dietary and housing adjustment don’t work and talk to your vet about the cisapride as a last resort type of thing and only after the more aggressive yes or no diagnosis with enteritis. I really hate to see a bunny put on something for life when there are still a few options to try, and I would give your bun a little time so long as he is acting OK to see if this new diet and exercise program doesn’t work for him.  I would suggest trying some kale on your guy or even some fresh mint or basil.

It might be worthy to note that stress can also cause the gut to slow down or even stop and so I would be interested if your bun doesn’t do better in the new digs.  As a course of treatment, has any blood work been done? I would say to definately book an appointment with your vet and see if anything as far as diagnostics can be done, if not, then I would study up and bring in your ideas and discuss a course of treatment with your vet.

[Deleted User]

Are there any herbs that arn’t good for them to eat?

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By digxmexnow on 09/17/2007 9:31 PM

I’ve been sick all day and i’m having one of those nights were EVERYTHING is funny… I must say that the title "The Mystery of Poop" got me laughing like a dumb butt.

digmexnow – I’m sorry your sick, that’s no fun  .   Get well soon!!

 sarita – You’ve gotten some great advice.  Bailey is extremely sensitive to sugar as well.  So for treats she gets mint and rosemary. 

Can you tell me how old your bunny is and what kind of pellet and hay that you’re giving?  What are the nutritional values of the fiber, fat, and protein of the pellet?   Is it alfalfa or timothy based?

If you have already answered this somewhere else,  I apologize.   I am playing catch-up!

[Sarita]

I think you are right Scarlet Rose, I think I will wait and see if I can control his problems naturally and then see about any medications. I have done bloodwork but not recently on him – can’t remember when exactly though.

Mesinaserpa – chives and anything related to onions and garlic aren’t good for them to eat. Right off my head I cannot think of anything else, but I’m sure others will know.

I do give him fresh dinosaur kale from time to time too – all my buns love this stuff!

[osprey]

The only herb that I know of that is on the bad list for bunnies is something called Penny Royal, which is in the mint family.  I have also seen people mention that catnip is bad for bunnies.

 

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