papaya tabs: myth or fact

[bunnycutie]

 buttons recieved some papaya tabs for christmas. he loves them so much! it was like instant addiction!!! but i was wondering….they say ts a digestive aid. does it help htem, sortof like hay? so if buttons is very picky about hay, and i cant get him to eat large quantites(usually about 1-2 handfuls a day). so would papaya tabs help make up for this? or not, is it just a sales gimic?  how often should i offer them? could i use them as a treat or are they really super important in keeping a bunny healthy? thanks so much! 

 

 

 

bunnycutie

 

P.S.—what stuff for buttons would you suggest from the BB store? he told me i should spend more of my money on him 

[Monkeybun]

suggestions for store items: everything Monkey loves the orchard grass hay, moose loves his willow cube, they both love their grass mats, mini haven, i personally adore my little sock bunny keychain… hehehe. If I were allowed to buy everything I wanted form BB, I’d spend hundreds a month

About the papaya tablets: I’m not sure if it actually helps with breaking down the fur in tummys, but I do know Monkey loves em, so heck, a couple bucks for 90 treats aint bad! lol

[Elrohwen]

I’ve heard mixed things about papaya, but nothing I’ve seen says that they hurt! I buy dried papaya (because I can get it in the grocery store and don’t have to order it online) and it’s Otto’s primary treat. I figure if he’s going to eat dried fruit it might as well have a chance of being healthy for him 😉

And my fav item at the BB store is the Maze Haven. Otto just got his second one for Christmas and he’s already remodeling it. Haha. He absolutely loves his maze havens. I also have a bunch of the willow stuff, which he chews occasionally, but nothing is loved quite as much as that maze.

[BinkyBunny]

Papaya enzymes definitely used to be thought of as a digestive aid, but as time has progressed there are studies to show that it makes no difference, however some will debate that. You will have many who swear by it while others swear it makes know difference. It’s sort of reminds me of the old Vitamin C debates about whether it helps fight human colds etc. For me, I choose to to give them as occasional treats and if I think one of my bunnies is feeling a little funky, I’l give them one as I figure it won’t hurt and if they it it’s another thing to help keep the digestive tract on the move regardless.

[bunnycutie]

well…either way it makes a great treat!!!!! and it doesnt seem unhealthy, so i dont feel gulty about giving it i want to spend some christmas money on thedried flower treat packages from the BB store. buttons would like that and wilow toys. probably a few more rings, balls, and maybe a star. buttons just cant get enough willow. i swear its the only thing he likes to chew. nothing else is good enough if he gets a new willow toy it is comletely devoured within 8 hours!!! that silly bunny

[jerseygirl]

Definately use them as a treat. I think they’re healthier now too. But they can’t really replace the benefits of hay. If he’s eating a couple of handfuls of hay a day, that’s not bad compared to my Jersey. Willow is good because he’d be getting fibre from that too. Maybe try a different hay from the BB store and see whether he takes to it. I think there may even be a sample pack where you can try different varieties – though not real sure on that. Happy shopping!

[katie, max & penny]

willow ball/cube, oat hay and cinnamin apple hearts are big hits here!

[katie, max & penny]

oh and the cube takes a long time to devour!

[Beka27]

It is debatable whether the papaya actually helps… my guys get one tablet a day (usually) as a treat…

[bunnycutie]

either way buttons sure loves them ) i will look into the cube. he just pretty much destroyed his ring silly bunny

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Debatable-I’d say both

BUT they are low calorie and the buns love them-so why not?

[bunnycutie]

buttons learned the sound of the jar when i shake it and he gets super excited! how cute!

[hooty22]

Truth about papaya tablets: Felony will attempt to eat my fingers off if I do not give them to him fast enough. I don’t know if they help with digestion, but they do seem to be one of the more ‘healthy’ treats and Felony LOVES them.

[bunnycutie]

its so weird. buttons loved them yesterday. i just gave buttons one of his veggie holistic treats. which he loved. and then i tried to give him some papaya tabs, and he took it and spit it out! i put it in his food bowl with his pellets incase he wanted it later. but why would he change his mind so fast? now its turning into medicene rather than a treat!

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By bunnycutie on 12/28/2009 09:53 AM
its so weird. buttons loved them yesterday. i just gave buttons one of his veggie holistic treats. which he loved. and then i tried to give him some papaya tabs, and he took it and spit it out! i put it in his food bowl with his pellets incase he wanted it later. but why would he change his mind so fast? now its turning into medicene rather than a treat!

 

He must have heard you thinking “digestive aid” medicine.  Now you’ve gone and done it – he’ll never eat it again. LOL.

Actually as long as he’s eating in general and not refusing food or showing signs of problems, then just try again tomorrow.  Sounds like he was just not in the mood for that treat.  Sometimes when my bunnies are expecting a craisin (usually in the a.m.), and they get a carrot instead, they shun the carrot…and me.

[bunnycutie]

yup i did it in. he said he never wants another one LMAO!!!!! he is eating everything else so he is fine. and let me tell you, he eats everything!!! from grass mats to pellets!!! hahaha he is so weird i will try again tomorrow….

[Author]

Messages