Papaya Blast by American Pet Diner

[AbbyGirl]

Just wondering if the buns would benefit from this.  I know there is debate on it.  They are shedding a lot and I have seen hair in their poops.  They also haven’t started eating veggies yet either.  So I wonder if these would be good for them while they are shedding.  Here is some more info on them.  I couldn’t find this kind of info on the Oxbow brand.  Thanks for your help!

Papaya Blast

Digestive Aid, natural papaya and pineapple treat that aids in the reduction of hairballs, as well as helping to enhance digestion in the stomach

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, not less than	6.0%
Crude Fat, not less than	0.20%
Crude Fiber, not more than	22.0%
Calcium, not less than	0.10%
Phosphorus, not less than	0.10%
Ash, not more than	4.50%
Moisture, not more than	10.00%
Carbohydrates, not more than	65.0%
*Enzyme Activity Units Protease (Bromelian)	210,000 PU

Ingredients:  Tropical Fruit Blend (Papaya, Pineapple), Carrot, Cellulose, *Enzyme (Bromeline with Malto-Dextrin, Tannin Albumin), Soybean Protein Concentrate, Silicon Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate

[LoveChaCha]

I’ve fed my bunny papaya treats. She really enjoys them.

Are your fosters big hay eaters? I know that Oat hay is VERY VERY VERY good for when bunnies are shedding

[Sarita]

It may or may not be as you suggested…the real question is…will they even eat these? My rabbits snub this and the Oxbow papaya tablets since they (Oxbow that is) changed their formula – I’ve used them as treats only. I think hay is the best cure for shedding. Have you tried the American Pet Diner Gold Timothy – that is GOOD stuff…in my opinion, much superior to the Oxbow Timmy Hay. I say invest in trying this instead of the Papaya Blasts.

[AbbyGirl]

No they aren’t. I was told they only ate it when they had too. lol =) Picky little things.

[AbbyGirl]

OK thanks Sarita. I’ll do that!

[jerseygirl]

 

I know there is debate on it.

 

Yeah…. As Sarita said, hay will help best in a shed. Bunnies sometimes find it more attractive if offered small amounts often.

My understanding the the enzyme thing is it could help break down the stuff binding hair and food in the gut. But the reason for it becoming this way in the gut in the first place is slow digestion from lack of fibre. Ingesting hair is normal and not a problem provided good fibre diet keeps sweeping it all along.  So, in my mind the best preventative is fibre and hydration. Why not prevent there likely hood of impaction in the first place (the stage where these enzymes are supposed to act).  The enzymes…. probably don’t hurt as an added measure. Kinda like vitamin supplements, they can be a top up and probably doesn’t hurt to take them but don’t match natural nutrition from a good diet.

Are these like a tablet or a biscuit/kibble type form? It might make a nice treat if anything but then so do fresh fruits or herbs and herbal hays and hay cubes I have happily discovered.   : )
The oxbow tablets are more pineapple enzyme then papaya enzyme…don’t know why it’s always been called papaya tablets really.

[AbbyGirl]

I completely agree Jersey! I’m trying to get them to eat more hay. I also got them some pure timothy grass pellets to nibble on since they weren’t eating much hay in my opinion for 2 big buns. They eat less together than Rhine did in one day.

I was concerned because I know for that past 6 months they have been on a pellet only diet. They also chew on and eat a lot of cardboard and I just noticed today that there were HUGE holes in the sheet covering their house but no fabric on the floor! Naughty buns. They seem to like to eat everything but food. lol

I’m going to be starting them on greens next week since they just went through a pellet change last week.

[jerseygirl]

They really sound like they’re craving hay in a way. Weird as it sounds, sometimes they just don’t know what to do with it! Jersey minimally ate hay as a single bun. When I brought Rumball home she started copying his hay eating. It’s still sporadic with her but late evenings when she knows the other routine foods are done for the day, she seems more enthusiatic when I “serve” hay.

You might be able to withhold pellets one day and see if they eat more hay. Sometimes once they’ve done this, they become more keen on it.

[AbbyGirl]

Thanks. I’ll give that a try and see if it makes a difference.

[KatnipCrzy]

Owners seem to worry so much when they see hair in their bunnys poo- but it is actually a GOOD THING as it means they are passing the hair!  I agree- plenty of hay, fresh water and brush and comb what you can.

[lashkay]

Papaya I’ve heard is an excellent wool-block preventative aid, but it comes in many forms. This is the one I just ordered:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8370

This is supposed to be pure 100% diced dried papaya with no added sugar (it’s sweet naturally so baby Petie only gets two diced bits a night) preservatives, sulfurdioxide, citric acid. I’m a stickler for feeding my lionheads diced papaya ever since I heard an Englishman say he’s never had wool-block in his lionheads for 11 years since he’s been using it. but it’s taken me a while to locate a source for pure diced dried papaya

It goes without saying of course, that mucho hay fiber, plenty of water and frequent combing/brushing are crucial first and foremost.

