Is this okay for my rabbit!?

[BunzMom]

Hello Everyone.

Its me, Bunz’s Mom.

I just found out Bunz is one year less than we thought (she is 5 and a half yrs old, not 6!)

But thats not why I am making this  I was just wondering if its okay to be giving Bunz

guinea pig food. She loves it more than bunny rabbit food. The food has treats and a few pellets in it as well.

I also give her hay daily.  Is this food okay?

[sarahthegemini]

Do you mean a mixed muesli style pellet? If so, no. They need a plain pellet or they will selectively eat and avoid the nutritious dense bits and will simply go for the (unhealthy) treat bits.

[BunzMom]

This is what we have been giving her. She doesnt like regular rabbit food.

[tobyluv]

That is not a healthy pellet food for rabbits, and it probably isn’t very healthy for hamsters and gerbils. Seeds and nuts should be avoided, as well as corn. You should try to slowly transition your rabbit over to a good quality, plain rabbit pellet.

[sarahthegemini]

That is really unsuitable for rabbits and as Toby said, probably hamsters too!

[ThorBunny]

Yes as has been said she needs plain rabbit food! My bunny really loves Oxbow brand pellets, we use the adult essential pellets but there are several good Oxbow varieties as well as other brands. The most important thing is that the pellets are all a uniform kind, no seeds or corn included. Timmothy based pellets are usually better than Alfalfa for nutrition.

As was said above, slowly transition pellets so as not to upset her digestion! She may avoid the new food at first but over time will get used to it. I think most recommend a transition time of at least 2 weeks where you slowly increase the new pellet and decrease the old one.

[Bam]

I agree with the others. You can do the transition even slower though, since she’s not a youngster. I think I’d try doing it in a month, little by little. She won’t like the plain pellets much to begin with, it’s like transitioning from junk food to health food, it can make a bunny pretty cross, as it would a person. If she’s healthy I’d use the yummy bits from the muesli type food as treats.

Hay is really good, she should have unlimited hay.

The primary and often only difference between guinea pig food and rabbit food is otherwise that piggy food has vitamin C added to it. Piggies can’t synthesize vit C, so piggies can’t live on bunny food. Rabbits can live just fine on piggy food.

[BunzMom]

Okay Guys thanks.
The only problem is, this is basically the only food she likes that you can get at our local grocery store.
That is why i am worried…

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By BunzMom on 6/24/2017 3:28 PM

Okay Guys thanks.
The only problem is, this is basically the only food she likes that you can get at our local grocery store.
That is why i am worried…

Can’t you go to another shop or order online? In my opinion, she’d be better off without pellets if those are the only option.

[ThorBunny]

If they will ship to you, lots of online stores sell good rabbit pellets! BinkyBunny store has many good ones you can check out!

[BunzMom]

No, We only have 1 store that has bunny food.
Shipping Costs and Converting to Canadian dollar is way too much.

[BunzMom]

Ive also compared the bunny food to the gerbil/guinea pig food and they are the exact same.
They have the exact same stuff in it.

[Mikey]

I would slowly remove that food all together. There are places in Canada that sell bunny pellets and there are many places that ship as well. I cant remember exact places/names right now, but surely one of the other Canadian members will be able to help out

[jerseygirl]

I found a PetSmart store in your Province ( St Johns, NL)
http://www.petsmart.ca/small-pet/food-and-care/
They don’t seem ship prodcuts though, They can be purchased online but then need to be collected in-store. If this is not around where you live, do you know of anyone that lives in that city?

For now, you could start buy removing some of the treat-like bits of the food to encourage her to eat more of the pellet part.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By BunzMom on 6/24/2017 6:03 PM

No, We only have 1 store that has bunny food.
Shipping Costs and Converting to Canadian dollar is way too much.

Well, it is what it is. Sometimes things cost more but we have to deal with it. Those pellets you’re giving her are not just unsuitable, but also very unhealthy. They’re not good for her. 

[Bam]

I’d pick out some of the treat-like pieces, as Jersey says. You can put them in a separate jar and use as treats. If your bun is 5 1/2 years old and healthy, her tummy and body are adapted to this food. Togeather with hay, I think she’ll be fine. Hay will give an adult bun most of what she needs.

[BunzMom]

Today I picked up Rabbit Diet food for Bunz and will slowly transition her over

[BunzMom]

Jersey Girl,
Thank you
Today, I went to my local WALMART (ASDA for some of you) and picked up the healthy rabbit diet food
and will slowly transition her over. Thanks so much!

[Shadow13]

Do you have a peavy mart? They sell good rabbit pellets in big 40lbs bags. Not the best quality but still really good.

[BunzMom]

No, we don’t 

On the good side, I have bought rabbit food that is more healthy for her  and will slowly switch her over/transition her over !

[Azerane]

I’m glad to hear that you were able to find a more suitable food I hope the transition goes well.

[BunzMom]

Thank you, Azerane.
The food I had previously was obviously unhealthy as it had corn in it, which isn’t good for her.
New food is good

[Author]

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