Oxbow Digestive Support tablets?

Dylan123 said:

Hi as you all know Dexter was feeling a bit sick recently. The vets think it was an infection,but they don't really know and it sounds like a digestive problem. So I'm altering his diet a bit. He has unlimited Meadow hay,I'm changing his pellets from Burgess to Fibafirst. Is 5 sticks per day ok for one rabbit? And I'm considering buying the Oxbow digestive Support tablets. https://www.viovet.co.uk/Oxbow_Natu...q=Oxbow+digestive&sct_r=1#subtab-extra_info_2
Has anyone used these before? Have they made any difference?
Thanks for any suggestions

Click to expand...

MightyMax said:

Hi Dylan :wave:

You're certainly determined to do the very best for Dexter!

I don't use the Fibafirst, but whatever 'dried' concentrate you use, I would give as little as possible to encourage hay, readigrass and grass to be eaten.

I also feed a lot of forage and some greens.

Have you seen these pages?


https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/gallery/free-food-for-rabbits


https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/free-food-for-rabbits/foraging


Lots of free stuff for our bunnies. Also, head over to the foraging thread and find out what we've been up to, if you haven't already.

Rather than feeding digestive support on a regular basis, I would probably get Infacol in stock (infant gas meds) and a few syringes. Build a small first aid kit if you haven't got one.

A couple of articles on stasis (the first one has saved many bunnies' lives)

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

http://anyflip.com/dvpt/hzvv/basic


Sorry, I didn't mean this to be such a long post. I got carried away!

Click to expand...

Dylan123 said:

Thanks for replying. Is starting to feed forage ok to do now that Winter is coming? I was thinking about gathering alot and drying it but I'm not sure how to store dried forage. I do feed dandelions quite regularly. He LOVES dandelions. Those pages are great,thanks for the links!

Click to expand...

MightyMax said:

You're really welcome

Yes, you can start feeding forage right away. Go slow and introduce new flavours carefully. Yes you can dry it too, and after you make sure it's dry, store it in paper bags or cardboard boxes (I use boxes and label them).

I don't get a lot of forage and I'm not a whizz at identifying it, but I am adding very slowly to what I know

There's a good book by Twigs Way, and you can buy it from the RWAF shop. It's helpful, but there's also a lot on the Internet. You can also post photos of your stuff on the foraging thread and we (well not me personally :lol will identify it for you.

Click to expand...

Dylan123 said:

If I started now,would it be all dried stuff that I'd be feeding? Would it be worthwhile starting fresh forage now and only being able to feed it for a month or two?

Click to expand...

Dylan123 said:

I live in the Countryside so there should be plenty of things I can find. I do feed the dried herbs by burgess excel but that's only used as a treat. How much forage should be fed daily? I can get dandelions,brambles,blackcurrant leaves(Doesn't like Fresh,but seems to like dried),apple branches/leaves,hogweed,(maybe) plantain,and there's probably more I can find.

Click to expand...

MightyMax said:

He's a tiny one so not huge handfuls, but replace supermarket veg (if you feed it) with a small mixed handful. A nibble of a few things to start with and see how he goes. You can keep adding to it and replacing his normal food with forage. It's much cheaper than buying stuff for him, and more akin to a wild rabbit's diet

Since he's had digestive upset, do go slowly - leaf at a time - and make sure he's always happy with it.

Click to expand...