Medicinal mineral oil

[jerseygirl]

I was looking up some info on allexperts.com about shedding and appetite. I came across this question answered by Dana Krempel in which she suggested the use of laxative-grade mineral oil for aiding hair ingestion. (see yellow highlight below)  She also mentions it use in her Gastrointestinal Stasis article.  I have copied the relevant excerpt below also .

Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D.
Date: 9/1/2004
Subject: Shedding

Question
Hi Dana, First off thanks for volunteering your time.  I respect that you and others take the time.  My question is, my rabbit for the couple of weeks has been shedding, what seems to be a lot.  He has his own room, with a little box, filled with shredded cedar.  Plenty of card board boxs with cut out windows. He loves them!! When I go in his room the last few weeks there are fuzz balls of hair everywhere. I brush him a few times a day. I was wondering could it be he is getting ready for his winter coat? Is the fur bad if he swallows it?  I am concerned. I don’t believe he’s sick.  Please help. Thank you. Sandra  

[script removed]
Answer
Dear Sandra,

It’s that time of year again:  shedding season.  Some rabbits seem to wait
for spring and fall to lose all their hair, and some do it in a big way
that we affectionately call “blowing their coat.”  Sometimes this is done
with such suddenness that small bald patches are visible after you groom
your bunny!  As long as the underlying skin is smooth, pink, and shows no
sign of irritation or disease, this isn’t a major concern.  The fur should
start to grow in a few days.

Some bunnies seem to shed constantly, a little bit at a time.  There may
be several reasons for this, including (but not limited to):

1.  Inbreeding.  Normal, genetically controlled Circadian Rhythms that
result in shed cycles may be disrupted in highly domesticated animals that
are no longer under the influence of natural selection for that particular
trait.  These bunnies may shed a little bit constantly, and need to be
groomed regularly.

2.  Lack of grooming.  Some rabbits, even though they shed seasonally,
seem a bit fussy about licking off their hair.  These bunnies sometimes
accumulate loose hair that needs to be manually groomed off, lest it shed
constantly at a slow rate, year ’round.

If your bunny is showing signs of abnormal fur loss and/or skin problems,
then please refer to:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/furloss.html

for information on the various causes and some of the treatments available
from your rabbit veterinarian.

*********

It’s normal for a bunny to shed and to groom herself, but as you might
guess, it’s not great for her to ingest all that hair.  Here’s what we
recommend:

1.  For the duration of the shed, periodically place her on a secure
countertop and not only brush, but gently *pluck* any loose hair.  You’ll
find that some of it comes out very easily, and this will prevent it from
gradually shedding out as she grooms herself.

2.  With slightly moistened hands, rub her thoroughly.  You’ll see that
lots of loose hair comes off on your hands.  Rub your hands together to
remove this fur, and start again until the amount is significantly
reduced.

3.  Make sure she gets the following:
       a.  lots of fresh, clean water (keeps intestinal contents                 hydrated)
       b.  unlimited, fresh grass hay (helps to push any ingested hair
               through the intestines, uneventfully)
       c.  plenty of fresh, wet greens (helps with both hydration and wet
               fiber to keep guts lubricated and mobile)

4.  Optional for long-haired breeds who are more likely to build up
compactions of fur in the stomach or intestine:  once or twice per week,
give bun 1 cc of Laxative-grade mineral oil orally.  Do this *very*
carefully, squirting slowly and *sideways* behind her incisors, to be sure
she doesn’t aspirate (inhale) any of it.  If you are in doubt about how to
do this, then don’t.  Consult your veterinarian.  As stated above, this is
*optional* and should not be necessary as long as the gut is motile and
you’re seeing plenty of large, well-formed poops, even if they’re strung
together with hair.

Hope this helps!  Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana

Excerpt from : GASTROINTESTINAL STASIS, THE SILENT KILLER by Dana M. Krempels, Ph.D., Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124

C. Petroleum-based laxatives: use with caution. (laxative-grade mineral oil or commercial products Products such as Laxatone or Petromalt) do not affect intestinal motility. Some veterinarians prescribe them in the hope that they might help to slide dry, impacted matter through the intestine more easily.

