Well I PERSONLLY don't think people should be telling other people what to and what to not feed their rabbits! A rabbit wouldn't eat food unless they liked it! My own vet says these chocolate treats are ok in moderation as a treat only, and IF they were harmful then don't you think all the bunny buffs would be getting them taken off the shelves! Rabbits would be dropping dead everywhere….because 100s of people buy this product. I am sorry but I come on this board to give and receive decent advice - all this chocolate stuff is that stupid it's not funny. We are talking about fake chocolate for animals here. I can understand you being wary, but to just say "I really must clarify that chocolate "made for rabbits" is definitely harmful to them!!!" doesn't make any sense at all. So you are telling me there is a product on the shelf’s in Asda, and all pet stores around the UK that is deadly to rabbits??? And it’s STILL selling?? I really find this hard to believe. It even states on the packet to give to pet in moderation.
Chocolate
- Thread starter luvabun
- Start date
Well I PERSONLLY don't think people should be telling other people what to and what to not feed their rabbits! A rabbit wouldn't eat food unless they liked it! My own vet says these chocolate treats are ok in moderation as a treat only, and IF they were harmful then don't you think all the bunny buffs would be getting them taken off the shelves! Rabbits would be dropping dead everywhere….because 100s of people buy this product. I am sorry but I come on this board to give and receive decent advice - all this chocolate stuff is that stupid it's not funny. We are talking about fake chocolate for animals here. I can understand you being wary, but to just say "I really must clarify that chocolate "made for rabbits" is definitely harmful to them!!!" doesn't make any sense at all. So you are telling me there is a product on the shelf’s in Asda, and all pet stores around the UK that is deadly to rabbits??? And it’s STILL selling?? I really find this hard to believe. It even states on the packet to give to pet in moderation.
Andi Boy of Destiny!
Warren Scout
Wabbit said "harmful", not "deadly".
Dairy products are known to be incompatible with rabbit digestive systems.
Dairy products are known to be incompatible with rabbit digestive systems.
Andi Boy of Destiny!
Warren Scout
My point was that an individual case that does not conform to known trends does not disprove those trends, and that anecdotal evidence does not disprove well understood medical/biological fact.
Toby said:
YES, that's exactly what I'm saying!
There is no question as to whether rabbits like the products! Of course they are attracted to sweet things. They don't know they are bad for them!
I am only making these points because I care deeply about rabbits and think it's important to share essential information about their health. It's not my personal opinion that these products are dangerous - it is a scientific fact!
Right okay, so why don't you complain and get this product taken off the shelf’s then?? I don't get my info from a text in a book - I get my info from real life itself....and so far (with all the vet checks) Toby has had no sign of being "harmed" or in any bad health what so ever. So what are you saying? That my Toby is the only rabbit out there can eat chocolate?? I really don’t think so do you.
Andi Boy of Destiny!
Warren Scout
Toby - this forum is not about scoring points off each other. There is no need to be so aggressive towards anyone who has a differing point of view.
I'm starting to seriously regret coming back here.
I'm starting to seriously regret coming back here.
Toby said:
Maybe I will try writing to the manufacturers of these products, although I suspect they won't take much notice!
My information doesn't come from text in a book, it comes from the experiences and studies of well-respected rabbit specialists.
As others have already pointed out, you can't prove or disprove a fact, based on a few isolated cases. Some rabbits will be lucky enough to not be affected by bad foods. It is, however, pure luck.
The fact remains that regular chocolate contains a substance which is toxic to rabbits. Also, dairy-based rabbit treats cannot be properly digested by rabbits and put them at risk of developing stasis.
You have chosen to take this information as a personal attack. I would have posted exactly the same, no matter who had started the original thread. As I have said before, my concern is for the welfare of rabbits.
Bunnyboarding
Alpha Buck
Ok, well my two-penneth's worth here, is that as my user title suggests, I used to professionally board rabbits & cavies.
I can confirm that the majority of rabbits i had encounteredwith sticky bottom syndrome, teeth problems & obesity were ones that had been, or still are being, fed on pet shop treats...a lot of them on rabbit choc drops.
Some of these owners dropped off their bunny with me & brought along their own 'bunny suitcase' of pet shop treats that they wanted them to have!!
Instructions were usually something like;
give 2 bunny carrot nibbles 3 times a day & a few choc drops to be given twice daily!! :shock: (not that i allowed them that much, if at all, when they stayed!)
These people often asked me why their rabbits had problems & i was always honest as to the fact these 'treats were not doing them any good & the best thing they can give their pet is an extra large carrot , or a nice leaf of greens, for example.
There are a lot pet shop products on the market that quite frankly are useless rubbish.l.....such as pet shop wormers & 'flea control'. I have seen problems arrive as a result of the use of these products as opposed to what you shold buy at the vets. One example is a kitten with stunted growth due to treatment of pet shop quality wormers throughout his first few months of life due to a bad worm infestation, which was not covered by the poor quality treatment used.
You also cannot equate what a rabbit like to eat to being therefore, suitable for he/she to eat.
Its a bit like a kid with ice cream;they love eating it but you wouldn't give it all time!
Lettuce is something else rabbits/cavies like but shouldn't really have.
