Hi bojay,
There are a few different types of hay that will help. It should be a long-stemmed hay.
You can give the little one enzymes (papaya as an example or freshpineapple juice - it has to be fresh from the pineapple-not canned),although there are some that say they don't help, others say that ithelps break down mucus in the hairball - then allowing it topass. You could also makea point of giving yourlittle guy 2 ccs of a meat tenderizer (water it down and then put in aneedless syringe and feed it that way) during heavy moltingstages.
If you see that the hair is holding together the poops, it's time totake caution and I'd start giving a treatment of canned pumpkin andNutriCal. (See the GI Stasis link in the Cheat Sheet listedin the Top Picks thread for more suggestions: tetracycline(over-the-counter antibiotic, simethicone - helps with gas,etc.) The pumpkin has to be canned, not fresh. Itis in the processing that helpsthe rabbit's systemmove.
I'd try to geta higher fiber count since the feed is at17%. Oats can help, as you noted, in moderation,butcanned pumpkin is an excellent source of high fiberwithvery little sugar. Some rabbits like it, othersdon't. I'd see what your little one thinks of it.Some fruits, such as apples, have fiber in it too, but with that youhave to be careful of the sugar amounts.
Although thelong-stemmed hay does help to scrape theintestines, giving the little a guy a high-fiber diet, alongwith brushing him often, and (hopefully Raspberry doesn't see this) ahaircut when it gets bad or he's in a heavy molt, can help.You could also give him some unfrosted Shredded Wheat. Don'tknow if he's outside though. Wouldn't give him a haircut ifhe's outside andis subjected to colder weather of course youknow. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise. It'llkeephis system moving.
The wooly rabbits generally seem to take more protein than otherrabbits because of they compromise muscle in order to produce thewool. When you said 17%, I didn't know if you were speakingof the crudeprotein level or the crude fiber level in yourpellets. Calf Manna is what I gave my Flemish as somebreeders told me that they need a higher protein count than most pelletfeeds can supply when they're young. A teaspoon a day did thetrick.
Of course Gypsy has a good point about the Timothy Hay. Asshe said, Orchard Grass Hay is another option. Don't know ifyou're allergic to that. I'm with her about the Alfalfa.
As far as overeating, it depends on the rabbit. Some will,some won't. None of my rabbits overeat, luckily.They used to, but as they've gotten older, they've mellowed aboutneeding to devourtheir food in one sitting. Theyenjoy grazing.
I hope that helps.
By the way, here's what Raspberry did to her rabbit.
He's the most beautiful Fuzzy Lop I've ever met. Poor Sebastian! :no:
This was Sebastian's "Before Picture"
After:
-Carolyn
