Balanced Diet for House Rabbits
Rabbits are strict herbivores. They require a diet that is high in fiber and low in starches and sugars. Rabbits in the wild eat a variety of greens and woody plants. Like their wild counterparts, the house rabbit needs to be provided enough fiber in the diet to keep the gastrointestinal (GI) tract healthy. Large fiber particles stimulate GI motility and form the hard dry fecal pellets normally found in the litterbox. Smaller fiber particles and excess starches and sugars are moved into the cecum to undergo fermentations and be transformed into "night droppings" (although they occur both day and night), called cecotropes. You should rarely see the cecotropes as the rabbit eats them directly from the anus. These cecotropes are an essential nutrient for the rabbit. They are soft, dark, shiny, and stick together like a cluster of grapes. They often have a strong ammonia smell to them. The reason they are important to recognize is that if you are seeing them frequently, this may indicate a digestive problem with your rabbit.
Because fiber is the most essential part of a rabbit's diet, fresh hay should be fed free choice throughout your house rabbit's life. Hay must be available at all times in order to maintain motility, normal gut flora, and production of cecotropes. Hay also contains proteins and other nutrients essential to good health. Timothy or mixed grass hay is best! Alfalfa hay is not recommended except for young rabbits under 6 months of age because it is too high in calcium and protein, which can lead to obesity and urine crystal or bladder stone formation. Hay should be stored in a cool, dry place to prevent mold growth.
A quality rabbit pellet should not contain any seeds, nuts, dried fruits/veggies, or other mixed-in items, and should have a fiber content greater than 20%. Pellets should be fed daily in limited amounts. The adult rabbit needs only 1/8 cup of pellets per 4 lbs body weight daily. Overfeeding of pellets can lead to obesity, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, chronic soft stools and bladder stones. Most pelleted rabbit food is made from alfalfa hay, which is fine for most rabbits and ideal for young rabbits, although these pellets can be high in calcium, calories and protein. If a rabbit has problems with urine crystals, bladder stones or obesity, a timothy-based pellet is recommended. Keep the pellets in a cool, dry, air-tight container to prevent spoilage. Old, stale pellets no longer smell like fresh hay, lose their nutritional value, and can cause a rabbit to stop eating.
Rabbits also need a good assortment of leafy green vegetables to supply other vitamins and essential nutrients such as vitamin A. Try to feed at least 3 different types of greens daily. A minimum of 2 cups of vegetables per 6 lbs of body weight is recommended. Gradually introduce one type of leafy vegetable at a time, because some rabbits can get loose stools from certain greens such as spinach, or any greens to excess. Some good choices of greens are listed at the bottom of this page.
Treats are not essential and should be limited to a maximum of 1 tablespoon per 5 lbs of body weight daily. Good choices for treats include apple, pear, peach, papaya, pineapple, plum, melon, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, mango and persimmon. Particularly sugary fruits like banana, grapes, and dried fruit should be limited to half the amount suggested above.
Do not feed grains, breads, cereals, crackers, starchy foods or sugary snacks because these foods will encourage overgrowth of toxin-producing bacteria in the gut, leading to fatal enterotoxaemia.
Pellets contain all the vitamins your rabbit needs. Vitamin supplements, salt, or mineral blocks are not recommended for normal, healthy rabbits and can even be detrimental.
Young rabbits from 8 weeks of age to 6 months can be fed a mixture of alfalfa and grass hay free choice, and an unlimited amount of pellets until the time of spay or neuter at about 4 - 6 months of age. Once spayed or neutered, pellets should be limited to prevent obesity. At 8 weeks of age, bunnies can be gradually introduced to leafy greens and vegetables, but not more than one new food each week.
Good leafy greens include:
Basil, Parsley, Carrot tops, Watercress, Collard greens, Dandelion greens, Mint, Spinach, Swiss chard, Bok Choy, Mustard greens, Outer cabbage leaves, Kale, Cilantro, Wheat grass, Beet tops, Raspberry leaves, Brussel sprouts, Clover, Endive, Radish tops, Escarole, Peppermint leaves
Good choices for vegetables include:
Carrots, Squash, Pea pods (but no peas!), Broccoli, Green pepper, Alfalfa sprouts, or Celery (cut into small pieces)
AVOID these foods!
Beans, Peas, Corn, Potatoes, Onion, Garlic, Rhubarb and leaves
Note: Dr. Barksdale practiced at Cottage Grove Animal Hospital before relocating to Maine. She has extensive rabbit and small animal experience and was the primary veterinarian for many MCRS foster buns over the years. She was also one of the MCRS Recommended Veterinarians.