Oxbow concern

[bruxxy]

I've been feeding my crew Oxbow for just over a month now and I'm very concerned about the dramatic weight loss that has happened to all of my rats. I give them a big bowl of it in the morning but they still seem very thin. Their coats also seem rougher too. I really don't know what to think of this because I have heard so many great things about Oxbow. I used to have my crew on Harlan Tek and they were a bit on the chubby side. I was told that my rats wouyld loose some weight but I don't know what to think of whats going on because it seems very unhealthy to me and I'm quite worried.

 

[lilspaz68]

Has Skye and the young girls lost weight too?

 

[jorats]

Your rats are holding out for their Harlan... so ya, they will go through a weight loss. But rats will not starve themselves. They are eating just enough to make it through the day. It is worrying at first. Any chance you can give your rats a couple of blocks of HT everyday and free feed the Oxbow?

But...if you start feeling their spine and back hips, then something's got to change.

 

[bruxxy]

Well Skye is loosing weight in general. Dr.Munn told me that would happen so its expected. Chloe, one of my youngest girls is thin but Nala, the other youngster is scarey thin. I think we will have to take a trip into the vet this week because I really don;t know what to think of her....its only been in the last week that I've noticed a change in the group though.

Unfortunately I ran out of the Harlan so I can't give them that anymore. I wonder if I should just add extra babyfood to get their weight back up? If I do that though will they stop eating the Oxbow?

I think what puzzles me most is that they seem to like the Oxbow for the most part. They don't love it but they eat it.

 

[lilratsy43]

I had the same issue with oxbow, my rats just didn't like it. I had like 5+ bags or something, so I tried it for a while but they just seemed to be getting thinner then I liked, so Im back to the Harlan now....

 

[jorats]

Try adding water to the oxbow, some rats prefer it wet... better yet, add chicken broth to it, I bet that will get them eating it until you can get your hands on Harlan.

 

[lilspaz68]

I have Mazuri at home, come get some!

 

[bruxxy]

ohhh the chicken broth is a great idea. thanks. I'll start them up on that today and hopfully things improve. it's so scarey when things like this happen to the entire group.

Shelagh: That would be great! I'll stop by tonight after 8 and pick some up if thats ok. Thank you so much! :happydance:

 

[lilspaz68]

ohhh the chicken broth is a great idea. thanks. I'll start them up on that today and hopfully things improve. it's so scarey when things like this happen to the entire group.

Shelagh: That would be great! I'll stop by tonight after 8 and pick some up if thats ok. Thank you so much! :happydance:

no problem

You can meet the tilty boy too

 

[Jennicat]

I tried switching to the Oxbow because I love their other animal feeds, and the rats didn't seem big on it. I mixed it half and half with the Solid Gold Holistique dog food, and I realized they were eating around it. :\

 

[Debbie]

Our rats absolutely hated the Oxbow. Too bad, because it really is very good for them.

I would definitely be concerned they are not eating. Littledevils had a couple of boys come into rescue that were literally starved and boney, because all they were given was Oxbow and they weren't eating it.

 

[anita1216]

Oxbow is supposed to be reformulating the rat food I thought. My boys will not eat the stuff at all.

 

[NezumiNeko]

Maybe you could try Harlan 2014 to try to keep the weight a good level.

 

[lilspaz68]

Maybe you could try Harlan 2014 to try to keep the weight a good level.

We cannot get the HT here in Ontario any more.

I am going to give her and her babies (she lives down the street from me)

https://www.mazuri.com/PDF/5M30.pdf

 

[NezumiNeko]

That really sucks!

 

[Moon]

My girls take Oxbow over Mazuri any day. But, they still take Harlan first.

I would double check that your scary thin girl is getting enough water.

 

[bruxxy]

I wonder if maybe I just wasn't feeding the crew enough? it says on the package to free feed, but i generally don't anymore since when I free fed with harlan everyone got really chunky. I've been giving them a big handful plus half a handful daily which is what I gave them before when I was feeding harlan after I stopped free feeding....is it possible the portions are different and they weren't getting enough food?

 

[bruxxy]

I've checked my thin girl Nala for dehydration but shes ok. The water bottles are fine and working well.

I forgot to mention...I've been out of the house for the last 4 days staying with my friend who has been really sick. I left the crew in the care of my mom and sister and I'm wondering if my sister wasn't feeding enough or maybe noticed something about Nala that wasn't right. My sister doesn't generally spend any time with the rats so I doubt she would notice anything anyways but I talk to her when she gets home.

 

[bruxxy]

Ok I talked to my mom and she was feeding them the right amount so I don't have to worry about that. I'm going to start them up on some chicken, sweet potatos, pasta and lots of baby food for the next week or 2 to get their weight back up to normal. Hopefully I can get them to accept the Oxbow one day because its a great diet for them and I would hate to have to resort to something of lower quality just because they are picky and won't eat the good stuff. :?

 

[Cityratt]

Maybe you could try Harlan 2014 to try to keep the weight a good level.

We cannot get the HT here in Ontario any more.

I am going to give her and her babies (she lives down the street from me)

https://www.mazuri.com/PDF/5M30.pdf

You can get the 2014 through the university of Guelph if you know someone coming up your way - the 33lb bags and they repackage into 10lb bags too but you have to order it ahead (24h for a bag or two, more than that for bigger orders *HINT 7 bags JO!*)