Brenda Khan
Rabbits require a balanced diet to maintain a healthy digestive system and prevent dental issues. Their diet should consist of high-fibre foods, such as hay, grass, and pellets, as well as a small amount of vegetables, fruits, and leafy greens. It is important to provide rabbits with an unlimited supply of fresh water and ensure their diet is free from harmful or toxic substances, such as lawnmower grass clippings and certain commercial treats.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet composition | 80-90% hay and/or grass, 10-15% vegetables and greens, 5-10% pellets/nuggets |
| Water | Unlimited supply of fresh water, changed daily |
| Pellets | High-fibre, Timothy hay-based |
| Fruit | 1-2 tablespoons per 5 pounds of body weight, 1-2 times a week |
| Vegetables | Small amounts of root vegetables, occasionally |
| Weight | Portion sizes depend on weight, age, lifestyle and general health |
| Dental health | High-fibre foods to prevent overgrowing teeth |
| Digestive health | High-fibre foods to keep the digestive system moving |
| Safe foods | Alfalfa pellets, grass hay, leafy greens, carrots, apples |
| Unsafe foods | Dried corn, nuts, seeds, beans, potatoes, lawnmower grass clippings |
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What You'll Learn
Hay and/or grass should make up the bulk of their diet
Hay and/or grass should make up the bulk of a rabbit's diet. This is because rabbits' teeth continue to grow throughout their lives, so they need to chew on fibrous hay or grass to help wear their teeth down. As well as preventing teeth from overgrowing, access to a constant supply of hay keeps their digestive systems moving along healthily. Feeding your rabbit a high percentage of grass or hay will help keep overgrown tooth and associated mouth problems, like abscesses, at bay.
Rabbits' digestive systems need grass and/or hay to function properly. In the wild, they graze on grass and other plants, mainly at dawn and dusk. So, let them graze on growing grass or kiln-dried grass. But don't feed them lawnmower clippings, as these can be toxic and cause serious health problems. Give them at least one bundle of good quality hay every day – it should be as big as they are!
If your rabbit is reluctant to eat hay, take them to a vet to check there are no underlying health problems. Dental disease can make chewing uncomfortable, so they’re less likely to eat hay or grass. If the vet confirms that there are no health problems and your rabbit still refuses to eat hay, try them on a different type of hay or hay from a different provider to see if it suits them better.
Hay is extremely versatile and perfect for entertaining your rabbit as you can also hide treats and other leafy greens within it for them to find. The ideal rabbit diet should consist of foods that are high in fibre for healthy digestion.
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Avoid muesli-style foods
Rabbits need a balanced diet to keep their digestive system moving and to prevent their teeth from overgrowing. A rabbit's diet should mainly consist of fibrous hay or grass, with greens and high-fibre pellets.
Muesli-style foods, on the other hand, are not recommended for rabbits. While they may look appealing, these foods can lead to serious health issues. Here are some reasons why you should avoid feeding your rabbit muesli-style food:
Selective Feeding
Muesli-style food is a mix of cereals, legumes, pellets, extrusions, and other ingredients such as locust beans or alfalfa. Rabbits tend to eat only certain parts of the food, usually those that are high in sugar or starch, and leave the fibrous pellets behind. This can lead to a lack of crucial nutrients, including fibre, vitamins, and minerals, which can cause health problems.
Dental Disease
The ingredients of muesli mixes are not sufficiently tough and fibrous to wear down a rabbit's teeth correctly. This can lead to dental issues such as misaligned or overgrown teeth. Once dental problems start, they often require ongoing management, including risky and expensive dental work under anaesthetic.
Obesity
Muesli mixes are high in carbohydrates and calories and low in fibre, which can contribute to weight gain and obesity in rabbits. Obesity can lead to various health problems, including arthritis, urinary issues, and an inability to groom or reach their perineum.
