mega mollting!!!

Colly · May 9, 2015

Did I read somewhere that a bit of pineapple juice can help bunnies that might be swallowing hair during a mega molt??? I've never seen anything like it!! Tons of hair everywhere....x

Jack's-Jane · May 9, 2015

Colly said:
Did I read somewhere that a bit of pineapple juice can help bunnies that might be swallowing hair during a mega molt??? I've never seen anything like it!! Tons of hair everywhere....x

Extract from an article about the Rabbit Digestive Tract by Anna Meredith MRCVS:

' Pineapple juice is often advocated as it contains the enzyme bromelain, (and papaya contains the enzyme papain) but these are high in simple sugars and low in fibre, which may promote an imbalance of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria in the gut. In reality anecdotal reports of pineapple juice helping with hairballs is probably due to it providing rehydration and being an energy source.'

Full article here:

http://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/pdfs/ROWinter10p7.pdf

It's better to groom the Rabbit a couple of times a day to minimise ingestion of fur, provide a good hay based diet, ensure a good water intake and lots and lots of exercise

FredW · May 9, 2015

yeah I agree with the extra grooming. Mine is molting like crazy right now, and she has short fur, so right now brushing her morning, afternoon and evening. it's the only way to keep it from going anywhere. she seems ok and her poop is all fine without hair in it etc, so yeah I'd agree with the extra grooming, sure more work, but it wont go on forever.

MightyMax · May 9, 2015

Colly said:
Did I read somewhere that a bit of pineapple juice can help bunnies that might be swallowing hair during a mega molt??? I've never seen anything like it!! Tons of hair everywhere....x

The thinking behind this is that although Pineapple won't break down the hair (which was once thought), due to it's enzymes it can in fact break down the ingesta that is holding the hair together, thus enabling the hair to pass more easily.

Rabbits always have hair in their digestive systems, and it's usually no problem to them.

Make sure your bun is well hydrated and is eating lots of hay :thumb:

Colly · May 9, 2015

Thanks all!! I'll up the grooming, and make sure he's eating plenty of his hay and drinking water. Thanks again all. :wave:

tabithakat64 · May 9, 2015

I feel your pain mine are all really moulting at the moment too, brushing twice daily

bunny momma · May 9, 2015

It was a big mistake when I tried pinapple juice on a rabbit many years ago. She already was in GI stasis and after exhausting the remedies (at that time) I tried it on the advice of a vet I no longer use. The acid in the pinapple juice caused her to have an irritated rear end, and the natural sugar content made her very gasey and made the stasis worse and caused her a lot more discomfort. The vet she saw after this was not a fan of the pineapple juice either.

I remove loose hair at least once per day and give wet greens to help push along any ingested hair.

MightyMax · May 9, 2015

bunny momma said:
It was a big mistake when I tried pinapple juice on a rabbit many years ago. She already was in GI stasis and after exhausting the remedies (at that time) I tried it on the advice of a vet I no longer use. The acid in the pinapple juice caused her to have an irritated rear end, and the natural sugar content made her very gasey and made the stasis worse and caused her a lot more discomfort. The vet she saw after this was not a fan of the pineapple juice either.

I remove loose hair at least once per day and give wet greens to help push along any ingested hair.

You also have to be very careful with anything like pineapple juice if you suspect a bunny has an ulcer or gastric problems - as you found out.

mega mollting!!!

Colly

Warren Scout

Jack's-Jane

Wise Old Thumper

FredW

Alpha Buck

MightyMax

Banned

Colly

Warren Scout

tabithakat64

Mama Doe

bunny momma

Wise Old Thumper

MightyMax

Banned

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