Change in appetite

[phillinley]

Our steel Flemish Giant buck has always been voracious when it comes to his calf mana and oats dressings every night he gets them, and then polishes off his normal pellets by morning. Today when I went out to feed him, he hadn't touched his calf mana, oats or pellets. I gave him some alfalfa and he started to eat that, but didn't finish it off like he should if he hadn't eaten over the night. So I threw in some pineapple in case he has some blockage and he started eating that.

Because he's eating the alfalfa I don't know how to react to this. I've never had a bun straight stop eating his pellets, especially his dressings, but still eat hay. The other 10 rabbits are eating fine. Am I worried about nothing, or is there something I'm missing?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Have you checked his water supply? If you use any type of valve system it could be clogged.

 

[phillinley]

I thought about that and gave him water in a bowl too and he is drinking.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

Sound there is something wrong with his intestines.. You are catching it now .. GOOD FOR you to see something wasnt right and asked about right away... stop giving him pellets and calf mana.. he is getting to much rich foods because he is also getting alfalfa hay... Please give him hay other than alfalafa hay and take everything away for at least 2 days or more. GIVE hime oatmeal from the kitchen only and hay and water of course.. I think he has a sour gut.
Right now he is still eating a little . So that is good. But it might not last to long. How much calf mana are you giving him.

 

[phillinley]

Just a teaspoon a day as recommended. He's on the same regimen as the other flemish and this is pretty tame compared to what the other flemish breeders with much higher protein and bulk diets are getting.

I just put him out on the exercise cage to see how he behaved. He's flip kicking and digging around like he normally does, so even though he's not eating, his mood seems good.

Changed his tray just now too so I'll be able to know what he's passing or if at all.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

Well. When any animal goes off of feed. THERE IS a reason for it. Take my advise for what it is worth. every rabbit is different. and a teaspoon a day is to much with alfalafa hay. Every second day is better. and give grass hay instead.

 

[phillinley]

Not that I disagree with you, but I'm trying to figure out why this is what the best Flemish breeders in the state are doing. I was kinda taken aback by how much they feed them, but they all have great show rabbits with the fawns and sandy's averaging over 20 pounds at the regional show I was at. I was alternating between calf mana and oats each day just to vary it up even though they've told me to do both each day.

I don't even feed this guy as much as the other flemish because I've given up on him as a show rabbit, and he's just going to stay in the herd as the team mascot so I'm feeding him for overall long term health. He's not even 10 pounds at 8 months. When I got him four months ago he was almost set to be dinner and was undersized to begin with with a very small cage and not much feed so he had a bad start growth wise.

 

[garden lady]

Not that I disagree with you, but I'm trying to figure out why this is what the best Flemish breeders in the state are doing. I was kinda taken aback by how much they feed them, but they all have great show rabbits with the fawns and sandy's averaging over 20 pounds at the regional show I was at. I was alternating between calf mana and oats each day just to vary it up even though they've told me to do both each day.

I don't even feed this guy as much as the other flemish because I've given up on him as a show rabbit, and he's just going to stay in the herd as the team mascot so I'm feeding him for overall long term health. He's not even 10 pounds at 8 months. When I got him four months ago he was almost set to be dinner and was undersized to begin with with a very small cage and not much feed so he had a bad start growth wise.

Snickers is not that big, but I need to weigh and see what he is, but the last 2 days I have brought greens and he just sits there and looks at them at first. When I came back yesterday he had left the mustard greens. Today, I gave less and it was gone, but I was thinking he was eating too much pellets. I took all mine off Calf Manna other than just a small amount for the kits. It is always something with Snickers, either not drinking enough and adding Pedialyte to his water, the watery eye, smaller poop sometimes and he will leave his pellets, so I have cut him back, actually all of them. I am giving enough pellets where it will be empty next time I feed. I am curious how much Snickers weighs. Do you have a picture of your buck?

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

You have to do what is the best for you and the rabbits. Not what other breeder is doing. If you are not showing. Why do what they do. Yes.,, he is small .. I wouldnt use him for breeding ... But still if he isnt eating .. there is something wrong. It is either a sour gut or hairballs or did he eat some plastic or something ...I have delt with allot of rabbits when it comes to not eating... This is another reason why i dont have bottles or a water system so i can see how much each rabbit drinks.<br /><br />__________ Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:23 pm __________<br /><br />

other than just a small amount for the kits

if kits are under 6 weeks old.... I be very careful on that calf manna for them. I have seen kits died the next day because they gave to much the day before. Just a heads up on that.

 

[phillinley]

You have to do what is the best for you and the rabbits. Not what other breeder is doing. If you are not showing. Why do what they do. Yes.,, he is small .. I wouldnt use him for breeding ... But still if he isnt eating .. there is something wrong. It is either a sour gut or hairballs or did he eat some plastic or something ...I have delt with allot of rabbits when it comes to not eating... This is another reason why i dont have bottles or a water system so i can see how much each rabbit drinks.

Well we do show a lot. We don't raise for meat or fur so this is the only reason we're in this. There's no point in having flemish to show if we can't get them over 13 pounds. So that's why I'm trying to follow what the top breeders in our area are doing since we have blues and blacks and those are the hardest to get to make weight.

He's definitely out of the breeding program regardless of size, his type is a bit of a wreck.

