Flemish Gian – A Few Questions

[AbbyGirl]

Hi.  We are not new to the bunny world but it has been a few years.  We jsut adopted a White Flemish Giant.  He was 13 lbs when the shelter got him with his brother.  His brother passed away and he got really depressed and stopped eating.  Since then he has been neutered, house trained and is gaining some weight back.  I am so excited to bring him home!  Here’s my questions.

1. I need to have a gluten free rabbit pellet for him (no wheat, barley or rye).  I have found 2 brands and wondered if one is better than the other.  They are both pellets only, timothy hay based and high in fiber.  One is the Zupreem Nature’s Image.  It has corn as one of its ingredients with 18% protien.  The other is the new Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health which has oats as an ingredient and 12% protien.  Any thoughs or advice on this would be appreciated.  He will also get an unlimited supply of timothy grass and his daily veggies.

2. I need to have a carrier to bring this big guy home in.  I thought a dog carrier might be best.  I want him to be able to strech out, lay down and sit up without touching the sides or top.  Any thoughts on what size I might need?

Any other advice you can give is much appreciated.  I have had house bunnies before but nothing as large as he is.  Thanks in advance. 

Amy

[Sarita]

Welcome and congratulations on your soon to be new addition.

1. I think either of those would be fine if they meet his diet needs – what pellet do they currently have him on? Was the gluten free a recommendation of the vet?

2. I agree about the dog carrier – the bigger the better. Hopefully he is easy to get in and out of the carrier too.

[AbbyGirl]

He is so calm.  He was going in and out of a very small one the night we met him. 

We need to have a gluten free food because of myself and my girls having Celiac Disease. I’m not sure what pellets he eats now.  I believe he is on an alfalfa based pellet to help him gain his weight back though. 

Thanks for your reply!  Amy

[Sarita]

He sounds wonderful. I bet he will be happy to have a new home and he sounds like he will be spoiled. I love the big rabbits!

[LoveChaCha]

Kaytee food is only alfalfa based, which is for rabbits that need to gain weight, or are babies.

I like the sound of the Zupreem diet, as it is timothy based, but your best bet is Kaytee for the time being.

[Sarita]

Not all Kaytee is alfalfa based. The Kaytee Pro Diet Health has both timothy and alfalfa and I think it would be okay if it meets your needs. Once you get him to a healthy weight you would be reducing the pellets anyway.

[Sarita]

If you would be open to ordering on-line it appears that American Pet Diner’s TImmy Rabbit pellets would meet your requirements – but double check of course the ingredients (I read them a few times and didn’t see any wheat, barley or rye listed):

http://www.americanpetdiner.com/p/Pellets/Pellet_TR.html

Click on the Orange Button that says ingredients and analysis for a pop-up window.

Their 2nd cutting timothy – Timothy Gold Hay is also excellent.

Overall APD has great products for rabbits.

[AbbyGirl]

Brittany: The Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Adult Rabbit food is Timothy based.

Sarita: Thank you for finding that for me! The others I asked you about have to be ordered online too. It is gluten free. I also like that it has no oats and corn in it and is lower in protein. It looks wonderful. Have you used this product?
As for the hay, we have a friend that has a farm the grows and bales their own hay for their animals. We are going to be talking to her about possibly buying from her when we need it.

[LoveChaCha]

Oooh, that one Okay
That is awesome you can get hay from a friend

[Sarita]

Amy, it’s been a long while since I’ve used their pellets but I wouldn’t hesitate in a minute to order them. Most of my rabbits are pellet free. I actually have been thinking about buying a bag again for the rabbits that I do feed pellets too.

I say go for the American Pet Diner – they really truly specialize in the small pets and I buy their hay alot and I find it very high quality.

That will be great that you can get hay locally too.

[Sarita]

In fact, I do think I am going to order that 6 pound bag to check it out again.

[AbbyGirl]

Thank you again for all your wonderful help. I’m sure Hugo will appreciate it when he moves in.

[Sarita]

Your welcome – we would love pictures when you get him all settled in.

[AbbyGirl]

I plan to take many pictures. I will post them. It will just take about 2 months to do. I was also reading about the pellet free diet. I couldn’t image giving him a plate of greens the size of him!!!! I think he’d eat us out of the house. Not too mention that would cost a fortune for a bunny that large.

[Chucklebun]

Hi Amy,
Congratulations on the new addidtion. I’ve got a 12lb bunny – he’s an eating machine! I’m sure that’s why he’s so friendly; people = food! He has a cup of pellets a day, half morning, half at bedtime, greens during the day, and hoovers up hay in between.
I got the catit cabrio pet carrier for Dylan, it’s not super spacious, but he seems to not hate it as much as his old one, and the big advantage is that I can take him out the top when he’s being stubborn at the vets. I got mine cheap from a UK website, don’t know how much they’re likely to be in the USA, but I’d definately recommend a top opener. I’m intending to try doing Dylan’s nails in his, it’s not easy to trance a 12lb bunny and he does NOT like sitting still!

Enjoy your big snuggle bun

C xxx

[AbbyGirl]

Thanks for the advice on the carrier. I was told that you can hold him like a baby in one arm and clip his nails with the other free hand! I cannot believe how calm and friendly this big guy is.

[Chucklebun]

Haha, when I’m trying to catch Dyl I wish someone was filming me – would make some $$ on a candid camera show! Tho I’m thinking if I can tempt Dyl into the carrier, I can pick him up from there… it would certainly save cash by doing his nails myself – and anals, brilliant with everything else, my vet seems to avoid those – funny that?!

One thing about the carrier; my vet is only 20 minutes drive away, so I guess if you have to travel much further it might be worth getting one of those dog crates for the trunk of the car.
C xxx

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