Are vitamin supplements in water unhealthy?

When I got my rabbit, I bought salt and mineral licks (which he uses occasionally) but I also got a bottle of vitamin solution which is diluted into his water, and it turns the water yellow. I've been using it for a few months though, then someone told me that it's actually unhealthy for the rabbit to use things like that. Is that true?

Hi There,

Welcome to HH!

I dont think that they are necessarily "unhealthy" but they are certainly not a substitute for a healthy diet.

If your bun has the correct diet - then strictly speaking he shouldnt need any supplements.

What do you feed him on a daily basis at the moment?

His diet should be 80% hay and grass, 10% nuggets (never meusli mix) and 10% fresh veg (spring greens, herbs, kale - that kind of thing).

Sometimes a Pro-C supplement can be used but normally if a bun is on antibiotics or other medication to help maintain a healthy tum.

First, I want to say Greetings And Welcome to HH!!   

We have always provided our bunnies with salt licks.  The only times they seem use them is when their body is stressed from things such as heat and extremes of humidity(ours have been house rabbits but they seem to 'feel' the weather)  We live in the central USA and our climate is quite different.  It can be quite hot and the humidity quite low and that makes them drink much more water.

I have never personally used vitamin drops, but I know many use a Vitamin C drop when their bunnies are feeling poorly. I respect their opinions on it's usage and would add that to my bunny's diet if they became ill.

Hello! Welcome to HH!

The thing with the minerals, vitamin and salt licks is that the general "rule" is that they aren't actually needed, because if your rabbit gets a healthy diet then he or she won't need substitutes. Think of it like with us people, it's more ideal to have a health varied diet than to have supplements. (I personally dont know about rabbits in hotter climates like Holly, so I am only referring to buns in this country, and in our climate! )

Sometimes a probiotic can be used but thats generally if a bun is unwell, or needs that extra boost for whatever reason, a "normal" healthy rabbit doesn't need it day to day at all.

So the answer would be , no it isnt unhealthy, but it is unnecessary and isn't required for your rabbit to have a healthy lifestyle. What katie said about the food ratio is completely right, so as long as your rabbit gets those things, he or she is having the right diet.

A warm welcome to our happy family love.

Hugs

Jo xx

Hello:wave: 

I think it depends what are in them.

The risk with salt licks is that the buns are going to chew them and od themselves.

With the vitamin drops it depends how much sugar is in them. Sugar is not good for buns.

As the others have said - if you are feeding correctly there is no need for any supplements.

Well I stopped with the vitamin drops in the water, but left the salt and mineral lick up in Pumpkin's hutch, however due to a new bunny in the household, there has been much 'scenting' of pretty much everything they can both get their paws on. This has resulted in over-nuzzling of the mineral lick in particular, and after weeks of confusion over the hard sticky substance on Pumpkin's forehead, I found the cause and removed the lick. Mystery solved!