bit - diet

12/10/2012
requirements, pellets v hay , greens and treats | Vetwest Animal Hospitals

RABBITS - FEEDING AND NUTRITION !

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The house rabbit should have a diet high in fibre and fairly low in calories (especially fats and
starches). Over time pellet diets have been sold as the mainstay of a rabbit's diet, but pellets
were originally formulated for non household rabbits (i.e. laboratory or farmed rabbits).

Some of the problems associated with rabbits fed unlimited pellets are:

Obesity
Dental disease
Soft stools (with norm stools)
Periodic bouts of anorexia (not eating)
Heart and liver disease
Calcification of blood vessels
Bladder and kidney stones

RECOMMENDED DIET FOR ADULT RABBITS

Pellets
Maximum of 1/8 of a cup per 1.8kg of body weight of a high fibre pellet per day. (18% or
higher fibre, protein content at 13-14% and fat content no higher than 3%)

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bit - diet
12/10/2012
requirements, pellets v hay , greens and treats | Vetwest Animal Hospitals

For young growing rabbits, pellets can be given free choice until 6 to 8 months of age, then
decrease to the maintenance amount as above.
Store pellets in a closed container in a cool, dry place. Only buy enough for three months at a
time.
Do not use pellet mixes that contain grains and seeds along with pellets, as the rabbit will
select its favourite items and leave the rest, meaning it will not be getting a balanced diet.

Fresh Hay (or grass)

Always to be available. This is the most important ingredient.
Young bunnies should be exposed to hay as soon as they can eat on their own.
Mixed grass hay is better than alfalfa as it is lower in calcium and calories
Store in a cool, dry place in an open bag to allow circulation. Discard damp hay.
Rabbits on 100% alfalfa hay should not get any pellets
Prefer loose long strands of hay compared to pressed cubes or chopped hay

Greens
Feed at least 3 types daily in a total minimum amount (all types of green together) of 1 heaped
cup per 1.8kg body weight. This is a minimum, as the bunny adjusts to this diet more can be fed.

Feed Freely
(these food products contain fibre, vitamins eg A & C, minerals and carbohydrates)

Beet tops
Brussels sprouts
Carrots
Green pepper
Carrot tops
Outer cabbage leaves
Parsley
Raspberry leaves
Turnip tops
Bok Choy
Alfalfa sprouts
Peppermint leaves
Mint leaves
Corn leaves

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bit - diet
12/10/2012
requirements, pellets v hay , greens and treats | Vetwest Animal Hospitals

Kale
Escarole
Clover
Endive
Mustard greens
Radicchio
Rose leaves
Strawberry leaves
Romaine lettuce
Wheat grass
Broccoli leaves
Grape leaves
Dandelion greens
Dandelion Flowers

FOOD TO AVOID
Avoid starchy foods or high sugar content foods such as; legumes, beans, peas, corn, bananas,
grapes, oats, wheat, crackers, chips, bread, nuts, pasta, potatoes, chocolate, cookies, rolled oats
and breakfast cereals.

We know that bunnies love starchy foods, and these can be fed in very small amounts for adult
rabbits - yet it is easy to overdo, and may result in soft stools or serious stomach upsets.

There is research suggesting high starch and low fibre diets may contribute to fatal
endotoxaemia)

FOR OVERWEIGHT RABBITS

Remove all pellets – rabbits can make their own rich supply of nutrients in the caecum.
Do not fast rabbits for weight loss – i.e. where rabbits are only given food for a certain
amount of time each day. This leaves the bunny with nothing to do physically and mentally
for long hours. Rabbits were designed to eat large amounts of food frequently and such a
measure may lead to a sluggish gastrointestinal tract due to lack of stimulation.
If your rabbit is not used to getting fresh foods – start out gradually with the leafy green
vegetables and add a new food item from the list every 3 to 5 days.

RABBITS EATING PAPER AND WOOD

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bit - diet
12/10/2012
requirements, pellets v hay , greens and treats | Vetwest Animal Hospitals

This is seen where the bunny has stopped eating pellets, but eats all the newspaper in their
enclosure or hutch. These rabbits are craving fibre, as they are not on unlimited (or usually any)
hay or greens.

SUPPLEMENTS (ENZYMES AND BACTERIA)

These products do no harm, but are usually unnecessary when the rabbit is eating a more natural
diet.

Pet type(s): Pocket pets

Pet library topic(s): Basic health and care

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