Re-introducing pellets after month of none *due to stasis*

[sarahthegemini]

(Wasn’t sure whether this belongs here or in Diet & Care)

Anyhoo! It’s now been just over a month since Buttercup’s stasis episode, and both her and Peanut have been off pellets and veggies since. I think it’s probably about time I add a little something back in to their diet. I got two fantastic suggestions on my thread about Buttercup – Protexin which is a high fibre probiotic pellet and Fibafirst which is a very high fibre pellet. I’m thinking to opt for the probiotic and see how they get on. Possibly add in the fibafirst if I feel they need it. I’m just so nervous about trying anything new. Both bun’s tummies have been great, they eat tons of hay now and poop a full mountain every day  I’m a little concerned that their hay consumption will decrease but I suppose if I’m just giving a teensy amount of pellets it shouldn’t be effected too much? I think not having veggies is what impacted their hay intake most anyway. 

Just looking for some advice and words of encouragement! 

[Luna]

Are they the same except that Protexin also has probiotics in it? I think either is a great idea; just make sure Buttercup doesn’t eat Peanut’s share . I’d still hold off on the veggies for now.

[jerseygirl]

You’ll probably find their hay eating habits will remain good. I find that once they really get stuck in to hay for lack of any other offerings, they really get a love for it. One of my buns wasn’t the best hay eater right up to 1 year of age. Then one day I was late getting home and giving the pellets or veg. So he only had hay in that time. It was enough to get him quite keen on hay from then on. In fact, he comes running for the litterbox when I restock hay. Today, after cleaning it out, I was sliding the box back into place and he (Gooseman!) took a flying leap from off his ramp across into the area where the box is kept. I only just got in back in time to catch him. Always have wanted to put an orange eye mask and cape on that boy.

You could introduce pellets as just something you hand feed or treats for training or something. So they are just getting very few rather like treats instead of a meal. That way you could build up the ration slowly. Or just keep it as really minimal. I have friends that don’t feed their rabbits pellets and they’re buns are pretty healthy. Ranging in age from 5-8 years old I think. I believe one friend is now giving her older buns a small portion now though.
I’ve never been strong willed enough to go pellet free for my buns. I also give them their pellets twice a day and it gives me an idea of their wellbeing.

[jerseygirl]

Dr Frances Harcourt-Brown’s diet recommendation should you decide to go pellet free.
http://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/free-food-for-rabbits/diet-sheets/recommended-diet-for-adult-rabbits/view

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Luna on 6/15/2017 9:47 AM
Are they the same except that Protexin also has probiotics in it? I think either is a great idea; just make sure Buttercup doesn’t eat Peanut’s share . I’d still hold off on the veggies for now.

From what I can tell yeah they’re similar – both high in fibre but the protexin has the addition of the probiotic. Someone correct me if I’ve got the wrong end of the stick tho!

I think I’ll probably hand feed them so I can make sure they’re both getting a fair share

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By jerseygirl on 6/15/2017 9:52 AM
You’ll probably find their hay eating habits will remain good. I find that once they really get stuck in to hay for lack of any other offerings, they really get a love for it. One of my buns wasn’t the best hay eater right up to 1 year of age. Then one day I was late getting home and giving the pellets or veg. So he only had hay in that time. It was enough to get him quite keen on hay from then on. In fact, he comes running for the litterbox when I restock hay. Today, after cleaning it out, I was sliding the box back into place and he (Gooseman!) took a flying leap from off his ramp across into the area where the box is kept. I only just got in back in time to catch him. Always have wanted to put an orange eye mask and cape on that boy.

You could introduce pellets as just something you hand feed or treats for training or something. So they are just getting very few rather like treats instead of a meal. That way you could build up the ration slowly. Or just keep it as really minimal. I have friends that don’t feed their rabbits pellets and they’re buns are pretty healthy. Ranging in age from 5-8 years old I think. I believe one friend is now giving her older buns a small portion now though.
I’ve never been strong willed enough to go pellet free for my buns. I also give them their pellets twice a day and it gives me an idea of their wellbeing.

That’s reassuring – hopefully they’ll continue to be hay fiends! I thought they ate enough before but my goodness they can’t get enough these days. I’ll definitely keep the pellets to a minimum. They were never on large quantities before anyway. I like the idea of going pellet-less but I think having the probiotic might be handy and it might help with the introduction to veggies later.

[Q8bunny]

Whatever you decide, baby steps, baby steps. Sounds to me like your going about this sensibly, though.

[sarahthegemini]

Baby steps for sure!

[Theodorusrex]

Fibafirst sticks ingredients: Timothy hay, alfalfa stalks, wheat meal, soybean meal, ground peas, locust bean meal, alfalfa protein extract, flaked oats, linseed, soya oil, Vitamin A 15000 IU, vitamin D3 1500 IU, vitamin E 60mg.

