Grass hay is rich in Vitamin A and D as well as calcium, protein and other nutrients. Eating hay promotes healthy teeth and gastrointestinal tract and should be available to your rabbit at all times.
Varying the type of grass hay or mixing hays is a great idea such as timothy, orchard, oat hay, brome, etc. Avoid the use of alfalfa hay as the primary source of hay due to the fact it is very high in calories and protein, far more than the average house rabbit needs. Alfalfa is not a grass, but rather a legume in the pea and bean family.
Fresh foods also provide more moisture in the diet, which is good for kidney and bladder function. Any leafy green that is safe for a human or a horse to eat is safe for a rabbit to consume. An approximate amoun t to feed would be around 1 cup of greens for 2 lbs of rabbit body weight once a day or divided into multiple feedings a day.
Many plants contain a naturally occurring chemicals called an alkaloids, which are mild toxins that protect plant in the wild. The one most talked about with rabbits is oxalic acid and it is completely harmless to animals or humans when consumed in small amounts.
The amount of oxalic acid within each plant can vary significantly due to several factors including the composition of the soil the plant grew in, the time of year and the age of the plant. Most of the fresh vegetables we feed rabbits have a low to zero level of oxalic acid, but a few, most notably parsley, mustard greens and spinach have relatively high levels. Note that kale, which is often implicated as a high oxalate food is actually very low in oxalates.
The toxicity of oxalic acid comes with feeding large quantities of foods high in this chemical and can result in tingling of the skin, the mouth and damage to the kidneys over time. These foods are nutritious and do not need to be excluded from the diet if you feed them appropriately. For instance if you feed parsley this week, then leave it out of the diet for next week and use something else.
Rotating the greens will also give your bunny variety in taste, texture and general nutrition! Some folks are concerned that you rabbits need to acquire a significant amount of vitamin A from greens.
As mentioned above, hay is rich in vitamin A, so it is unnecessary to be concerned about the specific vitamin A content of the greens. Just for information though, kale is extremely rich in vitamin A as well as most of the leaf lettuces. And while we are on the subject of vitamins, rabbits make their own vitamin C in their bodies, unlike humans who have to get vitamin C through their diet. You may know that dark green leafy vegetables and red peppers have more vitamin C per weight than citrus fruits!
Providing other objects to chew on is also a good idea. Examples include wooden chew blocks or old telephone books. Aim to keep feeds and feeding habits consistent. Any changes to the diet must be made gradually over a week period to minimise digestive upsets.
Always have unlimited fresh clean water available. Rabbits prefer open dishes bowls over bottled drinkers as lapping from a dish is more natural and encourages greater water intake [ 5 ]. Do NOT feed the following: cereals, grains, nuts, seeds, corn, beans, peas, breads, biscuits, sweets, sugar, breakfast cereals, chocolate or any garden plants that are toxic to rabbits see links below. References [ 1 ] Prebble, J. Can you give me some general advice on caring for my rabbits?
How do I keep my pet rabbit healthy? Home Companion Animals Rabbits. Tagged: Feeding animals Pet care. Our vets don't recommend muesli-style mixes for your rabbits. Muesli-style rabbit food contains a mixture of seeds and flakes and can cause serious health problems because:. If you feed your rabbits muesli-style food, we recommend slowly changing their diet over to a healthier option of hay with small amounts of rabbit pellets or nuggets. If you want to give your rabbits something special, or something exciting for them to forage for, then a tasty treat is perfect.
We'd recommend using some rabbit-safe fresh veggies remember to mix up which veg you use as these are both tasty and healthy for our bunnies. You can buy rabbit treats from pet shops, but do be aware that, just like the treats we give ourselves, these often have a lot of sugar in them.
This can be bad for bunny teeth and digestion as well as their waistlines! Always try to feed your bunnies a natural treat as part of their everyday food allowance. Find out which veggies are rabbit-safe. Rabbits need to stay active and eat a diet appropriate for them.
Rabbits with the wrong diet can also lose weight, which can be just as dangerous. Pets that have a poor diet can put on weight and even become obese.
The diet recommended above may be different to the way you are feeding your rabbits at the moment. If so, you should change their food. Feed a small amount of the new food on the first day, mixed into their normal food. Gradually increase how much of the new food you are feeding and reduce the old food day-by-day until your rabbits have adjusted to their new diet. Constant access to a large exercise run on grass will encourage rabbits to graze, while also letting them get the exercise they need.
Offer it to them fresh every day and try different types of hay to tempt them. Download our handy guide to your rabbit's diet and fitness, packed with the information you need to keep your rabbit's weight in check.
Read expert advice on what you should and shouldn't be feeding your rabbits, with extra advice on keeping their teeth healthy. Learn all the basics about keeping an eye on your rabbits' health, including how to give them a quick health check and important things to look out for. Donate Menu. Get help.
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