Hi!
I was just wondering if anyone knows if there is a big difference in quality and nutrition between the rabbit food that you buy in bulk (like 25 pounds for 7 dollars) and the smaller bags of rabbit food that have all kinds of different colored food in it (the ones for like 5 pounds for 6 dollars). Right now I feed my rabbit the bulk style food. Ever since about 2 months after I got him his feces will sometimes come out runny and get mashed into his fur (I know, it's gross!). It isn't the "night droppings" because those don't get really runny. Could it be that he isn't getting enough nutrients in the bulk food that is just straight pellets? I also give him plenty of timothy hay and water. I have brought him to the vet about 10 times for all different kinds of tests and medications, but they really weren't able to find anything. I got him when he was about 3-4 months old and he is 2 and a half now. He is a holland lop neutered male. Any advice would be great!!

Thanks in advance,
Laura

I think that most of the common commercial brands of rabbit food are not good. The little bags with all sorts of artificial dyes, nuts, seeds, etc. are often not nutritionally complete and can cause problems. The larger bags of feed can develop mold, grain mites, grain moths, or weevils which all make the food unfit to eat. The "farm" brand of rabbit pellets are just as good as any of the commonly sold brands. I think it was Big Red that I used to get my rabbits.

These days, my three buns only get Oxbow pellets which are absolutely the best. They're organic and don't have all that extra gunk in those pretty colored foods. They have a less fattening timothy-hay based pellet for adult rabbits. They were the first to do that; I think a few other brands now use timothy instead of alfalfa for adult buns.

You can get them at http://www.oxbowhay.com or http://www.petfooddirect.com or http://www.drsfostersmith.com

Does your bun only eat pellets? My bun, Sweetie, has a constant messy rear because she's obese (despite not being overfed) and won't groom her rear. She has to have weekly butt baths. I've been told that fruits and vegetables, although the highlight of Sweetie's life, can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea is dangerous and different than uneaten night feces which Sweetie has. She's also had blood tests and visits to two different vets who basically said to feed her less. She eats the same amount as my two bucks who weigh a third as much as her!

Anyway, neither one of us may figure out why our buns have poo problems but, if you switch to Oxbow pellets, I think that can only help.

Well, Im glad to here that my rabbit isn't the only one with that problem!! It may just be that he doesn't groom himself there because he is a little chubby also. He never used to be until I got him neutered.

I checked out that food on those websites and the price itself isn't bad, but the shipping is the same amount of the food. Also there are no stores near me that sell it. Are there any other kinds that you think might be ok, or at least better than the bulk stuff I am feeding him right now? I know I can get Kaytee and the new animal planet food. Pretty much anything they sell at walmart or target.

How do you give butt baths? I usually just wipe it off as best I can, but there is still some feces left in his fur. Can you give a rabbit a bath? He kinda smells all over, not bad but he could smell better! I have read that rabbits have very sensitive skin, so is it even possible to give the entire rabbit a bath?

Well, thanks for everything!!

-Laura

I order almost all of my animal supplies from That Pet Place and Drs. Foster and Smith which has the Oxbow pellets. I get cat food from Pet Food Direct. Since their (all three stores) prices are less than half of my local pet stores (for products that they even carry), and I get a lot of stuff at once, the shipping is not much at all. Even if you just get pellets, the shipping shouldn't be too bad. Oxbow has a list of local actual stores that sell the pellets.

If you can't get the Oxbow pellets, then get a pellet that is just pellets, preferably timothy hay based pellets if you can find them. Check the bag for an expiration and signs of pests or fungus/mold.

Yes, you can give a rabbit a bath. I actually give them showers more than baths. I have a dog shower attachment that screws onto my sink. Lately though, I just use the tap. I put my bun in the laundry tub, wet her up with water, pluck her loose fur (she won't groom herself), pull off the largest globs of poo, rub her rear with bunny bath shampoo, rinse, repeat, cut off any remain poo, rinse, towel dry, brush, apply diaper rash treatment, etc. I've also bathed probably half a dozen other rabbits for various reasons. As long as you can hold the bun down with one hand, you can use the other. I usually hold the neck scruff but it depends on the bun. I usually only soap her rear but I have soaped her entire body from time to time. Petco carries "Bunny Bath shampoo." Yes, rabbits are sensitive but I'd rather irritate Sweetie once a week to clean her up than to have her openings cake shut with feces. Plus, the smell is horrific. For just smell without actual feces on them, I suggest this product:
http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/product...&brand%5Fid=944
I use it on my cat. Yep, it's expensive but a box lasts a long time.