Protexin probiotics ingredients: Wheat feed, Soya bean hulls, Oat feed, Wheat bran, Grass meal, Sugar beet pulp, Brewers’ yeast, Linseed, Cellulose, Preplex prebiotic (Fructo-oligosaccharide), Gut Flora Stabilisers, Protexin probiotic – Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Personally Theo gets one scoop (theres a small scoop included, probably around 1 tbsp) of probiotics in the afternoon and 1 fibastick morning and night. I think the main difference between the two apart from the probiotics obviously, is the addition of hay in the fibafirst sticks, I assume they are therefore higher fibre, although I have no evidence to back that up its simply a guess. I think the fibafirst is 30% fibre, and I can’t find how much fibre is in the probiotics.

I’m not speaking with any real authority here (please someone correct me if I’m talking rubbish) but if you are wanting to reintroduce a pellet to the diet I wouldn’t use the probiotics to replace the pellets. If you didn’t like the idea of giving both you could switch out the probiotic pellets for the sachet form that is available and sprinkle this over their food and feed some fibafirst. Likewise if the bunnies are eating lots of hay and you feel they don’t need a pellet at all you could keep them on hay and veggies and supplement them with the protexin probiotic pellets – if your bunnies are anything like mine they will go mad for them! Theo prefers them over his normal pellets.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Theodorusrex on 6/16/2017 9:12 AM
Fibafirst sticks ingredients: Timothy hay, alfalfa stalks, wheat meal, soybean meal, ground peas, locust bean meal, alfalfa protein extract, flaked oats, linseed, soya oil, Vitamin A 15000 IU, vitamin D3 1500 IU, vitamin E 60mg.

Protexin probiotics ingredients: Wheat feed, Soya bean hulls, Oat feed, Wheat bran, Grass meal, Sugar beet pulp, Brewers’ yeast, Linseed, Cellulose, Preplex prebiotic (Fructo-oligosaccharide), Gut Flora Stabilisers, Protexin probiotic – Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Personally Theo gets one scoop (theres a small scoop included, probably around 1 tbsp) of probiotics in the afternoon and 1 fibastick morning and night. I think the main difference between the two apart from the probiotics obviously, is the addition of hay in the fibafirst sticks, I assume they are therefore higher fibre, although I have no evidence to back that up its simply a guess. I think the fibafirst is 30% fibre, and I can’t find how much fibre is in the probiotics.

I’m not speaking with any real authority here (please someone correct me if I’m talking rubbish) but if you are wanting to reintroduce a pellet to the diet I wouldn’t use the probiotics to replace the pellets. If you didn’t like the idea of giving both you could switch out the probiotic pellets for the sachet form that is available and sprinkle this over their food and feed some fibafirst. Likewise if the bunnies are eating lots of hay and you feel they don’t need a pellet at all you could keep them on hay and veggies and supplement them with the protexin probiotic pellets – if your bunnies are anything like mine they will go mad for them! Theo prefers them over his normal pellets.

Thank you for your input Theo! I’m quite happy to keep them on hay and veggies but just thought the probiotic would come in handy. They’re pretty good hay eaters so maybe they don’t need a proper pellet and can have the protexin as a supplement as you said. Hopefully they’ll like it!

[Bam]

There’s 19% crude fiber in the Protexin probiotics pellets. 46% dietary fiber. But it’s the crude fiber that we normally mean by fiber in a rabbit context.

It is a supplement though and not a complete feed, there are no vitamins added.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By bam on 6/16/2017 12:34 PM
There’s 19% crude fiber in the Protexin probiotics pellets. 46% dietary fiber. But it’s the crude fiber that we normally mean by fiber in a rabbit context.

It is a supplement though and not a complete feed, there are no vitamins added.

Do you reckon giving them roughly 8 different veggies per day would give them all the nutrients they need? That’s the sort of amount I provided then with before and would like to (slowly) build up to that – as a minimum. Or would you still recommend a complete pellet?

[Bam]

Honestly, since they’re good hay eaters and get so many different vegs, I doubt they need pellets. Because they’re still young they need extra calcium to harden their bones, so don’t go too low on calcium. Parsley, kale and dandelion have calcium. But you know this, I’m sure.

Others might disagree with me on the pellets.

[sarahthegemini]

Thanks for your help Bam, I’ve just ordered the protexin pellets so I’ll see how they get on. I will of course start them verrry slowly but are there any side effects that I should be on watch for?

[Bam]

I haven’t noticed any side effects. They are Oxbow-sized and I try to scatter them because Bam devours them and I don’t want him to eat too fast and choke. They seem to be extremely yummy.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By bam on 6/17/2017 1:27 PM

I haven’t noticed any side effects. They are Oxbow-sized and I try to scatter them because Bam devours them and I don’t want him to eat too fast and choke. They seem to be extremely yummy.

Awesome  

Fingers crossed the buns appreciate them!

[sarahthegemini]

Started the buns on their new pellets three days ago – they’ve had ONE pellet each per day. Will increase to two pellets tomorrow. They love them! I’m sure they think I’m mean for only giving them one each at the moment! But so far, no problems

[Author]

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