NUTRITION
A
Balanced Diet
A balanced
diet for a rabbit includes protein, starch, carbohydrate,
vitamins, and minerals in slower moving digestible material
that can be absorbed. It also includes large amounts of
fast-moving indigestible organic material.
The above
food pyramid is recommended for adult rabbits. A young
rabbits diet will vary slightly.
Hay
Hay is the
most important part of a rabbit's diet and should be fed
unlimited. Grasses are a balanced source of vitamins,
minerals and indigestible fibers. The fiber keeps
their gut
moving and the chewing can prevent molar spurs as
the chewing helps wear down their teeth and helps maintain a
normal dental occlusion. A diet lacking in fibrous materials
can cause cheek tooth overgrowth. Diets low in
indigestible fiber can lead to gastrointestinal hypomotility
(GIS stasis) and trichobezoars (furballs).
There are generally two
types of hay - grass hay which has long thing leaves with a
central talk, and legume hay such as alfalfa or clover
(which are higher in calcium and protein).
Alfalfa hay is fine for young
rabbits but once they become adults they should be switched
over to grass hays like timothy, brome, oat and orchard.
Hay
can be purchased online, bought in pet stores or from a farm
or feed store. If buying from a farm or feed store be sure to
get horse quality hay and not cow quality. The hay should
smell fresh like grass. Often hay can contain mold
which is toxic to
rabbits, therefore it is recommended that you smell your
rabbits hay often! Get used to the smell of fresh hay,
so you can spot mold immediately.
Left to right: Alfalfa Hay,
Oat Hay, Orchard Grass, Brome Hay
Vegetables
Vegetables
are also an important part of a rabbits diet. Be sure to wash them
carefully to eliminate debris and pesticides.
Vegetables are best served wet especially if you have a
bunny that doesn't consume too much water. For a young bunny
or a new
bunny, vegetables should be introduced very slowly;
one at a time over days to watch for loose stool. Not all
vegetables are tolerated by all rabbits. 2 cups per 6 pounds
of bunny weight is often suggested, which should include 3
or more types of vegetables.
Some bunny
favorites are parsley, romaine lettuce, dandelion, carrot
tops, endive, red or green leaf lettuce, basil and dill.
Vegetables high in calcium (kale, broccoli, spinach) should
be fed sparingly, as should vegetables that may cause gas (ie
cabbage, cauliflower).
Watch your bunny carefully for the first 12 hours after
introducing new vegetables. Signs of gas include loud tummy
rumblings, lack of appetite, not wanting to move around,
sitting hunched up, pressing stomach into the floor, tooth
grinding. Gas can be treated with simethicone. If it
continues, or if you are unsure what the problem is, contact your veterinarian ASAP.
Do not feed:
bamboo shoots, beets, cassava, citrus peels, coffee plants,
corn, green beans, lima beans, maize, millet, onions,
rhubarb leaves, potatoes (white, red or sweet), tea leaves.
Middle photo,
left to right:
parsley, romaine, carrot tops, dill, dandelion on top
Pellets
Pellets
make up a very small part of the rabbit diet. Look for a
pellet which is high in fibre (min. 18%) low in calcium
(max. 1%) and low in protein (max.14%). A 5-7 lb rabbit
should only be getting 1/4 cup daily. If you have a
rabbit that is overweight, and you are cutting back pellets,
it is crucial that you cut them back VERY SLOWLY to avoid
health complications such as hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver
disease).
Timothy
based pellets are now available and are good for obese
rabbits, less active rabbits or ones prone to sludge and
bladder stones. Two great brands include: Martin
Mills less active timothy based pellets (www.martinmills.com/littleGeneral.htm)
or Oxbow Timothy pellets. Alfalfa pellets are suitable
for young rabbits, and may be helpful for aging or thinning
rabbits. Talk to your vet about the right type of
pellets for your rabbit.
Fruit/Treats
Fruits is a
favorite food of rabbits but these are treat foods and
should be fed sparingly. Too much sugar can cause and
overgrowth of bacteria in a rabbits gut and can upset their
stomach. We recommend 1-2 tablespoons per 5 lb rabbit.
Some favorite treats are banana, carrot, strawberries,
watermelon, apple, dried cranberries and papaya. Ensure that any
dried fruit is free of oil and sugar. Many dried fruit such
as cranberries are loaded with sugar and oil. (Sugar and oil
free dried fruit can be ordered from the RR store, or
you can make your own with a food dehydrator).
When
looking for a treat, stay away from products with nuts,
seeds, corn (all of which are too high in fat and can cause
impaction), sugar and dairy (rabbits are vegans!). Many treats found in stores labeled for
rabbits are unhealthy and not suited for them. Resist
the temptation to feed human snacks such as cereal, cookies,
bread etc. and remember that chocolate can be toxic to
rabbits.
Again,
many healthy and bunny safe treats can be found at:
www.rabbitrescue.ca/store
Healthier
Treats: apple chunks, banana, apple, critter berries, Veggie
Puffs, critter carrots, raisins.
Calcium
A diet
low in calcium will help maintain your rabbits health.
Excessive dietary calcium may contribute to the development
of urolithiasis (stones). A level of 0.6-1.0% is
recommended. Calcium can be found in certain types of hay, veggies and
pellets, so it is important to choose what you feed your
rabbit wisely. Some rabbits can tolerate more calcium
then others. If your rabbits urine looks white or sludgy,
chances are they have too much calcium in their diet.
For a
chart of vegetables and their calcium content click here:
http://www.carrotcafe.com/f/calevel.html
Obesity
Domestic
rabbits are often overfed by their
owners. Obese rabbits have high resting heart rates
and are at risk of developing cardiac hypertrophy and
hypertension. Hepatic lipidosis can develop very
quickly in obese rabbits after even short periods without
food. Rabbits that are obese are placed at a higher
risk going under anesthetic.
Rabbits that are overweight
often have a difficult time grooming themselves, and often
can not reach to consume their caecotrophs which are an
important part of maintaining their health (they are a good
source of B vitamins). Obesity
can worsen arthritis and overweight
rabbits are more prone to having sludgy urine or cystitis.
Maintaining a healthy weight will also help prevent sore
hocks from developing.
When changing a rabbits
diet, it is essential that you monitor your bunny to make
sure he or she is eating (some will refuse at first if they
are not offered their favorite foods). Starvation will very
quickly lead to hepatic lipdosis and you must make sure that
your rabbit is still eating and going to the bathroom. Make
changes very slowly! Exercise is often key in weight loss.
Providing your bunny with lots of toys and a large bunny
proofed area to roam is essential.
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