salt wheels?

[katie, max & penny]

does anyone use these? i’m curious if its a good thing or what.

[Barbie]

I don’t use salt licks, there doesn’t seem to be any need to give him extra sodium and  I’d assume with a proper diet of hay, veggies, and some pellets, they get all the nutrients they need. I know they like the salt/mineral licks, but just like us, we like salty chips, but theyre not necessarily good for us  Also, the “mineral” licks that are often sold with the salt licks probably contain more salt and who knows what else – if there’s calcuim in there then that makes it even worse for bunnies.

[Lintini]

I know they are bad for guinea pigs so I just assumed they bad for my bun too. I just feed her oxbow pellets, timothy and grass hay, red leaf/green leaf/romaine lettuce, parsley and cilantro; bell peppers green. Occasionally she gets a chunk of banana or grapes or red bell pepper. Cucumbers weren’t a hit. Celery was pretty popular, and of course carrots.

[mrmac]

I tried to give my buns once when I first got them but they wouldn’t touch it. Ive always been told that they’re not necessary.

[BinkyBunny]

They are not needed. It can be a boredom buster but then you have to supply plenty of water! Definitely no need for salt or mineral licks for rabbits

[KatnipCrzy]

Most pellets contain some (a small amount) salt/sodium along with other minerals- so in the pellets alone they should get any beneficial minerals/salt.

[katie, max & penny]

got it. i just didnt know because max always seems to be attracted to me when i eat salty things in front of him.

[Deleted User]

A rabbit receiving a pelleted ration will not ‘need’ it, but some like it. A lot. My flemmie mix owns the salt wheel and enjoys it every day. She is also my biggest hay eater, not so crazy about pellets. My other two never ever touch the salt but one of them drinks the most water, even though he’s a fraction of the flemmie’s size. I guess, it all depends. It really can’t hurt to have a salt wheel available and they are cheap to buy. A member on here sometime wrote that even in people salt requirements differ individually and some need more than others.

[katie, max & penny]

ahh i see. thanks petzy!

[BunnyLiz]

I emailed Dana Kremples awhile back. She is completely against them, if that helps. Her response- http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/2009/4/Salt-licks.htm

[Deleted User]

I suppose from the viewpoint that salt can be a fatal poison if ingested in excess, I can see why they are not recommended when feeding a commercial diet (i.e. one where salt is already added). I do believe they can be very bad if they are the object of a boredom vice in a caged rabbit. I just think, in my rabbit’s case they’re a good supplement because she eats little pellets only and mostly grass and hay.

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