Fattening non-poopy causing food?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I feel silly asking this-I really should know…

Chuck is losing a little weight through his illness. We’re doing an almost 90% veggie diet right now-to keep fluids and just to keep him eating (I’m offering hay and pellets but he’s not really touching pellets) and he’s eating well. I think i’ve spent almost 70$ on veggies since last sunday to keep this up  

BUT he needs something fattening…The other trouble is the GI tract slows a bit on meclizine. He’s pooping still but they are Noot size poops (Smaller then before)

 

Chuck has always been a little fluffy (chubby) but now he’s losing his fat ‘skirt’ and double chin and I’d really really like to keep those (he’s older -seven-and ill. So he needs to keep those reserves)

 

I’m doing some carrots, and apple, banana and strawberry. But what he’s really interested in is kale, cilantro (Which I never buy because I hate the smell but I figured he’d love it and he does) parsley, spinach, romaine-etc. All healthy greens.

Need some weight tips. And of course I don’t want to change his diet tooo much right?

I was thinkign I’d pick up some plain oats, and what about an alfalfa kibble? I’m not even sure he’d eat that… Any fattening food tips? (one’s that probably/hopefully won’t cause poopy bum!)

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

To add; I don’t want to throw off his flora-so bread and the like is really out of the question….but?

[jerseygirl]

Yeah, I though rolled oats at first too. What about cereal hays like wheat and barley? A member (Aminah Undone) used calf manna when fattening up Bella. I don’t know if this is related to Manna Pro because that is linked to the scary digestive illness that Wendy posted about.

Edit:  Also – criti care? Your disabled rabbits group may have some suggestions too.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Hmmm….Calf manna? I’m going to have to google :p Have no idea what that is…

OK totally not finding it-what is it?

I’m doing some critical care-mixed with baby food or juice….this is what is worrying me-he’s eating a ton and I’m doing juice, fruit and critical care…but he’s lost a bit. So I’m looking for ‘bunny cake and chps” :p Really need something just high calorie

So yes-do tell-what is calf manna?

I’m have hay right now which is timothy-alfalafa-brome but that’s really the best I can do besides strait alfalafa-which maybe I should just try? We don’t have much variety here…why would we-we’re just in hte middle of canadian prairies it’s not like hay is grown here or anything

[jerseygirl]

Weight gain info (other than alfalfa) is hard to find! Guess because we’re mostly concerned with keeping the weight off them.
Calf manna….yeah…all I’ve found is linked to that Manna Pro company. Though nothings been found regarding the feed contamination, you don’t want to risk anything with Chuck or anybun really. http://www.mannapro.com/calf-manna.htm This info doesn’t actually tell you what’s specifically in it though.  I’ll try find the thread I saw it mentioned and check it’s the same stuff. Edit: yes, it’s the same. 
 

Good old HRS had this recipe…

Davida’s Pumpkin Suprise
for bunnies that must be syringe fed.

2 tbs. pumpkin pie filling (with no sugar or spices added)
1 tbs. banana baby food
1 tsp. ground pellets (ground in a coffee grinder – it needs to be practically dust, and nothing else works.)
a little acidophilus powder
a little prozyme if you have it

Makes one batch.
Mix it up and force feed 4x a day (max 90 cc’s per 5 lbs.of bunny)

 

[FluffyBunny]

Maybe some more alfalfa hay? I would suggest alfalfa pellets, but you don’t want to change his diet much…If you’re limiting his pellet intake, you could increase the daily amount or just give him all he can eat.

You should definitely feed him plenty of sugary treats, esp. carrots.

[Beka27]

At 7 years old, he could be on an alfalfa diet. The added calcium could be good for him.

[jerseygirl]

Perhaps a lot of the weight loss you’ve seen is water weight also? Wouldn’t it take them quite a while to start losing the fat? Is Chuck not normally a fan of pellets?

[Deleted User]

The calf manna is definitely a fattening/body building feed for all types of herbivores. My friend in Austria uses it for milk goats. It smells like licorice. Many angora breeders use it to get good wool production. If you can find it, go for it. I have some that I used for Neigey when I got him. Animals are nuts about it. It might be a good thing to have on hand for a bun that passes up feed. The manna pelllets are orange in color and can be made into a mash and syringe-fed.

edit: you can’t get Manna Pro in our area, but Clover Bar Feed Mill on the Yellowhead has the same thing.

[Deleted User]

KK, I see now that the protein sources of the calf manna are undeclared. I wouldn’t give this to any sick rabbit. Make a mash of the alfalfa pellets and syringe feed those, that’s what I would do.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

THANKYOU ALL!! Seriously I feel silly asking but he’s losing weight-E.cuniculi and head tilt don’t kill but dehydration etc. will so I’m concerned not only about quality fo life but about losing his reserves.

K found this http://www.sanimax.com/assets/uploads/pages/file/downloads/ebrochures/Calf%20Manna%20ebrochure-FINAL.pdf guessing that’s calf manna. It lists that is for rabbits too so I’m not even going to breeze this by the vet I’m going to buy it tomorrow somewhere!!!

Good old HRS had this recipe…

Davida’s Pumpkin Suprise
for bunnies that must be syringe fed.

2 tbs. pumpkin pie filling (with no sugar or spices added)
1 tbs. banana baby food
1 tsp. ground pellets (ground in a coffee grinder – it needs to be practically dust, and nothing else works.)
a little acidophilus powder
a little prozyme if you have it

Makes one batch.
Mix it up and force feed 4x a day (max 90 cc’s per 5 lbs.of bunny)

AWWW Bless!! Thank you!!

…If you’re limiting his pellet intake, you could increase the daily amount or just give him all he can eat.

