soopermum62
Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2012
- Posts
- 226
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2012
- Messages
- 226
Before I joined the forum I didn't realize how important certain things were. Yes, I have stated I was in training to be a vet tech and did not finish. I also went back through my school books and realized every thing I learned about diet and nutrition and housing was all wrong. In fact, my book states the "complete packaged foods for the specific animal supplies all its daily needs"..... Well.... come to find out, not true..... I did know NOT to feed Iceburg lettuce and They had been on a steady diet of Romaine and baby carrots as their veggies. I did switch Flower from Alfalfa to Timothy at about 6 months of age. Okay water over the dam...
Things have changed drastically.
Now, Flower is about 16 months old and Daisy is about 5ish months old (she might be a bit younger/older)
I upgraded to a C & C cage and fleece a few days before Christmas from the store bought rabbit cage & shavings that I had for them.
I switched from bulk (Kaytee) pellet to bulk Oxbox pellets 3 weeks ago. (my pet store started carrying them YAY!)
I started varying their lettuce (spring mix and green & red leaf lettuce, spinach) and added in things like bell peppers, Cilantro, Parsley, Dandelion greens, celery,Tomatoes (a big hit) tried tangerines (Cuties), Navel Orange, apple slices, blueberries. I had moved back to alfalfa, because of Daisy's age. (extra Calcium) (Allergies got to much to handle so back to Timothy and trying to get them to eat Orchard grass)
If you noticed I have stuck to the higher end Calcium content veggies due to Daisy's age. I do get occasional white stains, and I know this isn't desirable.
Weights below.
Flower
1/10/13 1275 gm time weighed 8:30am right after morning feeding of veggies (I wonder how much of this threw her weigh in off)
1/17/13 1236 gm time weighed 8:30 pm.
1/24/13 1222 gm time weighed 1:20 pm.
This is a net loss of 53 grams.
She is eating well, Active, Poos look great, clear eyes and no mucus from nose. She actually scrambling up and down the ramp better. (she isn't as noisy about it!) and doesn't sit at the bottom and "think about it" for a while before going up.
Daisy on the other hand....
1/10/13 897 gm time weighed 8:30am right after morning feeding of veggies (I wonder how much of this threw her weigh in off too)
1/17/13 919 gm time weighed 8:30 pm.
1/24/13 920 gm time weighed 1:20 pm.
She is also very active, and she has never had an issue running up and down the ramp. She is the more adventurous of the two. I have seen her pick on Flower to get out of the way to go up the ramp.
I have heard her sneeze/cough, but when I check her, I have not found any mucus or crusties etc. it is usually after playing with the water bottle or if the pellet dish had crumbs in it.
They are fed together.
They get 1/2 cup of pellets total a day. I will throw in a bit more if the dish is all dust- (I have a tough time with hubby... He loves them too much in the food dept. LOL)
They get a cup total of veggies in the AM and the same in the evening. I will give them spring mix & other veggies at one feeding and romaine & veggies at the other feeding.
Fruits are a twice a week treat. then only like 1 section of orange, or 2 blueberries, or 1 slice of apple etc each.
Now for the questions.
I am having trouble with the ratios I am not sure where I should be aiming with Calcium ratio for these two because of Daisy's (age?). Should I ignore the white stains for another month or so until Daisy is definitely over 6 months of age?
How many grape/cherry tomatoes can they have a day? (these are a huge hit with them).
I am thinking that Flower's weight loss is due to increased activity and better diet. Should I be concerned at this point?
Any suggestions, tips, pointers.
Thanks in advance.
Things have changed drastically.
Now, Flower is about 16 months old and Daisy is about 5ish months old (she might be a bit younger/older)
I upgraded to a C & C cage and fleece a few days before Christmas from the store bought rabbit cage & shavings that I had for them.
I switched from bulk (Kaytee) pellet to bulk Oxbox pellets 3 weeks ago. (my pet store started carrying them YAY!)
I started varying their lettuce (spring mix and green & red leaf lettuce, spinach) and added in things like bell peppers, Cilantro, Parsley, Dandelion greens, celery,Tomatoes (a big hit) tried tangerines (Cuties), Navel Orange, apple slices, blueberries. I had moved back to alfalfa, because of Daisy's age. (extra Calcium) (Allergies got to much to handle so back to Timothy and trying to get them to eat Orchard grass)
If you noticed I have stuck to the higher end Calcium content veggies due to Daisy's age. I do get occasional white stains, and I know this isn't desirable.
Weights below.
Flower
1/10/13 1275 gm time weighed 8:30am right after morning feeding of veggies (I wonder how much of this threw her weigh in off)
1/17/13 1236 gm time weighed 8:30 pm.
1/24/13 1222 gm time weighed 1:20 pm.
This is a net loss of 53 grams.
She is eating well, Active, Poos look great, clear eyes and no mucus from nose. She actually scrambling up and down the ramp better. (she isn't as noisy about it!) and doesn't sit at the bottom and "think about it" for a while before going up.
Daisy on the other hand....
1/10/13 897 gm time weighed 8:30am right after morning feeding of veggies (I wonder how much of this threw her weigh in off too)
1/17/13 919 gm time weighed 8:30 pm.
1/24/13 920 gm time weighed 1:20 pm.
She is also very active, and she has never had an issue running up and down the ramp. She is the more adventurous of the two. I have seen her pick on Flower to get out of the way to go up the ramp.
I have heard her sneeze/cough, but when I check her, I have not found any mucus or crusties etc. it is usually after playing with the water bottle or if the pellet dish had crumbs in it.
They are fed together.
They get 1/2 cup of pellets total a day. I will throw in a bit more if the dish is all dust- (I have a tough time with hubby... He loves them too much in the food dept. LOL)
They get a cup total of veggies in the AM and the same in the evening. I will give them spring mix & other veggies at one feeding and romaine & veggies at the other feeding.
Fruits are a twice a week treat. then only like 1 section of orange, or 2 blueberries, or 1 slice of apple etc each.
Now for the questions.
I am having trouble with the ratios I am not sure where I should be aiming with Calcium ratio for these two because of Daisy's (age?). Should I ignore the white stains for another month or so until Daisy is definitely over 6 months of age?
How many grape/cherry tomatoes can they have a day? (these are a huge hit with them).
I am thinking that Flower's weight loss is due to increased activity and better diet. Should I be concerned at this point?
Any suggestions, tips, pointers.
Thanks in advance.