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Forum DIET & CARE Flavoured hay?

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    • tinayat
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        My bunny has dental problems and he’s on medicine. I need to get him to start eating hay so we wouldn’t need to trim his tooth. I have tried so many different types/brands of hay with no success. I have tried cutting down on his pellets but all that did was make him lose a lot of weight. I tried spraying pineapple juice on his hay but he just licks the hay. The only thing working right now is me putting strawberry jam on my two fingers and running each individual piece of hay through them. I do this twice a day now but I don’t have time to do this with a lot of hay so he only gets a couple of handfuls a day. I have been searching the net for flavoured hay but haven’t found anything. Does anyone know of any brand that makes sweet flavoured hay for bunnies?


      • bunnygirl
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        636 posts Send Private Message

          Maybe try the botanical hay or a second cutting or something? I’m not sure (though other members may be able to help out!) allst I do know is, the jam thing has to stop. Jam is extremely bad for bunnies, it’s not meant to be part of their diet. It’s choc-a-block full of sugar.


        • Beka27
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            I agree that the jam should not be put on hay.

            Hay is very important for their digestion, and can help with their teeth, but if he has chronic dental problems, hay will most likely not solve this. Just continue giving good quality grass hay, refill it often, make sure there is some in the litter box. If you haven’t already, reduce his pellets to no more than 1/8th cup per day.


          • LBJ10
            Moderator
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              Does he like alfalfa? I don’t know a rabbit that doesn’t, but I suppose one might be out there. Maybe you could try getting some alfalfa and using it as a topper. Add a little bit to his hay mix to get him interested. Don’t give him too much though.


            • bunnygirl
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                Yes! My Apollo was a little monkey, he’d ignore his hay and just empty his pellet bowl and veggies, then when he got he got hungry, he’d go all stubborn and wait for the next pellet and veggie time.
                I work at a professional stables, and I bought him the leftover hay that gathered in the bottom of the trail from the hay rounds. Ill assume its alfalfa, as it’s very green and stalky. I mixed it with the meadow and oaten hay I buy from the local Pet shop, and now he gobbles up his hay! Even if he has plenty of hay before, once I empty out his litterbox and put fresh in, he’s in there gobbling it all up! It’s brilliant! So try that!


              • tinayat
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                  I have tried alfalfa but he wouldn’t touch it. I even bought some hay from a farm but he didn’t eat it so I had to give it away. I know jam is bad for him but that is the only way I can get him to eat a little hay. I have looked through a lot of pet stores but haven’t found second cut timothy. Every time I take him to the vet I am told to get him to start eating hay. I have been trying so hard but he just won’t eat hay. I don’t think the pain is the main issue because he gets his pain meds each night and he eats all the hay with jam on it. I wish he would just eat a little each day, just enough to keep his tooth under control


                • bunnygirl
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                    Try buying the second cut from here, or from Kleen mamas hay loft! you need to stop the jam thing though, I know it’s the only way to get him to eat hay right now, but it’s probably doing him worse than eating no hay at all! Reduce his pellets to no more than 1/8th of a cup a day, and just make sure there is always plenty of fresh, CLEAN hay in his litterbox or hay rack at all times. He’ll get the idea soon! Don’t give up! But please stop the jam thing! How did you even get to try that in the first place ether you know jam is so bad for them?


                  • zoologist
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                      Can you tell us what types of hay you have tried? Maybe we can help you narrow it down to something that works

                      My buns is a fan of oxbow botanical hay and Timothy hay. They also sell oat, alfalfa, and Orchard grass. Aim for a sweeter hay like orchard grass or alfalfa to peak his interest, then mix in the good stuff like Timothy.

                      Good luck!


                    • Deleted User
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                        I second Zoologist. What type of hays have you tried?

                        BB sells some great mature oat hay that is really flavorful. And KMS Hayloft sells a great bluegrass hay blend.


                      • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                          There are some wonderful ‘hay toppers’ on this site. They are dried flowers and fruits that you crush and sprinkle on the hay. I would do that on alfalfa until he gets eating hay. It’s really important that they eat hay so it’s important to get him eating hay asap.
                          I would also try adding hay many times a day-rabbits love novelty. While mine have a rack with hay in it at all times, they hardly touch it. The handfuls I put down three times daily are devoured until there is nothing left-they actually go at it with the same gusto as they would veggies.
                          Keep us posted on your progress!


                        • Azerane
                          Moderator
                          4688 posts Send Private Message

                            Healthy Bun, this thread is 4 years old and the issue likely resolved by now. We ask that members please don’t respond to older threads to avoid confusion.

                            This thread will be locked.

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                        Forum DIET & CARE Flavoured hay?