You should definitely feed him plenty of sugary treats, esp. carrots.

technically I’m not limiting but offering all the veggies leaves him not eating pellets and hay…which for fluids I want..but I want him CHUBBY !! GAH I’m so glad he was chubby to begin with -honestly I’m worried about Mikey with an illness-we’ve wormed and free feed and give treats (He just had a kobe hamburger) and he’s still a fit little rail I want my animals a bit chubby in case of illness-because it can and does happen.

At 7 years old, he could be on an alfalfa diet. The added calcium could be good for him.

Cool-picking up alfalafa hay and pellets tomorrow Thanks!!!

Perhaps a lot of the weight loss you’ve seen is water weight also? Wouldn’t it take them quite a while to start losing the fat? Is Chuck not normally a fan of pellets?

I’d think it could be-but Noot (whos a big drinker and huge pee’er) is not taking any offered water-I’m kind of using Noot as my fluid gage…like if Noot is thrity or dehydrated CHuck must be because they are only getting the same thing…however I’m pinching (sorry Noot!!!) and checking a few times a day=and Chuck is getting water or watery juice a few times a day; and Noot doesn’t get that…so HOPEFULLY I’m good and Chuck isn’t dehydrated. Its upsetting though-he was chubby and that’s what I wante and to boot, he’s old and had a hard life-let him eat what he wants for quality of life-but I’m starting to see spine *cries*
I seriously am at a loss-(gotta try the calf manna)
I’ve spent over 80$ on veggies since he’s been sick (11 days) and hes’ eating about: (wiht Noot)

Two -three bunches of parsley and cilantro
one bunch of kale
8-12 baby carrots
1-5 leaves of ‘other’ lettuce
some apple/strawberry/banana

A DAY!! That seems like a lot-I’m feeding all thru the night too they are beside me and I get up 4-7 times a night to feed (not much but am feeding) so? I’m so at a loss

The calf manna is definitely a fattening/body building feed for all types of herbivores. My friend in Austria uses it for milk goats. It smells like licorice. Many angora breeders use it to get good wool production. If you can find it, go for it. I have some that I used for Neigey when I got him. Animals are nuts about it. It might be a good thing to have on hand for a bun that passes up feed. The manna pelllets are orange in color and can be made into a mash and syringe-fed.

edit: you can’t get Manna Pro in our area, but Clover Bar Feed Mill on the Yellowhead has the same thing.

I’ll find it. If I have to drive up north to you-well we’ll have coffee!!

KK, I see now that the protein sources of the calf manna are undeclared. I wouldn’t give this to any sick rabbit. Make a mash of the alfalfa pellets and syringe feed those, that’s what I would do.

?? are you thinking meat protein sources?

[RabbitPam]

You already said my first thought, which was apples. The good thing about them is that they are very juicy, so that helps with his hydration. Also bananas are fattening, but you can give more of apples than of bananas without gas or poopy butt.

I like the alfalfa suggestion too.

And btw, I am thrilled to hear that you hate cilantro. Too. I can’t stand the stuff. Last year it seemed all these restaurants started putting it into things, and I was forever trying to figure out what that taste was. I disliked it intensely, though it didn’t give me an allergic reaction. Finally, in the fresh food market, I sniffed a bunch of it and Eureka! That was it. So no cilantro for me. Sammy will never miss what she never knows.

[Deleted User]

Posted By Kokaneeandkahlua on 11/21/2009 12:36 AM

KK, I see now that the protein sources of the calf manna are undeclared. I wouldn’t give this to any sick rabbit. Make a mash of the alfalfa pellets and syringe feed those, that’s what I would do.

?? are you thinking meat protein sources?

 

No, it would have been banned for that. But I found out that it contains whey, which is a dairy product. It’s loaded with protein from soybean,  corn, hominy, oats, whey, alfalfa, linseed, and brewer’s yeast. Too many weird things for Chuck right now if you ask me. No wonder Neigey grew so fast….

 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

You already said my first thought, which was apples. The good thing about them is that they are very juicy, so that helps with his hydration. Also bananas are fattening, but you can give more of apples than of bananas without gas or poopy butt.

I like the alfalfa suggestion too.

And btw, I am thrilled to hear that you hate cilantro. Too. I can’t stand the stuff. Last year it seemed all these restaurants started putting it into things, and I was forever trying to figure out what that taste was. I disliked it intensely, though it didn’t give me an allergic reaction. Finally, in the fresh food market, I sniffed a bunch of it and Eureka! That was it. So no cilantro for me. Sammy will never miss what she never knows.

Apparently some people like it but most don’t-I am one of those I dislike the smell sooooo much!! And its’ so similar to parsely I just never buy it…but I figured Chuck would like it and he does so….my hands stnk…

No, it would have been banned for that. But I found out that it contains whey, which is a dairy product. It’s loaded with protein from soybean, corn, hominy, oats, whey, alfalfa, linseed, and brewer’s yeast. Too many weird things for Chuck right now if you ask me. No wonder Neigey grew so fast….

Yeaht that’s waht I figured after-no animal protein for feed animals legal Whey is an OK protein siource though I think?

At any rate I waited on it to hear what you guys think. I grabbed alfallfa little martin food and Chuck is actualy eating it!!!! *dances* he usually does not eat pellets since the illness and the veggie increase. He was awesome for eating period and big on pellets. Also got some alfalafa hay and he’s eating that too

I know it’s junk but he’s been doing OK with it I’ve been giviing him four cheerio’s a day I know that’s bad but he needs the calories and..I just can’t think of how else to do it. I’m so glad he was a fat old man to start with!! Seriously would be in trouble if he didn’t start off chubby

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