So further to my last thread on high-fibre pellets, I submitted the nutritional info on the different pellets that may be suitable to one of my vets (I have two that see Barney).
Background info: Barney had bad weightloss for a year that a few months ago after moving to this (much better) vets was successfully diagnosed as likely being due to a gut problem, the gut being inflamed and moving sluggishly. We have been treating with 2ml Metclopramide (gut stimulant) twice daily and reducing pellets to make him eat more hay, and it has been working. Previously I was just feeding him more and more Junior pellets in order to get him to try and maintain weight. Now he is at a safe weight and on 3 tbs pellets a day, but we need to change him over to Adult pellets really.
She rang me and explained that long fibre was one of the most important things to keep his gut healthy, but that hay was the main source of this. She said that Excel was a really good brand and that their new Sensitive food looked like the best one to try. I asked about the VetCare Digestive but she said that whilst it would be her second choice, if he was eating lots of hay he wouldn't need a fibre % that high, and to try the Excel Senstive first. She agreed that the VetCare Digestive would have more long fibre, and such a food would go some way to compensate for low hay consumption, but that we needed to focus on getting him to eat more hay, and again said to try the Excel first.
She knows her stuff - whilst she is not the vet that finally diagnosed the problem (which baffled 3 other vets, and had been going on for over a year), she is the one I have seen most (3 or 4 times) with Barney in the few months I've been with that practice, and seems good. She is currently studying the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in Zoological Veterinary Medicine, so I guess is more qualified in rabbits than an average vet.
I was hoping she would choose one of the Supreme foods, VetCare Digestive or Fibafirst seemed obvious choices. But she chose Excel Sensitive, and I'm not sure why :? I think because it gives enough fibre to be good for his gut, and is a good brand. Perhaps she trusts the brand Burgess more than Supreme. But I just can't see why it is better, surely more long fibre is better? Is there something I'm missing here?
It also confuses and concerns me that the main ingredient in the Excel Sensitive is not hay, but Soya Bean Hulls, with Lucerne Oat Husks being second biggest. Lucerne is alfalfa, but why is it not first in the ingredients... see here for nutritional info: http://www.burgesspetcare.co.uk/excelfeedingplan/about-the-feeding-plan/sensitive-nuggets.html To be honest, I haven't liked Burgess ever since they brought out those 'complete' cubes, as I think they are putting profits before welfare in the way they market them as not needing extra hay, so I think that is playing a part here and part of why I don't want to get it.
Long story short, I don't know whether to go with my thoughts, which are that the Vetcare Digestive is the best option, or trust her judgement over my own as she is, after all, trained in animal medicine. I just want to do the best by Barney, and get him better. She is the professional - should I go with the food she thinks will be best?
Background info: Barney had bad weightloss for a year that a few months ago after moving to this (much better) vets was successfully diagnosed as likely being due to a gut problem, the gut being inflamed and moving sluggishly. We have been treating with 2ml Metclopramide (gut stimulant) twice daily and reducing pellets to make him eat more hay, and it has been working. Previously I was just feeding him more and more Junior pellets in order to get him to try and maintain weight. Now he is at a safe weight and on 3 tbs pellets a day, but we need to change him over to Adult pellets really.
She rang me and explained that long fibre was one of the most important things to keep his gut healthy, but that hay was the main source of this. She said that Excel was a really good brand and that their new Sensitive food looked like the best one to try. I asked about the VetCare Digestive but she said that whilst it would be her second choice, if he was eating lots of hay he wouldn't need a fibre % that high, and to try the Excel Senstive first. She agreed that the VetCare Digestive would have more long fibre, and such a food would go some way to compensate for low hay consumption, but that we needed to focus on getting him to eat more hay, and again said to try the Excel first.
She knows her stuff - whilst she is not the vet that finally diagnosed the problem (which baffled 3 other vets, and had been going on for over a year), she is the one I have seen most (3 or 4 times) with Barney in the few months I've been with that practice, and seems good. She is currently studying the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in Zoological Veterinary Medicine, so I guess is more qualified in rabbits than an average vet.
I was hoping she would choose one of the Supreme foods, VetCare Digestive or Fibafirst seemed obvious choices. But she chose Excel Sensitive, and I'm not sure why :? I think because it gives enough fibre to be good for his gut, and is a good brand. Perhaps she trusts the brand Burgess more than Supreme. But I just can't see why it is better, surely more long fibre is better? Is there something I'm missing here?
It also confuses and concerns me that the main ingredient in the Excel Sensitive is not hay, but Soya Bean Hulls, with Lucerne Oat Husks being second biggest. Lucerne is alfalfa, but why is it not first in the ingredients... see here for nutritional info: http://www.burgesspetcare.co.uk/excelfeedingplan/about-the-feeding-plan/sensitive-nuggets.html To be honest, I haven't liked Burgess ever since they brought out those 'complete' cubes, as I think they are putting profits before welfare in the way they market them as not needing extra hay, so I think that is playing a part here and part of why I don't want to get it.
Long story short, I don't know whether to go with my thoughts, which are that the Vetcare Digestive is the best option, or trust her judgement over my own as she is, after all, trained in animal medicine. I just want to do the best by Barney, and get him better. She is the professional - should I go with the food she thinks will be best?
