DIETARY NEEDS:
HAY, HAY, &
MORE HAY!
The following are dietary guidelines. Please consult with your local
rabbit-knowledgable veterinarian for nutritional recommendations.
The most important staple of the domesticated rabbit's diet:
UNLIMITED HAY
HAY IS CRUCIAL FOR BUNNIES BECAUSE:
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It provides an excellent source of fiber (30-35%).
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It provides essential nutrients to keep them healthy.
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It keeps the flora balanced in the cecum
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It helps keep things moving through the GI tract; important for health & prevention of hairball blockage.
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It encourages natural chewing, grazing, and foraging behaviors.
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Chewing on grass/hay is the only way they have to wear down their continuously growing molars.
HAY FEEDING BASICS:
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Bunnies should always have hay available to eat!
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Hay should make up about 80% of the diet.
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Store in a relatively cool area with good air flow.
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Exposure to sunlight or too much warmth can cause nutrient loss.
KINDS OF HAY:
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Grass & meadow hays: timothy, prairie, brome, ryegrass, fescues, meadow grass, & orchard grass
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Grain hays: oat & barley
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Timothy, oat, and orchard are 3 very common hays offered to pet bunnies.
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Unless feeding a pregnant, nursing, or young rabbit, avoid feeding alfalfa hay. Alfalfa is high is protein and calcium content, & because of this, may predispose bunnies to obesity & urolithiasis (stones of the urinary tract!).
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Straw should not be offered as it is nutrient-deficient.
WHERE TO FIND GOOD HAY:
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Bags of hay from Oxbow can be purchased at many pet supply stores.
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Purchase hay online from trusted brands like Oxbow or Small Pet Select.
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If you have multiple bunnies & adequate storage space, consider purchasing a bale of hay from a local grower.
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If you live in the Portland-Metro area, check out local rescue Rabbit Advocates' hay blend. Available at various locations around town, their Bunny's Best Bites is a blend of fresh, locally grown timothy, orchard, and oat hay. It's sold in big bags and all proceeds go toward their medical fund. See the BBB link below for more info.
References:
"FERRETS, RABBITS, and RODENTS; Clinical Medicine and Surgery" 3rd Edition By: Katherine E Quesenberry & James W. Carpenter
"MANUAL OF EXOTIC PET PRACTICE" By Mark A. Mitchell & Thomas N. Tully, Jr.
"The Importance of Hay"
https://rabbit.org/the-importance-of-hay/
"Hay in Your Bunny's Diet"
LEAFY GREEN VEGGIES
BENEFITS OF LEAFY GREENS:
Vital nutrients
Offers variation in diet
Yummy!
Food you can eat with your bunny! <3
VEGGIE FEEDING BASICS:
Offer 1 cup per 2lb body weight per day
When offering new greens that your bunny has never tried, make sure to introduce them slowly to allow time for the microbes in their gut to adapt, to avoid upset of the gastrointestinal tract.
WHAT TO FEED:
Collard, mustard, and dandelion greens
Carrot, beet, and broccoli tops
Alfalfa sprouts and clover
Herbs like parsley, cilantro, and basil
Also:
lettuce
broccoli
cauliflower
chicory
chard
watercress
celery leaves
endive
bok choy
dock
kale
spring greens
CLICK THE BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS SECTION FOR A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LIST
References:
"FERRETS, RABBITS, and RODENTS; Clinical Medicine and Surgery" 3rd Edition By: Katherine E Quesenberry & James W. Carpenter
"Vegetable and Fruits for a Rabbit Diet" By: Susan Brown, DVM. Published 2012. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=5262547
PELLETS
Pellets are "not essential components of the adult rabbit's diet." "If ad libitum hay, grass, and a variety of greens are available and cecotroph intake is normal, the diet is essentially balanced and contains sufficient energy for maintenance requirements."
(Quesenberry, K. & Carpenter, J., 2012, p.190)
SO WHY FEED PELLETS?
Many people feed their rabbits pellets out of convenience. For those unable to offer adequate daily leafy greens, pellets are a simple, healthy, balanced alternative.
