Toxic lettuce?

[wheeky-UK]

A friend told me the other day that you shouldnt feed ANY small animal lettuce because it is toxic. She said that it has a toxin in it that makes them go sleepy.

Now I found this a very odd thing to say since it says on this website and others that certain lettuces are absolutly fine as long as it is something like romaine and not iceberg because it is watery with not much nutrition. I feed my piggies romaine everyday and they love it!

However I was wondering if there is some truth in this with rabbits? Or indeed with piggys to a certain extent. My friend was very sure on this because she said she is a trained veterenary nurse (tho not worked as one) but I dont really trust her because she also said that cabbage is fine to give every day, which I know to be wrong because its quite gassy.

What do you guys think?

[cookie_gal]

She's talking rubbish. There is something in lettuce that makes you sleepy but they'd have to consume A LOT in one sitting I imagine.

[muffin]

I've read that in a few places, and if you google 'lettuce, laudanum' it comes up with articles. Most of them seem to relate to people using it as an opium substitute in the distant past. They didn't know if it wokred or not. No one uses it for that now, so I'm guessing you'd have to eat a heck of a lot to get any effects. I think that may be one of the reasons why iceberg lettuce is bad for pigs. I'm sure I read somewhere that iceberg is highest in laudanum, or something like it. I've only ever seen bad references to iceberg outside of this site, not to any other lettuce. I see no reason why they shouldn't eat it, as they can eat grass and other veggies, and I've not had any problems. My pigs usually have a nap during floor time if they get their veggies in the pen, but I think that's just because they are full and lazy!

A lot of people do feed cabbage and other similar 'greens' everyday and seem to have no problems. It is advised here and elsewhere to limit them because they can contribute significantly to the formation of bladder stones, because they are high in calcium. Feeding cabbage and greens that are past their best or too much in one go, or if the pigs aren't used to it in their diet can cause bloat, ie. gassiness, which is very serious and needs veterinary attention. This can also happen if you introduce fresh grass too quickly in the spring or give too much in one go or if it is not fresh.

Personally I wouldn't feed cabbage-type greens everyday. It's not worth the risk. They are good for variety and that in that they are tough and your piggy has to work to chew them, but good hay does much the same thing. It also depends how much your friend reckons is a daily portion as to the effects.

[wheeky-UK]

Is it more of a problem for rabbits to eat lettuce, with this sleepy thing?

[Jennicat]

No. The laudanum that's being referenced was only strong enough in a type of wild lettuce funnily enough known as "opium lettuce". The amount of this chemical in edible lettuces are so negligible that you'd kill your pet with diarrhea long before they felt sleepy from this "dangerous" drug.

[landhermie]

I feed my guinea pigs romaine daily, and they are not sleepy.

A person at Petco actually said that lettuce causes liver damage, and that kale won't. I thought kale would since it's high in Vitamin A and Calcium. I wish we had a rolly eye smiley.

[Ly&Pigs]

I personally wouldn't trust what Petco has to say. Most of the time they tell you not to even feed veggies at all or as an occasional treat. I'd trust the charts here and at gl.

High amounts of Vitamin A over a long period of time can cause liver/kidney damage. Any veggie high in A should be fed in small amounts to avoid this.

[landhermie]

I know. I don't trust them, either.

[Pepe~Le~Peew]

The fact of leatus is if you give to much it causes liver damage muck like alcohol to humans (kills cells andcleans out old ones) but to a resposble owner a small slice of a leaf per month is ok as it cleans out dead cells that are sent there anyway. This leads to better digestion and bodily working funtions ( like pooping ) However Too much lettus will harm your pig no matter what kind! - This is becauise of all the empty calories and Vitamin C and A. So it is ok to feed small amounts of lettus, its just better to feed too little of the lettus than too much (SMALL PORTIONS!

[landhermie]

Are you saying that Vitamin C is bad, or did I misunderstand you? Well, you are new, so maybe you don't know. Where did you get that from?

[daftscotslass]

It is quite hard to overdose on Vitamin C unless you are over-supplementing with tablets. Vitamin A is the one that causes most problems, as Ly says above.

Most lettuces are fine to feed almost daily, such as romaine.

[Pepe~Le~Peew]

I had a Typo sry i was doing this in a rush i meant to say Vitamin A and Clacium. Im new to this sight but not to pigs i feed them what i told you and they havent gotten sick yet = + they pee regularly on my shirts and theres the right amount there for my piggy . O also Romain lettus is the ONLY lettus that can be given daily but i dont cause i like to be safe with my piggys. Also i got that from my Aunts Friend she stopped over from thanksgiving and kept holding my piggy ( She is an exotic Vet ) i asked her questions and wrote fown her answers. Again sry for the Typo i was going to get my piggy his crincle tunnel.

[Percy's Mom]

Actually, other than iceberg lettuce, almost any lettuce can be fed daily. In addition to romaine, red leaf, green leaf, curly endive, belgian endive, butter lettuce, and many others are fine.

[Char-x]

I feed mine a leaf each (or two if they are tiny) in the morning and one at night - of romaine...is this ok?
Sometimes I change this to greens though some evenings for variety..

[Pepe~Le~Peew]

If you found that works for you go ahead im just trying to say its better to stick with what works and also give a variety to the pigs otherwise they get bored with it and you have to wait 2 weeks untill they will eat it. Anyway by me they only sell ice burg & romain + somthing else that i dont buy cause its coverd in praservitives. I just think to much about my pig i guess but its me, its what i do.

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by Char-x

I feed mine a leaf each (or two if they are tiny) in the morning and one at night - of romaine...is this ok?
Sometimes I change this to greens though some evenings for variety..

It's perfectly fine to give a couple leaves of lettuce per feeding. So if you feed twice per day, give each a couple leaves of romaine or other lettuces (excluding iceburg) per feeding.

Pepe- I really don't think you have half a clue as to what you are talking about. Too much lettuce would be like feeding 2-3 full heads to each pig daily, not 2-4 leaves per pig. It would take huge amounts of high Vitamin A veggies for liver toxicity to show up and they would have to be fed over a long period of time.

[Pepe~Le~Peew]

[quote=Ly&Pigs;336474 " Too much lettuce would be like feeding 2-3 full heads to each pig daily, not 2-4 leaves per pig. It would take huge amounts of high Vitamin A veggies for liver toxicity to show up and they would have to be fed over a long period of time.[/quote]"

Its not about the toxins in Vitamin A its about the empty calories. Letus is like watermelon, its water and minerals thats it so if you feed that alot your pig will be full on water and no calories and eventually lose weight making it sick. I never said anything about vitamin A hurting your pig i just listed them if people read it just so they knew.