Homemade Bunny Cookie Recipe

[Dee]

Hi Everyone,

I haven’t been on in awhile, but I’ve created a cookie recipe for my bunnies that I wanted to share. My BunBun can’t have lots of foods because of his sludge and poopy butt issues, but he still begs pitifully for treats. I used to give pellets, but I’ve even stopped those and he’s doing really well, so I’m not putting him back on them. Anyway, this recipe is pretty nutritious, but it probably isn’t good for rabbits who need a completely sugar free diet. However, Bun is sensitive to things like papaya or excessive carbs or fruit, and he does fine with these ingredients since they’re in small quantities. I hope everyone knows what I mean about the “ground hay”- it’s that stuff that’s always at the bottom of the hay bags, gets almost like powder with some little pieces of hay in it.

Ingredients

1 1/2- 2 Tbsp Critical Care, any flavor (OPTIONAL- adds nutrition, flavor & consistency)

1-2 Tbsp Crushed/Ground Hay from bottom of hay bag OR Ground Pellets

1-3 Tsp Old Fashioned Oats (Optional- high in carbs & may give some bunnies poopy butt!)

1 Inch Strip of Laxatone Malt Flavored Hair Ball Remedy for Cats (OPTIONAL- adds flavor and might help digestion)

1/4- 1/2 of whole Banana, mashed

1/4 Cup Apple, finely diced

1-2 Tbsp Canned Pumpkin (optional- turns out fine without it but adds nutrition & flavor)

NOTE- Laxatone should only be used in this recipe if you’ve used it before and your bunnies are not having any stasis/stomach issues- the oil can coat a blockage, making it harder to break up in the gut. Many have used it during shedding season to prevent or help treat gut slowdown by ingesting too much hair, but it is not recommended by all bunny experts.

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Mix all ingredients in bowl, adding more/less of anything to suit your bunnies taste or find proper consistency. Line baking tray with tin foil (this stuff is sticky!) and bake @ 350 for about 15 minutes. Cookies are done when they are not mushy any longer. They usually don’t got completely hard, but shouldn’t stay dented if pressed with finger. I find it easier to peel tin foil off of cookies rather than vice versa.

** Store in refrigerator, wrapped loosely in paper towel and placed in Tupperware- I don’t put lid on completely because cookies may become overly mushy. Use within 2 days if you put Critical Care in- otherwise, I would keep them for 3 days. **

I’m realizing as I write this that I really need to get out of the house more- lol. Hope your bunnies like them as much as mine do . 

[bunnylova123]

cool, not totally sure about the honey though, are you sure that’s healthy, but I don’t know what else would bind it.

[bunnygirl]

Hmm. It could probably be fine without the cat laxative,the critical care, the oats and honey. I find crushed pellets, mixed with a bit of water for dough consistency then added banana, apple, pumpkins, craisins, whatever you got works out fine, you just bake it for as long as it needs to dry out but not burn. I’m not sure if you’re supposed to give CAT laxative to RABBITS, I know honey is a big NO NO! The CC should only be given in emergencies or advised by your vet, from what I’ve learnt, and there’s mixed views on oats. So really, this isn’t really a good recipe to follow.

[LoveChaCha]

I wouldn’t use the laxative on buns.. unless prescribed by the vet, or even the critical care. That is for emergencies. I use this recipe and passed it onto friends. Their bunnies enjoy it.
http://bakebakebake.livejournal.com/1352167.html

[LittlePuffyTail]

A cookie recipe I make all the time has honey. 1Tbsp but I put a bit less.

[Dee]

Hi LittlePuffyTail- I’m so glad Bindi is doing better . Is this a recipe you make for your bunnies, with honey in it? I just edited my post and removed the honey from the recipe, don’t want to publish recipes that might make somebunny sick .

Hi Bunnylover, LoceChaCha and Bunnygirl, I edited my recipe and removed the honey. I always research things before giving them to my rabbits, and I found that honey is kind of a yes/no/maybe thing for bunnies. I was concerned about the sugar and the fact that honey harbors bacteria that can harm human babies under 1 year. No word on the bacteria, but obviously it has sugar. I only use in tiny quantities for flavor cookies or medicine, but I would NEVER want a bunny to get sick because of something I posted!

Also, I put a “disclaimer” on regarding the Laxatone Hair Ball Remedy. It has been used for years by many bunny parents to break down/prevent hairballs and some say it works great, others not so much. It’s considered somewhat old fashioned by many, but I use it moderately with no ill effects. I wouldn;t want anyone to use it for the first time in my recipe though, just in case, so thanks for noticing.

As for Critical Care, it’s just super nutritious and shouldn;t cause any harm, but it is expensive, so I use it sparingly!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Dee, this is the recipe I make for my buns. Just made a batch yesterday. They get really cranky if I don’t have their morning cookie!

I figure it must be healthy since it’s posted on the House Rabbit Society webpage. Like I mention, I don’t put the full amount of honey, just because I don’t want them having so much sugar.

 

http://www.rabbit.org/fun/biscuts.html

[Dee]

Hi again, LittlePuffyTail,
Thanks for the recipe- it looks great . And I definitely trust anything the House Rabbit would publish too! I like the added carrot- my bunnies love carrots as treats- I’m going to put less honey in as well, just to be on the safe side. Lol- your bunnies have come to expect cookies every morning too, huh? Mine are pretty obnoxious about them- I feel awful when I get busy and don’t bake any! Also, it’s nearly impossible to walk through my kitchen with two bunnies whirling in circles around my feet, popping up in the air and jumping over each other in a frenzy.

LoveChaCha, I forgot to thank you also for the recipe last time. It looks good, except with my little sugar fiends would it probably need a bit of sweetening up! They’re incredibly fussy :p .

[Author]

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