I can confirm that the majority of rabbits i had encounteredwith sticky bottom syndrome, teeth problems & obesity were ones that had been, or still are being, fed on pet shop treats...a lot of them on rabbit choc drops.
Some of these owners dropped off their bunny with me & brought along their own 'bunny suitcase' of pet shop treats that they wanted them to have!!
Instructions were usually something like;
give 2 bunny carrot nibbles 3 times a day & a few choc drops to be given twice daily!! :shock: (not that i allowed them that much, if at all, when they stayed!)
These people often asked me why their rabbits had problems & i was always honest as to the fact these 'treats were not doing them any good & the best thing they can give their pet is an extra large carrot , or a nice leaf of greens, for example.
There are a lot pet shop products on the market that quite frankly are useless rubbish.l.....such as pet shop wormers & 'flea control'. I have seen problems arrive as a result of the use of these products as opposed to what you shold buy at the vets. One example is a kitten with stunted growth due to treatment of pet shop quality wormers throughout his first few months of life due to a bad worm infestation, which was not covered by the poor quality treatment used.
You also cannot equate what a rabbit like to eat to being therefore, suitable for he/she to eat.
Its a bit like a kid with ice cream;they love eating it but you wouldn't give it all time!
Lettuce is something else rabbits/cavies like but shouldn't really have.
smokeys owner - You can still give your rabbit them. They really wouldn't sell them if they was harmful. If your rabbit likes them you can still feed your bun them "in moderation".
quote]
Hiya, well I am afraid I disagree with this statement, sorry
:roll:
How many products are sold in shops that are known to be harmful to human health ? eg, sweets, cigarettes, alcohol
So why would pet products be any different?
I disagree that if given in moderation bunnies are fine...well, having had over 500 rabbits to compare diets and pet shop treats in over the years, I cannot say this is accurate.
Firstly just one chocolate drop starts the bunny off down the road to being addicted to the sweet treat, which is bad news, and secondly I have personally experienced rabbits becoming ill after having only a few of these so called treats.
I have had two Clients loose their rabbits following giving the treats as instructed on the packet, we know the rabbits died after the introduction of the treats, and post mortems were done to confirm contents of the very distended and gas filled guts.
Letters were sent to the Company in question, but as per usual no actual action was taken.
This is not an opinion , but based on actual facts.
It is down to the individual to choose what they give to their own rabbit as food or a treat, all I would like folk to know is that it is a serious issue, and to consider things carefully before giving bunnies treats.
Further, I think the products should come with a health warning at the very least, but I would prefere them to be taken off the shelves completely in an ideal world. But please dont attack me for my view....else I will go hide down a rabbit burrow :shock: :shock: :lol: :lol:
quote]
Hiya, well I am afraid I disagree with this statement, sorry
:roll: How many products are sold in shops that are known to be harmful to human health ? eg, sweets, cigarettes, alcohol
So why would pet products be any different?
I disagree that if given in moderation bunnies are fine...well, having had over 500 rabbits to compare diets and pet shop treats in over the years, I cannot say this is accurate.
Firstly just one chocolate drop starts the bunny off down the road to being addicted to the sweet treat, which is bad news, and secondly I have personally experienced rabbits becoming ill after having only a few of these so called treats.
I have had two Clients loose their rabbits following giving the treats as instructed on the packet, we know the rabbits died after the introduction of the treats, and post mortems were done to confirm contents of the very distended and gas filled guts.
Letters were sent to the Company in question, but as per usual no actual action was taken.
This is not an opinion , but based on actual facts.
It is down to the individual to choose what they give to their own rabbit as food or a treat, all I would like folk to know is that it is a serious issue, and to consider things carefully before giving bunnies treats.
Further, I think the products should come with a health warning at the very least, but I would prefere them to be taken off the shelves completely in an ideal world. But please dont attack me for my view....else I will go hide down a rabbit burrow :shock: :shock: :lol: :lol:
Andi Boy of Destiny!
Warren Scout
The other thing to watch is the sugar content - some rabbits can cope with a fair bit, some get upset tummies from even the content of a chunk of carrot.
[quote="luvabun"
Valid point. By the way I buy mine carrot slims and nibble rings as treats. Does anyone know if they contain anything dodgy?[/quote]
The problem is Jill it is not just the contents of the treats that concerns me, as in most cases these are alright, it is the AFFECT on the delicate rabbits digestive system that is my own personal worry.
Valid point. By the way I buy mine carrot slims and nibble rings as treats. Does anyone know if they contain anything dodgy?[/quote]
The problem is Jill it is not just the contents of the treats that concerns me, as in most cases these are alright, it is the AFFECT on the delicate rabbits digestive system that is my own personal worry.
I personally don't think its right for people to tell other people what is right or wrong for their own rabbit to eat. If someone came on here and said "My rabbit likes Chocolate drops" then I don't feel people have a right to say "Don't feed your rabbit this product it's bad for them" and frighten them. All I did was basically state "Look they are not that harmful if fed in moderation".
No one has told me yet why my rabbit has been on these for YEARS and his in tip top condition still - I am confused because based on what you lot are saying he should be dead by now.
I am kinda disgusted how people can say "Choc drops are harm" yet kids can eat loads of sweets :shock: its the same thing isn’t it.
I am NOT being aggressive at all; I am just some what concerned.