Note, however, that if the intestinal contents are severely dehydrated and brick-hard (yes, we have seen this!), a coating of vaseline-like substance over them will merely impede their re-hydration and make it more difficult for the mass to break up and begin passing. For this reason, it is probably wise to concentrate on re-hydrating the intestinal contents *before* using petroleum-based laxatives, if they are to be used at all.

Note also that whereas malt-flavored remedies in a tube are often preferred by the bunny, some vets believe that their higher viscosity may actually contribute to holding a mass of impacted food together, especially if the intestinal contents are dehydrated. Unscented, laxative grade mineral oil is less viscous, and may be more effective. Petroleum-based laxatives should not be given daily or long term, as they can impede the absorption of important, fat-soluble vitamins.

Sorry for all the info, I copied entire Q&A so as no to lose context.  I had never heard of the use mineral oils  until Cassi had GI scare with Charlie and the Vet prescribed Paraffin Oil to help clear a blockage.  I have since learned that Medicinal liquid paraffin is used for humans for constipation issues.  I have also read members discussions in regards to Petromalt and Laxatone.   These also mineral oil based?  So is the use of this oil for rabbits more common than I thought?  Has anyone else had their vet recommend their use? 

I’m wondering if it’s useful to have in a kit as a last resort if other remedies have failed and you cannot get to a vet in time.  Note: I would not use this unless having discussed it with my vet first.  Also, the dangers of a bunny aspirating it are a bit scary!  I know children can be in dire straits if aspirating or ingesting mineral oil.

So after this long post – apologies – I guess I’m wanting to open up a discussion    .*shrug* 

[Cassi&Charlie]

Thanks Jersey, this is really interesting! It’s great to see the info my vet was giving me online and by the famouns Dana.

Well the vet had spent two days giving Charlie fluids under his skin (ouch) so I guess they weren’t concerned about him being dehydrated and paraffin costs a couple of dollars so I’m always going to have some on hand from now on.

On the feeding issue, I think as long as you know how to ‘foce feed’ your bunny it shouldn’t be a problem & I had my vet show me so that I knew I was doing it right.

It’s so scary when they aren’t eating & you don’t know what to do so I’m really interested in this too.

[MooBunnay]

That is a very interesting recommendation that I haven’t heard before – but Dana Krempels is a very knowledgeable source so I personally would be comfortable relying on her advice. I would say that you are very careful to only give a little bit at a time, that you wouldn’t have to worry too much about the bunny aspirating the mineral oil. I have given Baytril orally quite often and the bunnies generally do pretty welel taking it down (though, most of mine haven’t liked it very much!)

[Sarita]

I’ve read this before too from Dana Krempels. I don’t think that this is necessary either and only as a last resort if at all – medicinal mineral oil that is.

My vet does not recommend petromalt or laxotone either – she said it just coats the hair and does not help it move through the system. That is of course if stasis is the result of blockage since stasis can be the result of a multitude of things. Stasis is not an illness, it is a condition or sympton of an illness or something else (ie stress).

I’ve never had a bunny aspirate.

I think if your bunny is in stasis you want to hydrate them so you would be better off hydrating them by hand with a syringe rather than giving them mineral oil. Also critical care (very liquidy) will hydrate them and give them fiber.

I’ve had many experiences with stasis and the causes have been for different reasons (blockage, gas, unknown, URI, UTI) so one thing is not going to be the right answer in this. Unless you know what is wrong with the rabbit you will not know what remedy to take – you are just playing a guessing game and sometimes so is the vet until they can find the cause.

[kralspace]

oh, ick! When I was way overdue with my first child, my obgyn told me to drink a small glass of mineral oil in hopes of starting labor (it did). I can’t think of a word disgusting enough for the way it looked, tasted or the cramps it gave me. I still get queasy even just pouring vegetable oil into a measuring cup!

[Author]

Messages