Supreme® Science - Recovery 10x20g Box

Q. What animals can you feed Recovery diet to?

A. Recovery diet can be fed to any herbivore or animal requiring high levels of dietary fibre. The product has been used with excellent results on rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, tortoises, iguanas and even a pygmy goat. It is not suitable in a concentrated form for rat's hamster and gerbils as they do not require high levels of fibre however can be mixed with a powder baby diet to provide additional supplementation.

Q. The liquid feed sometimes gets stuck in the syringe is there a special syringe available?

A. Currently we recommend using oral dosers from Vetark UK (0870 243 0384) available by mail order. Alternatively there is an analgesic called 'Metacam' that is supplied with syringes that have a much wider bore and proves very successful for feeding. We are currently looking into supplying syringes and will update you when available.

Q. How much Recovery diet should you feed every day?

A. Recovery diet is designed to provide the average 2.5kg rabbit one full days' feed in a sachet. Once made up the product should make 70ml of Recovery diet this can be fed, with regular feeds, over a 24hr period. The amount being fed will depend on the animal's intake, some will take 20 - 30 mls at a time therefore requiring 3 feeds throughout the day, and others may take 10ml therefore requiring 7 feeds throughout the day.
From this daily amount it is possible to calculate approx. requirements by body weight e.g. a guinea pig will only require 20 - 30mls in one day.

Q. Is Recovery diet a complete food?

A. Yes, Recovery is designed to be a complete food for animals that are sick or recuperating. During illness animals are reluctant to eat food, feeding Recovery diet will provide all the nutrients a herbivore needs without additional food through this period. The levels of protein, carbohydrates and fibre are elevated above that of a maintenance diet as required in higher levels during illness and recovery.

Q. Why is Recovery good for sick rabbits?

A. Rabbits have an extremely sensitive gut which when ill can cause secondary problems. In other animals food can be withheld without any adverse problems. Rabbits guts need food to stimulate movement and therefore eat constantly through the day. During any form of illness they may be innapetent and not feed. This results in the movement of the gut slowing down or, in the worst scenario, gut stasis.

This is often irreversible and will result in death. For this reason it is vital to provide food with high fibre levels to keep the gut moving. Recovery diet kick starts the gut into motion and maintains nutritional levels at the same time. So it provides nutrients, rehydrates the patient and also prevents gut stasis, all of which are vital during illness.

Q. What are the metabolisable energy levels of Recovery diet?

A. The ME levels of Recovery diet are = 39.31 Kcal / 20g sachet of recovery
(39,311.66 calories per 20g)

Q. Can you use recovery diet in any other way?

A. Yes, Recovery diet does not have to be syringe fed. Some animals will lap it up from a bowl as a liquid. It can also be used dry when the animal begins eating food again, such as vegetables etc, it can be sprinkled on the food to boost levels and promote eating. It can also be mixed to a thick paste and rolled into balls and placed directly into the mouth, so it is very versatile.

Q. Can animals stay on Recovery diet indefinitely?

A. Animals can remain on Recovery diet for as long as necessary during illness or recovery however the nutrient levels are elevated to that which is required for normal maintenance.

It has been observed that excess protein in a diet over long periods of time can put additional pressure on the kidneys. If there is a reason for the animals being unable to eat solids it is better, long term, to provide a ground down maintenance diet such as Supreme Science Selective. This provides the correct levels but in the desired form.

Q. What do you feed when they are well?

A. Most animals will require Recovery diet for a short period of time; we then advise moving them onto Supreme Science Selective. This is a diet that is for normal healthy animals but has similar ingredients and nutrient levels as Recovery. For this reason it is the perfect solution for dietary management of healthy animals without causing dietary upset from changes. It is especially useful for animals that regularly require treatment such as dentals, this way they can move between Selective and Recovery, when needed, without causing any disruption.

Q. How long will recovery diet last once it has been mixed with water?

A. Recovery diet, once mixed, will last 24 hours if kept refrigerated. After this length of time the vitamin and mineral levels will begin to deteriorate. It is advisable to gently warm the liquid to room temperature prior to feeding, as animals should not be fed chilled food.

Q. What is a probiotic?

A. A probiotic is a substance that supports the beneficial bacteria in the gut. In rabbits they have a carefully balanced cocktail of bacteria which includes both beneficial and pathogenic bacteria. Any form of illness and some treatments, such as antibiotics, can disrupt this careful balance.

In order to prevent damage to the gut it is important to assist in recolonising the bacteria. The probiotic Avipro is actual beneficial bacteria designed to boost the existing levels. The bacteria are encapsulated in order then they actually reach the hind gut where it is needed.

Q. What is special about the actual ingredients in Recovery?

A. Recovery diet has been designed to be a highly palatable, easily digestible food that is required during illness. There are unique ingredients that perform special functions that are needed when an animal is weak or suppressed - all in one dose.

The levels of vitamins and minerals are elevated as required at higher levels during illness. Herbivores require fibre ands so Recovery provides both indigestible and digestible sources. The cellulose provides a synthetic form of fibre that is very easily absorbed making access to nutrients easy during sickness.

It contains casein and milk powder to provide highly digestible sources of protein.
It contains special electrolytes to rehydrate the animal as well as feed.

It contains anise and fenugreek to stimulate the appetite. Aniseed has been seen to promote interest in food and be highly palatable. Fenugreek acts as an appetite stimulant both of these help to stimulate interest in feeding necessary to promote recovery.

Q. How do you introduce the solid food back into the diet?

A. Recovery diet will provide all an animal needs until it is ready to go back onto its normal diet. Introducing diets must be done very slowly and carefully. Gradually introduce the solid food in small amounts in between feeds of recovery diet and provide hay at all times. The animal should then show less and less interest in the liquid feed and prefer to eat the solid. At this stage you can continue to supplement with Recovery by sprinkling it into the bowl of solid feeds. The most suitable solid maintenance diet to introduce would be Supreme Science Selective.