Pellets may also be important for bunnies who are unable to successfully practice cecotrophy (eat their "night stools") for example due to a spinal injury.
BENEFITS OF PELLETS:
Good source of fiber
Energy
Micronutrients
PELLET FEEDING BASICS:
Feed 1/4c of pellets per 5lb (2.2kg) of body weight per day.
Pellets are rich in calories so it is important to limit the amount fed to avoid obesity.
PELLETS TO AVOID:
Diets with alfalfa.
We will be doing some research into this (due to conflicting information), but in the meantime, we advise sticking to timothy hay-based pellets.
Diets with non-pellet snacks added
Feeding a diet with various added snacks may sound like a fun, nutritional option for your bunny, but these diets encourage a behavior called "selective eating" which basically means they will eat the yummiest bits (typically the least healthy bits) and leave the rest. The added seeds, kibbles, and dried plant pieces are actually unnecessary and often unhealthy. See below for some examples.
Corn & flaked peas
These are high in starch and low in calcium and fiber.
Locust beans
These may cause intestinal obstruction!
Grains
These have a high calorie and fat content, which may lead to obesity and/or liver or intestinal disease.
RECOMMENDED PELLET FOODS*:
*CBBR is not sponsored by any rabbit food or supply brands.
References:
"FERRETS, RABBITS, and RODENTS; Clinical Medicine and Surgery" 3rd Edition By: Katherine E Quesenberry & James W. Carpenter
"Nutrition for Small Mammals" By: Susan Brown, DVM, & Ned Gentz, DVM, DACZM. Published 11/24/2009. Reviewed/Revised 5/17/18. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952897
CARROTS, FRUITS, & OTHER TREATS
Treats (including carrots & fruits) should only make up 10% of the daily diet.
TREAT BASICS:
Carrots
High in sugar
Fruits (banana, apple (no seeds), berries, papaya, orange (no peel), etc.)
High in sugar
May cause stomachache and/or diarrhea
Too much fruit can cause weight gain and/or GI upset.
It is advised to stop feeding specific fruits if the rabbit experiences soft stools for a few days while eating it.
Commercial Treats
Often high in starch and fat.
May cause serious health problems if too many are eaten.
It is advised to not feed treats with grain as the main ingredient.
Make sure to pay attention to the ingredients of any treats offered and only offer about 1 treat per day.
AMOUNT TO FEED:
Only 1 tsp per 2lb of body weight daily
References:
"Vegetable and Fruits for a Rabbit Diet" By: Susan Brown, DVM. Published 2012. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=5262547
"Rabbit Care" By: Susan Brown, DVM. Published 11/16/2009. Reviewed/Revised 2/5/2014. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952894
"Nutrition" By: Alexandra Moesta & Christina Chan. (Educational handout from Avian & Exotic Veterinary Care) https://www.avianexoticvetcare.com/handouts/small-mammals/rabbit-nutrition.pdf
FOODS TO AVOID!
It is advised to avoid the following items:
Beans
Breads
Cereals
Chocolate
Corn
Nuts
Oats
Peas
Refined sugar
Seeds
Wheat
Onions
Dairy
WHY CERTAIN FOODS SHOULD BE AVOIDED:
Many are high in sugars and starches, which can cause overgrowth of bad bacteria in the intestinal tract, which can end up being fatal.
Risk of obesity.
May be toxic
Members of the onion family (such as chives, leeks, and various onions) may cause blood abnormalities
Dairy is something that bunnies are often unable to digest adequately.
References:
"Vegetable and Fruits for a Rabbit Diet" By: Susan Brown, DVM. Published 2012. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=5262547
"Rabbit Care" By: Susan Brown, DVM. Published 11/16/2009. Reviewed/Revised 2/5/2014. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952894
"Nutrition" By: Alexandra Moesta & Christina Chan. (Educational handout from Avian & Exotic Veterinary Care) https://www.avianexoticvetcare.com/handouts/small-mammals/rabbit-nutrition.pdf
