Feeding pet rabbits

Champaign County Humane Society

Hay
Timothy or other grass hay should be available at all times for your pet. The fiber in the hay promotes normal digestion and prevents hairballs. Hay also contains proteins and other essential nutrients. Loose, long strands of hay, are better than pressed cubes or chopped hay. Avoid alfalfa hay, particularly if it is being used along with pellets (which are already high in alfalfa), because it may provide too much calcium and carbohydrate.

Fresh food
A minimum of 1 heaping cup of fresh food per 5 pounds of body weight should be given daily. Fresh food provides the high amount of fiber needed for good digestive tract function, but it is low in many nutrients. Rabbits must therefore have hay and, possibly, pellets as well as greens in the diet! You may give up to 4 cups/5 lbs. daily only if your pet is eating hay in addition to the greens. Try to feed at least 3 different types of greens daily. Feeding just one type of green food may lead to nutrient imbalances. If your pet has not been getting fresh foods, start out gradually with the green leafy veggies and add a new food item every 3-5 days. If the addition of any item leads to diarrhea or unformed stools that persists for more than 48 hours, then remove it from the diet.

Fresh food items you can feed your pet are: Carrot tops, beet tops, dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides), kale, collard greens, escarole, romaine lettuce, (don't give light-colored leaf lettuce or iceberg lettuce), endive, Swiss chard, parsley, clover, cabbage, broccoli, carrot, green peppers, pea pods (the flat edible kind), Brussels sprouts, basil, peppermint leaves, raspberry leaves, raddichio, bok choy and spinach.

Rabbit pellets
Buy pellets that contain at least 18% fiber. Purchase pellets in small quantities and keep them refrigerated or cool to prevent spoilage. Old, rancid pellets can cause a rabbit to stop eating. Rabbit pellets are a good source for many nutrients, but contain high amounts of carbohydrate and calcium with relatively little fiber. If fed in unlimited amounts, serious health problems and obesity may result.

Rabbits up to 8 months of age can have access to pellets free choice, because they are still growing rapidly. However, after 8 months of age they should receive the following maintenance diet: 2-4 LB of body weight - 1/8 cup daily, 5-7 LB of body weight - 1/4 cup daily, 8-10 LB of body weight - 1/2 cup daily, 11-15 LB of body weight - 3/4 cup daily. DO NOT REFILL THE BOWL even if the pellets are eaten before the next day! Feeding unlimited amounts can lead to obesity and serious health problems resulting from the high calcium and carbohydrate and low fiber content in pelleted foods.

Treat foods
- Limit your rabbit to no more than 1 heaping tablespoon per 4 lbs. of body weight each day of treat foods. Strawberries, papaya, pineapple, apple, pear, melon, raspberries, blueberries, apple pear, mango, cactus fruit, persimmon, peach, pear, tomato, or dried fruits may be used as treats. Avoid salty or sugary snacks, nuts, chocolate, bread, breakfast cereals, and grains (including oatmeal, and fresh or dried corn) which often cause intestinal upset.

Water, vitamins and minerals
Water should always be available, in either a water bottle or heavy, tip-resistant bowl. Water containers should be washed and refilled daily to prevent bacterial contamination that could make your bunny sick. Vitamins and salt/mineral blocks are not necessary if the rabbit is getting pellets, hay and fresh foods in the diet. In fact, the indiscriminate use of vitamins may lead to overdosage and serious disease.

Night droppings
Several times a day, usually about 4-6 hours after eating, you may observe your pet licking the anal area and actually eating some of the droppings in the process. These special droppings are called "cecotropes." Cecotropes are formed, but softer, greener, and have a stronger odor than the normal hard, dry, round waste droppings. They contain vital nutrients that are not well absorbed by the large intestine. Eating the cecotropes allows the rabbit to extract the nutrients. This habit may appear distasteful, but it is normal and important for your pet. Occasionally a rabbit will drop these cecal pellets along with the waste pellets instead of eating them. This is not diarrhea, and if it only occurs occasionally, it is not considered a problem. Some overweight rabbits can't reach their anal area to eat the cecotropes, may leave a lot of them in the cage.

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