 

[akane]

Grass hay is for pets and nonbreeding does. You want the protein in alfalfa hay for show rabbits, growing rabbits, and breeders. Bucks don't seem to suffer as much from fat problems as does might on alfalfa so it usually does them no harm even if you aren't showing them. I would keep him on his normal hay. It should work just fine. I would cut the calf manna out. You said he isn't for show so he doesn't need it and it's unhealthy. Just because the breeders do it to push the growth of their rabbits doesn't make it healthy or right. He probably doesn't need the oatmeal either but if he's going off feed it's better to feed straight oatmeal like mentioned and cut the pellets than the other way around. Slow steady growth on a balanced diet will make for a healthier rabbit long term than one pushed with calf manna and other supplements that may not be balanced for rabbits.

 

[garden lady]

__________ Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:23 pm __________

other than just a small amount for the kits

if kits are under 6 weeks old.... I be very careful on that calf manna for them. I have seen kits died the next day because they gave to much the day before. Just a heads up on that.

Okay, I think I will just stop the Calf Manna. I only put about a teaspoon in the bowl mixed with the oats, but somebody could eat more than their share. They are 8 weeks tomorrow. The teaspoon is for Lulu and the 5 kits, so only a teaspoon for 6 rabbits.

 

[phillinley]

I only put about a teaspoon in the bowl mixed with the oats, but somebody could eat more than their share.

I stopped feeding it until full separation for that reason. They went nuts for the calf mana and I couldn't tell if one was dominating the intake more than the other two.

 

[akane]

Calf manna has also increased the odds of mastitis in many rabbits. It happened to one of mine I tried to supplement. I went to healthier supplements for that reason.

 

[phillinley]

Went out this morning and I think he peed once and his poop was about half normal size but at least there was some there. Looking at other options to get that digestive tract going. Been told bunny laxatives are not very effective, anyone disagree? Should I go pick some up today at the vet?

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Grass hay is for pets and nonbreeding does. You want the protein in alfalfa hay for show rabbits, growing rabbits, and breeders.

If you are feeding an alfalfa based pellet, you don't need alfalfa hay....it would be too much protein.<br /><br />__________ Thu Nov 15, 2012 8:08 am __________<br /><br />

Went out this morning and I think he peed once and his poop was about half normal size but at least there was some there. Looking at other options to get that digestive tract going. Been told bunny laxatives are not very effective, anyone disagree? Should I go pick some up today at the vet?

No laxatives...he is not constipated. Give him all the hay he can eat, all the water he can drink, and some ProBios or Benebac paste to help his gut bacteria level out. Parsley and other bunny safe greens help too.

 

[garden lady]

Grass hay is for pets and nonbreeding does. You want the protein in alfalfa hay for show rabbits, growing rabbits, and breeders.

If you are feeding an alfalfa based pellet, you don't need alfalfa hay....it would be too much protein.

__________ Thu Nov 15, 2012 8:08 am __________

Went out this morning and I think he peed once and his poop was about half normal size but at least there was some there. Looking at other options to get that digestive tract going. Been told bunny laxatives are not very effective, anyone disagree? Should I go pick some up today at the vet?

No laxatives...he is not constipated. Give him all the hay he can eat, all the water he can drink, and some ProBios or Benebac paste to help his gut bacteria level out. Parsley and other bunny safe greens help too.

Would Pedialyte help? When I thought Snickers was not drinking enough and his poop was smaller, I put Pedialyte in his water bottle and fresh water in his bowl and he started drinking and pooping a lot.

 

[phillinley]

Would Pedialyte help? When I thought Snickers was not drinking enough and his poop was smaller, I put Pedialyte in his water bottle and fresh water in his bowl and he started drinking and pooping a lot.

I've never used it before but I think I'll pick some up tomorrow if his condition isn't getting better. I've got him on timothy, parsley and spinach with water in the bowl and the bottle right now.

 

[garden lady]

Would Pedialyte help? When I thought Snickers was not drinking enough and his poop was smaller, I put Pedialyte in his water bottle and fresh water in his bowl and he started drinking and pooping a lot.

I've never used it before but I think I'll pick some up tomorrow if his condition isn't getting better. I've got him on timothy, parsley and spinach with water in the bowl and the bottle right now.

I got the unflavored kind. His bowl would be full of water and his water bottle, but when I put the Pedialyte in the bottle he would just drink and drink. The city water started putting chlorine in the water. They do it twice a year for a couple of weeks. I thought for sure he would quit drinking, but instead he is drinking more. :x I think he just likes flavored water. My son tasted the unflavored Pedialyte and he said it tasted salty.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

You can easily make your own electrolytic solution at home. I especially like the suggestions in part 2.

1. Mix 8 tsp. of sugar and 1/2 tsp. of salt in 1 liter of water. Store in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Mix fresh after 24 hours. The National Institute of Health recommends adding only a very small amount of orange or apple juice to improve the palatability of a homemade electrolyte solution.

2. Consider using molasses or raw sugar instead of white sugar. Molasses and raw sugar contain more potassium than white sugar, and potassium is an important component of electrolyte solutions. For the added potassium, puree (or mash) a banana and stir in some sugar and very little salt to taste, perhaps 1/4 tsp. Add some water to thin it out if you have to.

3. Make a solution containing starch. Starches are an important component of recovering nutrients lost due to diarrhea. Mix 1/2 to 1 cup of precooked baby rice cereal or 1 1/2 tbsp. of sugar with 2 cups of water and 1/2 tsp. of salt. Mix well.


Read more: How to Make an Electrolytic Solution | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5875270_make-el ... z2CJw0cVgt