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Can types of hay cause stasis?

S

scatter

Alpha Buck
Hi

A couple of weeks ago, one of my buns (who is stasis prone) had an episode and is still being treated. I have been looking at everything to do with pellets, etc. However, there was a type of timothy hay I've got (which is very stalky), which she had last time the had a stasis episode. I gave her some last night again (for the first time since the last one) and she is off again this morning - despite still being on Zantac and Emeprid,

Can types of hay - even Timothy - set off a sensitive bun?:?
 
I think it's the scenario which I had. When I tried to introduce Doughnut to a different greener hay with rose petals, Mark said it may have had different bacteria in it to which her gut was used to, so they were fighting each other and causing gas.

She loves yellow stalky hay but your rabbit's gut may work better on the one he's used to. I am just keeping Doughnut's hay the same now and not risking changing it! I don't think it was because it was stalky your little one was ill it was because it was different or it may just be a coincidence. I've found out rabbits are very complicated.
 
cpayne said:
I think it's the scenario which I had. When I tried to introduce Doughnut to a different greener hay with rose petals, Mark said it may have had different bacteria in it to which her gut was used to, so they were fighting each other and causing gas.

She loves yellow stalky hay but your rabbit's gut may work better on the one he's used to. I am just keeping Doughnut's hay the same now and not risking changing it! I don't think it was because it was stalky your little one was ill it was because it was different or it may just be a coincidence. I've found out rabbits are very complicated.
Click to expand...

I think you're right - I remembered you saying that you were keeping Doughnut on the same hay. It's funny isn't it, you think that hay is the best thing and the more the better, but if they're sensitive, I guess it's possible?!
 
Hay is cut grass and depending on the variety and when it was cut it can vary quite a bit in nutritional content. Even hay cut from the same field can vary depending on the year (how good the summer was) and when it was cut (early when it's leafy v. late when it's got flowers/stalks).

There is less variation in hay than pellets and less that should cause upset, which is why you don't generally bother introducing hay gradually. If you've got a super sensitive bunny it may help to mix bags gradually like you do when swapping pellet brands.
 
Tamsin said:
Hay is cut grass and depending on the variety and when it was cut it can vary quite a bit in nutritional content. Even hay cut from the same field can vary depending on the year (how good the summer was) and when it was cut (early when it's leafy v. late when it's got flowers/stalks).

There is less variation in hay than pellets and less that should cause upset, which is why you don't generally bother introducing hay gradually. If you've got a super sensitive bunny it may help to mix bags gradually like you do when swapping pellet brands.
Click to expand...

She is super sensitive it seems - I think I will stick to what they know and if I do introduce new ones, I'll mix as you say. I really didn't think hay would be a problem!
 
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