Benjy, a jaw abscess and stasis

[Eeyore]

Thanks! That's a big relief. Has put my mind at rest now. However, I've just gone downstairs and found he's wolfed a load of greens down, binkying 19 to the dozen, and is chasing the cat. Guess someone's feeling a lot better now!

 

[Happy Hopping]

the difference btwn. grass and hay is that hay can grind down their teeth, grass is too soft, so it can't grind down the teeth

 

[lilbun]

the difference btwn. grass and hay is that hay can grind down their teeth, grass is too soft, so it can't grind down the teeth

That is not correct. Grass contains abrasive silicates that are very effective at wearing down teeth. It is probable that coarse, wild grasses are better than soft lawn grass, but the action of grazing is also important for even wear of the teeth.
Rabbits in the wild live on grass xx
http://www.vrra.org/dental.htm

 

[Happy Hopping]

this is interesting, I always thought the baby grass is not coarse enough, so it won't take down the molar. And the article even said it's the motion that largely responsible to take down the teeth

 

[lilbun]

this is interesting, I always thought the baby grass is not coarse enough, so it won't take down the molar. And the article even said it's the motion that largely responsible to take down the teeth

Hi Happy Hopping. Re reading my reply it sounds a bit harsh. Sorry, it wasn't meant to be. I was in a bit of a hurry.
It's a bit of both, the silicates and the grazing action, i understand. I agree that soft new lawn grass is probably not as good as the long, coarse stuff: My 4 get a carrier bagful of 'wild type' grass daily, as well as eating my lawn and entire garden when I am there to supervise. It's great stuff. They always have lots of hay too

 

[Happy Hopping]

no biggie. I'm more interested in the accuracy of the article. I have to cross ref that w/ some of my rabbit medicine book to see if it's accurate

 

[Eeyore]

Luckily over the last couple of days, Benjy has now become a hay and grass conisseur, so fingers crossed, with the combination of all of them, his remaining teeth will give him no problems and I would say that he's now on to about 70% hay/grass, a few pellets and the rest being green leafy veg/corriander.

Seems pretty happy now. Saw the vet yesterday and have been taught how to inject his antibiotics at home, to save him getting stressed in the car and his abscess is going down nicely and is bright and cheerful.

Once again, thanks for everyone's help. Think it's definitely saved his life.

 

[Happy Hopping]

I have finished off my reading of the above. It seems Crossley is half-right. On p.173 of Dr. Hancourt-Brown's book, she did mention silicate phytoliths does microscratches.

But she also mentioned that in the wild rabbit area, that they "strip bark off trees and chew thru tree roots"

This support what I said, that some coarse material is needed to wear down the molars.

On a sidenote that neither of us has mentioned, she also said "the duration of feed intake might be more important than the hardness of feed as a determining factor in the rate of growth"

 

[Happy Hopping]

that he's now on to about 70% hay/grass, a few pellets and the rest being green leafy veg/corriander.

you have to gradually move down the amt. of green and move up the hay intake to 90%. Your bun's diet must compose of 90% hay. They need a huge amount of fiber. The remaining 10% is pellet, green, fruits and some treats.