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What
should I feed my bunny? Your bunny's digestive system needs fiber, and lots of it. In the wild, a rabbit grazes throughout the day, and is used to having a very active digestive tract. For that reason, it's recommended that you provide your bunny with unlimited amounts of fresh timothy hay every day. Feeding timothy or another grass type of hay is important because it is lower in calcium and calories than alfalfa, which is very rich. You may feed alfalfa as an infrequent treat, but the level of calcium makes it a poor choice for daily feeding, and it can contribute to sludgy urine and, eventually, stones. A selection of vegetables is also an important component of a bunny's diet. Feed approximately one cup of vegetables for every 4 lb. of body weight. Select three or four vegetables from the list shown below. The more variety, the better the selection of vitamins and minerals provided. If your bunny is not used to vegetables, add these to the diet very slowly, starting with very small amounts. The high water content in vegetables can contribute to soft stools or diarrhea if introduced too quickly. Cut back the amount of vegetables and increase more slowly if this occurs. Fruits are high in sugar and water, and should be limited to 2 tablespoons per 5 lb. of body weight. Avoid feeding fruits if your bunny is on a weight reduction program. Choose fruits that are high in fiber, lest the fruits just add empty calories to your bunny's diet. Remember that bunnies are very small, even when compared to a small child. Treats should be given in very, very small amounts. To a rabbit, a banana chip is like a whole pizza is to a child! Avoid feeding human treats such as breads, pastas, snack foods, or other processed foods. They do not have the vitamins and minerals bunnies need, and may contribute to an imbalance of bacteria in the digestive system. As with many animals, there is a compound in chocolate that can be toxic to rabbits, so never feed your bunny anything containing cocoa or chocolate. Vegetables
Items marked with * are high in Vitamin A. Try to feed one of these each day. Items marked with (!) should be used sparingly and in smaller amounts than others.
Fruits
[The above listing is adapted from that presented by the document "What to Feed Your Rabbit" by the San Diego Chapter of the House Rabbit Society.] More
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Copyright
1997-2000 by Leith Petwerks |
Regardless
of what cartoons say, your bunny cannot survive on carrots alone (although
carrot tops are a great source of nutrition, and carrots are a great
treat).