Dry food rating

[Zipfelmuetze]

Hello,

So, I work at a pet store, and I’m wondering what you guys would rate all the different brands that my pet store offers for Rabbits (or Rodents in General).  I’d like to know what I should recommend to my customers.  I think Oxbow is probably the best choice right?  Well, I’d like to know what the other brands are rated as, so that I know what never to point to, or what the second best option is if someone doesn’t like the price of Oxbow.

I would say, just copy and paste my list into your post and then add 5 stars, 4 stars, 3 stars, etc. 

CareFRESH Complete

Kaytee FrotiDiet (Pro Health)

Kaytee Fiesta

Kaytee Timothy Complete

Kaytee Exact

Kaytee FortiDiet Crunch (w/ Dental Bites)

ZuPreem Nature’s Promise

Oxbow

Nutriphase

Nutriphase Gold

Mazuri

Ecotrition Organic Blend

Brown’s Zoo Vital Junior Bunny Growth Food

Sun Seed Sunaturals

Vitakraft Menu

Living World Extrusion

FM Brown’s Tropical Carnival Gourmet Food

 

 

[Monkeybun]

Before I look any of them up, I want to say… NEVER recommend a rabbit food to anyone that has seeds, nuts, corn, or any of those kinds of things mixed in. The only pellet to feed is a timothy only for adults, and alfalfa for babies. They are packaged mostly to look good to the people buying them, not to be a proper diet for the buns.

My vet recommends the Oxbow Bunny Basics T, so thats what I use

[Monkeybun]

A friend of mine buys the ZuPreem, and her bun loves it. It looks like a decent pellet, but I’ll still buy my Oxbow.

[angelicvampyre]

Oxbow all the way that is the only one my vet recommends and sells. Also carefresh is by far the best litter and I have done the litter round about.

[Monkeybun]

the carefresh bunny food isn’t that great though. it’s full of crap. a mix of seeds and pellets, not good for bunbuns.

[Elrohwen]

Totally agree with Monkeybun. The only ones I’d even consider are the pure pellets – not the blends with seeds and things.

I love Oxbow. I’ve heard good things about Zupreem as well.

[Carrot Lane Bunny]

CareFRESH Complete:2 stars

Kaytee FrotiDiet (Pro Health):3 stars

Kaytee Fiesta:1 star

Kaytee Timothy Complete:3 stars

Kaytee Exact: 1 star

Kaytee FortiDiet Crunch (w/ Dental Bites):1 star

ZuPreem Nature’s Promise:4 stars

Oxbow:5 stars

Nutriphase: 3 stars

Nutriphase Gold: ?

Mazuri : 3 Stars

Ecotrition Organic Blend: 1 star

Brown’s Zoo Vital Junior Bunny Growth Food: 4 stars

Sun Seed Sunaturals: 1 star

Vitakraft Menu: 1 star

Living World Extrusion: 1 star

FM Brown’s Tropical Carnival Gourmet Food:1 star

There you go thats my opinion whats everyone elses?
~CLB jersey and DJ

[Beka27]

Many bunny people feel that Kaytee is crap-ee… I think their timothy based pellet might be okay… if there’s absolutely nothing else available and you’re forced to make a decision between colorful bits/seeds and a plain pellet.

I’ve heard good things about Zupreem, but the front runner (IMO… and many other people agree) is most definitely Oxbow. And I think they both cost about the same at PetSmart… when I buy pellets there, I tend to buy out the rest of the Oxbow bags when I see them.

[RabbitPam]

I hate to be a wet blanket, but I am not sure your post is abiding by BB’s rules. I really understand your good intentions, and it’s good to be able to recommend good products, but I have a question about whether this is the right way to ask on line. Let me email the FL’s and see if I’m being over-cautious. Here’s a copy of the rule I was thinking of:

Negative Reviews of Pet Stores, Vet Hospitals, Individual Vets and any other individuals:  So, you saw horrible conditions at a pet store, your vet was terrible, and you had to deal with the rudest receptionist.  Those things are monumentally frustrating! We understand, but for your own legal protection keep actual names of individuals and businesses out of your posts.   According to the Communications Decency Act, you, the individual poster in an online forum, is legally responsible for your statements, and so if a company or individual wants to pursue a lawsuit against you, they can track you down (IF a court orders it) by your IP address (even if it changes).

[KatnipCrzy]

Basing it on adult rabbit food- timothy pellets recommended-

I would have to say Oxbow T, Zupreem are the best.  Kaytee Timothy is also good- I just do not like one of the preservatives they have in it (based on my parrot food research).  So in my opinion those 3 are all excellent diets for an adult rabbit.

All of the others to my knowledge have seed or “extra” goodies mixed in or are alfalfa based- which rates at the lowest of the  scale for an adult bunny.

For a young bunny- without looking up each food individually- if Oxbow 15/23 is carried- that is my recommendation- otherwise a plain alfalfa based pellet is suitable.

Bunnies really do like the alfalfa based pellets with all the extra add ins- but honestly it is like feeding “fast food”.  For example- what kid would not want a Happy Meal every time they are hungry?  But is it really good for them- heck no.

That is another reason I dislike Kaytee- they do make some decent foods across the small animal and bird food line- but then they also make a lot more that are not healthy and are made to appeal to the owner- with using marketing phrases like “dental bites” or adding “the extras” and they market those as if they are good and healthy.  Dairy/yogurt is in no way a part of an adult rabbits diet- but yet they market “healthy yogurt” (sugar laden) treats.

I know this has nothing to do with you personally- you just work there and it is a national corporation- that is at least recognizing House Rabbit care by selling some of the “premium” products that are good for house bunnies.  House bunnies have different nutritional needs than breeding or outdoor bunnies- and the idea seems to be catching on corporate wise.  House bunnies do not need extra calories to breed, or keep their body temps stable.  And what pet is going to be around longer to sell products for- the “forgotten” hutch bunny or the beloved house rabbit (that seems to never stop at just one even though they are spayed and neutered).   You got it- the house rabbit that should have a much longer life expectancy is the better customer sales wise than the “kids hutch bunny”.

[Zipfelmuetze]

Ah okay, so the shelf should be full of Oxbow options and the other brands should beat it! Heehee, I feel bad for those companies, but they should do more research on healthy and appropriate products. Why do you guys think these companies don’t care so much? I edited my first post btw. Thanks for the heads up.

[Beka27]

Food choices have come a LONG WAY in recent years, especially since indoor rabbit companions are becoming so popular. I applaud some pet supply stores who have started carrying the higher quality brands. There is so much out there in terms of dog and cat food, everything is widely advertised and research is always being done on various diets, but there isn’t as much info readily available for rabbit food.

Another thing to educate your customers on is that pellets are just a very small part of the diet. Please let them know how important hay is (the Oxbow hay is also very good!) Some of the other brands have very dusty, poor quality hay, so you might want to steer them away from those. If your store offers the option to order 50lb boxes of Oxbow for customers (my local store does!) this is another thing you might be able to suggest.

[KatnipCrzy]

Why do I think these companies do not care so much?- honestly- money.  If a customer will buy it and they can make money off of it- they will make it to sell it.  And many customers really do not know unless they do an “good” internet search what is appropriate for a house bunny- there are wacko sites out there with crazy recommendations (like the feeding sheetrock info discussed on another thread).

 

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