Corn Cob Bedding

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

We have a 5 year old Dwarf bun. She's a very good healthy rabbit. We've always used Swheat Scoop for her litter. About a week ago, I purchased some corn cob bedding because our little town was out of SS.  I've noticed since using it it seems like her appetite for food and water has increased a lot. Her poops are also was bigger pellets then normal. They're not hard though.  I am wondering if its the corn cob doing this and if I need to be concerned. I've read corn can be bad for bedding and now I'm confused and worried.....

ANSWER: Dear Melissa,

If there's a chance she's eating the corn cob litter, I would stop using it.  Corn cob contains polysaccharides that are indigestible, even for rabbits and their gut flora.  It doesn't absorb odor, and it's just not very good as bedding.

We use pelleted pine litter, and cover it with a layer of soft timothy hay to make it "foot friendly" and the box inviting for the bunny.  Great odor absorption, great compost, and a lot cheaper, especially if you buy "Equine Pine" or similar product.

Hope that helps.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your reply, should I be concerned about her excessive eating and drinking??

Answer
Dear Melissa,

It depends on what you mean by excessive.  If she is drinking a lot and urinating very clear, copious urine, it could mean that her kidneys are having problems concentrating urine.  I don't think this would have anything to do with the corn cob bedding, unless she ate some and it's absorbing water from her intestinal contents (not good), causing her to be thirsty.  This would make her poops larger, as long as the cobs are being chewed very well and not causing any blockage.

IF she is chewing them in to very tiny pieces that can't cause a blockage AND she is drinking enough to pass them through uneventfully, I wouldn't worry.  But corn cob bedding can be problematic, and I'd switch to something else to be safe.

If her appetite is good, that's not a problem unless she's overweight.  :)

Hope this helps!

Dana