Is this vet correct or is it spiel?

[MimzyBaby]

So during the molting times of the year, my rabbits shed a lot! Like many rabbits do. Sometimes they end up having GI stasis due to hair in their digestive trap. I got too distracted during the last weeks of the semester and failed to notice Mimzy getting increasingly worse with molting. He would eat romaine lettuce but no pellets or hay so I had thought maybe he was working through it because sometimes it does pass over 24 hours. I saw he had pooped and but not a lot and they were rather big. He continued to not eat or poop after though within 12 hours so I decided it is best to not risk it any longer and take to the vet. He got backed up and the long wait had much worse effects because pain medication usually is all that is prescribed to get him to eat. Since we were later taking him he was in a lot more distress and build up. They gave us everything that would help him. They did an x-ray as well and ill admit it was good to see what actually was going on. They were helpful and polite altogether. BUT this is where I’m a bit fuming because this isn’t my usual vet. We take him to see a vet who sees many animals and at most that bill is 150 to 200 in cases of emergency. This one was nearly 300 dollars. I can get over it since it was an emergency and Id rather him live since the regular vet couldn’t get him in till 9 AM the next day. The doctor asked us his diet and I said he eats Sherwood rabbit food pellets, timothy hay from tractor supply ( a farming store source) and romaine lettuce with the occasional treat of some maybe banana or strawberry. It’s only if they are washed or I want them distracted though. This vet went on to distress to switch to Oxbow hay and pellets. He claimed they are better and he sells them at his place for cheaper. I told him my brand again, and I even had the pellets to show him which he glanced but didn’t observe. He pushed a lot for us to switch the food and told us that romaine was bad for bunnies. He said collard greens are good and I’m very skeptical about because I’ve read they cause bladder sludge. He said sugar is bad for them which I know this and am very afraid to feed any fruit to them except in times of need. He said to never ever give it to them. 40% of the conversation was switching his feed. The hay I get from the farm sourced store is greener and fresher than Oxbow. He also saw the hay in his carrier himself and the hay outside being sold in his office is so much duller in color. Oxbow vs Sherwood it comes down to that Oxbow has lighter less fresh smelling pellets. They also have a soy base for Oxbow. Sherwood is higher than fat by 3 percent but my rabbits have never turned their nose to eat and all at healthy regular weights. He claimed another rabbit was on that food to and switched and is okay now. (I’m really doubting it) I’m like 90% sure my rabbit had too much shedding and its a hair issue of brushing not a diet issue. I bought a really good brush today to make sure all hair is gone and I mind the shedding more because it would solve this issue. 
Id say my rabbits have also had stasis because of hair alone 3 times before this. And typically they all had smelly mucus like poops after when getting over it in the very beginning. This vet claims to come back because that isn’t normal with stasis and is a parasite infection. I’m sitting here thinking but it is okay for them ?? I didn’t question or argue and we left with what we needed. He wants us to come back for a checkup but being myself I think he gave me a sales pitch in a time of need for my animal and its sent me into all kinds of questioning but my gut is telling me this is fishy! he supposed to be professional and helpful but this seems wrong to me I’m looking for second opinions to know maybe it’s not just me is all

[DanaNM]

I admit that it is weird for him to be so sales-pitchy, but I don’t think $300 is unreasonable for a visit requiring an x-ray. I think that the fact that they get stasis so regularly means that he is trying to help find a cause.

It is common for buns to get GI issues during molting, but the fact that all of your bunnies are having this issues makes me tend to agree with him that there might be another contributing factor. Very often, diet is the culprit. I’m not that familiar with sherwood, but the important thing to look at in pellets is the percent fiber. Pellets for adults should be at least 20% fiber. Timothy hay should also be the primary ingredient if the rabbits are over 1 year old. Unless you are feeding a different type, the Sherwood I looked up is alfalfa based, and not minimum 20% fiber, so I agree with your vet that it might help to switch the pellet. Oxbow adult is about 25% fiber and timothy based.

Feeding romaine is OK, but it isn’t very much variety, and romaine isn’t very high fiber. Collard are in the cabbage family, but are not quite the same as straight up cabbage. Kale is in the same group. They should not be 100% of the diet, but do have very dense nutrition and very high fiber, and do not cause problems for many buns. I don’t think his suggestion to switch to just collards is a good one, but I can understand his suggestion to incorporate more variety in the veggies, and higher fiber options. I also almost never give my rabbits fruit, and if they were prone to GI issues I would eliminate it entirely.

Basically if you rabbits are prone to stasis, I would think about ways to increase their fiber and water intake, as these are the things that keep the gut moving.

Mucous is common after stasis, so I disagree with him that is would for sure be parasites.

I know it’s weird when a vet sells a product they are recommending because it feels like they are just trying to sell you things…. but Oxbow is a good brand. I feed it, and the rescue in my town also feeds it. (His recommendation to switch hays is kind of weird though).

So, basically I agree that he was prob being too pushy, but I wouldn’t just assume that your buns problems are due to hair alone. Changing their pellet and introducing some new veggies (very slowly of course) might help them be better able to deal with the hair when they are molting.

With buns, always just think fiber fiber fiber, and as much water as you can get into them to keep that gut hydrated!

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Azerane]

I do hope Mimzy is starting to feel better now.

It does sound like your vet was being unnecessarily pushy. Yes, oxbow is a good brand, but they are not the be all and end all, there are other good brands of pellets. Then when it comes to hay, brand does not even matter. Quality hay is quality hay and as long as your rabbit eats it, Timothy hay from Oxbow is not going to be any better than some other brand or even no brand bales from a feed store. It’s exactly the same thing, it’s not formulated or anything. So that’s just a bit ridiculous. The romaine is good for water content when shedding, as it is important the gut has plenty of moisture, but you also need to ensure Mimzy is eating plenty of hay, the fibre will help keep the hair moving through.

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