Bringing Home a Pet Rabbit

Grass hay makes up 80% of a rabbit’s diet and must be available in unlimited quantities at all times.  Hay is essential to good health.  Hay stimulates the rabbit’s GI tract to work correctly and helps prevent dental issues and blockages.  Grass hay is rich in Vitamin A and D, calcium, protein, and other nutrients.

IMPORTANT:  Before introducing any fresh foods, it is best if your rabbit has been eating grass hay for a minimum of 2 weeks.  The grass hay will help to get your rabbit’s GI tract motility and flora in good working order so that he/she will be able to accept new foods more easily. 

Provide a variety of fresh, grass hay twice daily as it provides natural foraging to find the best pieces.  Varying the type of grass hay or mixing hays is a great idea (e.g., timothy, orchard, oat hay, brome, etc.).  Alfalfa is not grass, but rather a legume (in the pea and bean family).

Store hay in dry, temperature-controlled climates out of plastic to prevent mold.

Water
Fresh water must be supplied daily.  Please make sure water is always available in a heavy crock/bowl (NO bottles) to encourage drinking.  Change water daily.  Water is necessary to flush excess calcium from the kidneys and bladder, and it is essential for healthy function of the gut and its bacteria.

Pellets
Pellets should be fresh and should be high in fiber (>18% fiber), and low in protein (<14%), calcium (<0.9%) and fat (<2%).  Pellets should make up less of a rabbit’s diet as he or she grows older; amounts are based on weight and age.  Alfalfa pellets are fine for younger rabbits, but timothy pellets are preferred for older rabbits to prevent kidney stones from too much calcium.  See amounts below.

Rabbits under 6 months old are still growing and should be fed unlimited hay and pellets and some vegetables.  For adult rabbits, pellets should always be rationed because overfeeding can cause serious health problems.  Smaller rabbits have a faster metabolism and less efficient digestion than do large rabbits; they may need to be fed more per pound than would a large rabbit.  Angoras need more pellets per pound because of their fur; mini-rex rabbits have a tendency to plumpness and may need to be fed less.

The following guidelines are suggested:

§ 2-4 lb body weight:    ¼ cup daily

§ 4-7 lb body weight:    ½ cup daily

§ 7-10 lb body weight:  ½ – ¾ cup daily

§ 11-15 lb body weight: ¾ -1 cup daily

For some rabbits, pellets can cause digestive upset.  For others, too much calcium can cause urinary stone formation for some.  When you feed a lower quantity (or no) of pellets, you must replace the nutritional value without the calories, which is done by increasing the vegetables.  It is important to discuss the pros and cons of reducing or eliminating pellets from a rabbit’s diet with your rabbit savvy veterinarian.

Vegetables
Feed 1 cup of fresh, washed leafy green vegetables for each 2-4 lbs. of body weight.  Select at least three types of vegetables daily to offer variety.  Fresh vegetables provide nutrients and moisture in the diet, which is good for kidney and bladder function.

IMPORTANT: When introducing new fresh foods to any rabbit’s diet, it is best to go slowly to allow the GI tract and all its important microorganisms time to adjust.  Introduce one new food every three days and keep a watch on the stools.  Eliminate from the diet if it causes soft stools or diarrhea.

Iceberg lettuce is mostly water and can cause diarrhea; carrots are sugar-rich and may cause intestinal problems in some rabbits.  Brassicas (Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi, mustard greens) may cause gas and soft, smelly poops.  Provide them in limited amounts.

Leafy Green Vegetables for Rabbits (75% of fresh portion of your rabbit’s diet)

Arugula

Basil (any variety)
Beet greens (tops)
Bok choy

Borage leaves
Carrot tops

Chicory
Celery
Cilantro
Clover
Collard greens

Cucumber leaves
Dandelion greens (no pesticides)

Dill leaves
Endive
Escarole

Fennel (leafy tops & base)

Green lettuce (not Iceberg)
*Kale

Mache

Mint (any variety)
Peppermint leaves
Radicchio
Raspberry leaves

Red lettuce

Romaine lettuce

Spring greens

Turnip greens
Watercress
Wheatgrass

Yu  Choy

*There is current dispute in the scientific community regarding the levels of oxalates and goitrogens in kale.  Some feed it daily without issues while others have found that kale fed in large amounts on a daily basis may contribute to bladder sludge and other health issues.

Rotate Weekly Due to Higher Oxalic Acid Content  (1 out of 3 varieties of greens a day)

Beet greens

Mustard greens

Parsley

Radish tops

Spinach

Swiss chard

Sprouts (from 1 to 6 days after sprouting, sprouts have higher levels of alkaloids)

Safe in Moderation (About 1 tablespoon per 2 lbs of body weight per day)

Bell peppers

Broccoli (leaves & stems)

Carrots (high in sugar)

Cabbage (any type)

Celery (cut into small pieces)

Cucumber

Pea pods (the flat edible kind)

Summer squash
Zucchini

Edible flowers (chamomile, dandelion, hibiscus, nasturtiums, pansies, rosehips, violets without seeds)
***Grown without chemical sprays/pesticides or bought dried from a reliable vendor***

Dangerous

Avocado

Corn

Iceberg lettuce

Onions

Potatoes

Fruit 

Limit fruits to 1 teaspoon per 2 lbs. of body weight per day (or 1-2 tablespoons per 5 lbs. of body weight per day) from the list below of high fiber fruits.  Cut out fruit if dieting.

Sugary fruits such as bananas and grapes should be used only sparingly, as occasional treats.  Bunnies love sweets and will devour them, so be careful.  Too much sugar slows the GI tract and leads to GI stasis.

• Apple (without steam & seeds)
  
• Apricot
• Banana
• (remove peel; no more than about 2 1/8 inch slices a day for a 5 lb rabbit…they LOVE this!)
• Berries (any type)
• Cherries (without pits)
• Kiwi
• Mango
• Melons
• Orange (including peel)
• Papaya

• Peach/Nectarine
• Pear
• Pineapple (remove skin)
• Plum (without pit)
• Star Fruit