Digestive Problems
The lack of fibre in muesli-style food can cause gut problems, including inappetence and stasis, where the gut stops functioning properly. Additionally, the vitamin and mineral supplements in muesli mixes are usually in powder form and added to the pellets. However, rabbits often leave the pellets uneaten, leading to potential vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Alternative Options
Instead of muesli-style food, rabbits should be fed a predominantly hay-based diet that includes fresh vegetables, herbs, and a small amount of pelleted food. This type of diet provides the necessary fibre, vitamins, and minerals that rabbits need to stay healthy.
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Fresh water should be available at all times
Rabbits have continuously growing teeth, so they need to chew fibrous hay or grass to help wear their teeth down. To prevent overgrown teeth and associated mouth problems, like abscesses, rabbits need to eat fibrous hay or grass. Their digestive systems also need grass and hay to function properly.
Rabbits should be fed a balanced diet of mainly hay, with greens and high-fibre pellets, to keep their digestive systems moving and to prevent overgrown teeth. Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. Rabbits prefer drinking from bowls to bottles, as lapping from a bowl is more natural and encourages greater water intake. Use low, shallow dishes that can't be easily tipped over, and provide one plate per rabbit, plus a spare. This helps to prevent squabbling over food.
Water bowls and bottles should be cleaned regularly and inspected to check they are working properly. Fresh water should be changed daily.
Rabbits eating lots of fresh grass will drink less, while those eating mostly hay will drink more. Their digestive system only works properly when it is well hydrated.
Rabbits should eat at least one bundle of good-quality hay every day – it should be as big as they are!
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Pellets should be high-fibre
Rabbits require a balanced diet to maintain a healthy digestive system and prevent their teeth from overgrowing. A rabbit's diet should consist of good-quality hay and/or grass, leafy greens, and high-fibre pellets.
Pellets are an essential component of a rabbit's diet, providing the micronutrients they require. It is important to choose high-fibre pellets, as fibre is necessary for a rabbit's intestinal tract to function properly. A lack of fibre in a rabbit's diet can cause bloating, which can be fatal. Additionally, high-fibre pellets help to mimic a rabbit's natural diet in the wild, which is rich in fibrous plants and grasses.
When selecting pellets, it is crucial to avoid those containing seeds, grains, or nuts, as these ingredients are difficult for rabbits to digest and can lead to serious health issues. Instead, opt for timothy hay-based pellets, which are high in fibre and provide essential nutrients. The ideal fibre content in rabbit pellets is 18-22% or more.
The amount of pellets provided should be carefully measured, as overfeeding can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhoea, and obesity. As a general guideline, rabbits should be fed around 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pellets per 4-5 pounds of body weight daily. Pellets should not exceed 5% of a rabbit's total diet, with the majority of their nutrition coming from hay and fresh vegetables.
It is worth noting that rabbits under one year old can be fed alfalfa pellets, but these should be supplemented with grass hay to ensure a balanced diet. Always read the ingredients list and follow the manufacturer's feeding instructions to ensure you are providing your rabbit with a safe and appropriate amount of pellets.
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Fruits and vegetables should be limited
Rabbits require a balanced diet to keep their digestive system healthy and to prevent their teeth from overgrowing. Their diet should primarily consist of hay and/or grass, with a constant supply of fresh water.
While rabbits enjoy vegetables and herbs, these should be limited to around 10% of their diet. This is because too many treats, fruits, or vegetables can upset the bacteria microbiome in a rabbit's digestive tract, leading to diarrhea and decreased gut movement. Fruits, in particular, are high in carbohydrates and sugar, which can cause anorexia (loss of appetite), diarrhea, and bloating. Therefore, fruits should only be given to rabbits occasionally, one to two times per week, with a serving size of 1 to 2 tablespoons per 5 pounds of body weight.
It is also important to note that some foods should be avoided altogether, such as potatoes, corn, beans, seeds, nuts, and dairy products. These foods are difficult for rabbits to digest and can cause serious health issues. Additionally, muesli-style foods, which are high in sugar and starch, should be avoided as they can lead to dental and digestive problems.
In summary, while rabbits can enjoy a small portion of fruits and vegetables, their diet should be mainly comprised of hay and/or grass, with a constant supply of fresh water to maintain a healthy digestive system and prevent dental issues.
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