[jerseygirl]

I’ve heard similar lashkay on pineapple juice. People that would swear by it and don’t have anything to gain by promoting it (it being plain pineapple juice, readily available.). I suppose it comes down to individuals experiences with it. Like using simethicone. It’s not known if it really can help with gas but some of us have seen results after using it.

I wonder if they test how much papin is in these products? I had read the stems of these fruits have the highest concentration.

[lashkay]

Sarita, thanks for your recommendation on American Pet Diner Timothy Gold. It sounded good to me too, I just wish it came in larger bales as well, I’ll order a couple along with APD pumpkin pie cookies, which Petie loves. I had one too…not bad!

[jerseygirl]

lashkay, have you tried the Valley Organic hay that BB now carries?
There’s a company called BunnyBale that do a compact bale.

[lashkay]

I’ve heard that about pineapple juice, as well, jerseygirl – I think first from the HouseRabbit Society Handbook but also suggested by an earlier wonderful rabbit vet I had for Lash who mentioned a healthy pineapple yoghurt containing acidophilus . I never tried the pineapple juice that I can remember, I just have come to feel good about papain in papaya from what I’ve gleaned about it, That would be interesting to know the content of papain, I’ll keep a lookout. And of course, I have nothing to gain from passing on my experiences with ANYTHING I use which I feel benefit my rabbits, except the good feeling of knowing I’ve maybe helped others in caring for their rabbits in helping ensuring they stay healthy. Come to think of it, that good feeling IS a lot I gain from it! lol When our pets feel good, we feel good, and knowing the pets of people we care about are feeling good, we feel good from that, too. The better we feel, and our pets feel, I think the better our quality of life.

[jerseygirl]

And of course, I have nothing to gain from passing on my experiences with ANYTHING I use which I feel benefit my rabbits, except the good feeling of knowing I’ve maybe helped others in caring for their rabbits in helping ensuring they stay healthy.

haha! Now why did I think you may take my words that way!! lol. I actually edited them so you wouldn’t. hahaha. I was just meaning that the comments I’d read on pineapple or juice where on a breeders site I think. It gave the impression that they were geniunely sold on it’s benefits and wanted all rabbit owners to know. It’s been around for years I believe. I vet I saw for Rumball even prescibed it one time.

[lashkay]

Thanks for the suggestion of the Valley Organic BB has. I hope it comes in bales of flakes, but at any rate I’ll try it in a Dec. order. Someone was recently praising timothy/orchardgrass/blue combo from BB store also, said their bunny doubled its hay intake on it. It may be just a fluke, but some of the hay in the flakes from the bales bunnybale sent me were very dark brown and made me dubious, but that may be ok. Their free sample I initially got was very green all the way through. Do you like the bunnybale bales? I feel good about the timothy gold from APD because the bales are a good size and rather reasonable, I think.

Yes, I know breeders’ sites that extoll the virtues of pineapple juice as well, I think Barbi Brown is one. I’ll have to try it now! lol

[jerseygirl]

Do you like the bunnybale bales?

Never tried. Just another rabbit thing I came across. I seem to know sources now of many American pet companies but it’s not overly useful to me! We are pretty limited of rabbit specific products here.

[lashkay]

Bunnybale’s hay racks I use. Although since Dustor quit pooping and peeing on his hay, I just fill a huge corner litterbox full of hay and he sits on that and eats it, and sometimes stands outside of it and eats it, whatever, and spreads it everywhereoutside of it if given time. I guess he prefers a grass floor. I will sometimes stuff the hayrack full of oat hay which he also likes. Everytime he goes by it he checks it to see if he can get any hay from it. Just, I had to get a bracket to affix the hay rack to my widely spaced wire diggit-pen. Fpr cages. hutches, and perhaps some other x-pens you wouldn’t need a bracket because the wire is more closely spaced. Petie is eating hay out of his bunnybale metal hayfeeder. I love to peruse all the different stores…even in the UK where they often don’t ship here, and in Aus, where they usually do. When I’m looking for a specific item, I google it, and explore all the different options that come up and also check eBay. Zooplus is one store I’d like to get a few things from, but they don’t ship here. altho they did trouble to say they are trying to expand their shipping to other countries as soon as possible. Where do you get most of your stuff?

[lashkay]

Jerseygiril, have you checked out petsplus.com.au ? I want to get their auto-drinker with the plug, hopefully when it’s back in stock in the smaller size.

[hooty22]

I usually just get papaya tablets from a health food store. Felony goes INSANE for them. He gets two every night before bed. I don’t know if it helps, but I do know he tries to eat my hand off to get them.
He actually waits on my bed while I brush my teeth before bed time so he can get his treats. It’s pretty ridiculous.

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