B R O D H E A D S V I L L E V E T E R I N A R Y C L I N I C ( 5 7 0 ) 9 9 2 - 6 9 0 0

The Do’s and Don’ts of Rabbit Food

Ciara Fredericks, CVT and Stephanie Goldstein, DVM

Greens: Greens are also important to your rabbits diet. However, they should not be the whole diet. The darker the green, the richer the food, because of this, iceberg lettuce is not recommended as it has very little nutritional value. Dandelions however (as long as they have not been chemically treated), are a great source of nutrition! Too many greens can cause soft stool. You will become aware of this within the first 12 hours.

What Should Rabbits Eat? Cecotropes: Rabbits are herbivores, meaning they feed solely on

plants. An important part of their diet is something called cecotropes. These are droppings from the anus that come from an

area in the intestinal tract called the cecum. These droppings are rich in organisms that are packed with amino acids, fatty acids

and a multitude of vitamins that are highly beneficial to rabbits.

By eating these cecotropes, rabbits can obtain the maximum

nutrients from low-energy food materials. If you notice green, elongated, mucous coated, malodorous droppings, don’t remove them! They are essential to your rabbits diet.

Hay: Hay is also important for your rabbit, and it is appropriate

for all ages. Hay provides fiber and promotes healthy gastric motility, while also providing healthy chewing activities that help to wear down teeth – rabbit’s teeth will continuously grow

throughout its life! There are two types of hay – legume and grass

hays. Legume hays, such as alfalfa, clover, peas, beans and peanuts, are packed with nutrients, but have more calories and proteins than a house rabbit needs. Feeding only these hays may

lead to GI disorders and obesity. Grass hays, such as timothy,

meadow, oat and rye, are rich in nutrients but provide a low energy diet that is more appropriate for house rabbits. Mixed grass hays are the healthiest for rabbits, especially when sun-dried rather

than chemically dried. Never feed straw to your rabbit. Straw

diets can lead to serious nutritional deficits. Hay can be added to

litter boxes as a training aid, as rabbits often produce droppings when eating. Stuffing hay in fun places, such as toilet paper rolls, can aid in mental stimulation.

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What to avoid: Foods that are high in starch and/or fats. Examples include...

• Beans

• Bread

• Cereal

• Corn

• Chocolate

• Nuts

• Oats

• Peas

• Refined Sugars

• Seeds

• Wheat

Commercial Diets:

Commercial diets should only comprise a small portion of your rabbit’s diet. When fed alone, these diets are usually high in calories and may lead to obesity. They also usually contain indigestible fibers that slow down the GI tract and do not promote healthy wear of teeth. These diets may not promote normal water intake. This can lead to urinary problems in the future. Ideally, these diets only make up 10% of the total diet. If you are choosing a commercial diet, look for the following:

• 18% or higher in fiber

• 16% or less in protein

• 2.5% or less in fat

• 1% or less in calcium

• Based on grass hays (timothy, orchard, brome) NOT alfalfa

• Avoid diets containing seeds, dried foods or nuts A healthy amount of pellets is roughly ¼ cup for every 4lbs of body weight. Rabbits with chronic GI issues or weight problems may need pellets removed from their diet. ** Vitamin supplements are not needed for a healthy rabbit, as they receive all the vitamins they

need through cecotropes, green foods and hays. **

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Some Suggested Snacks

Leafy Greens – 75% of fresh portion of

diet, about 1 packed cup per 2lbs of

body weight per day.

Group One (high in oxalic acid, should

be fed minimally and rotated:

• Parsley �

• Spinach �

• Sprouts �

• Radish tops �

Group Two (low in oxalic acid, do not

need to be rotated or limited: �

• Arugula �

• Carrot tops �

• Kale �

• Romaine lettuce �

• Mint �

• Basil �

• Red or green lettuce �

• Raspberry leaves �

• Cilantro �

• Cucumber leaves �

Non-Leafy – 15% of diet, about 1 tbsp. per 2

pounds of body weight per day

• Carrots

• Broccoli •

Celery

• Bell peppers (any)

• Brussels sprouts

• Cabbage (any)

• Mushrooms

• Summer squash

• Zucchini Squash

Fruits – 10% of diet, about 1 tsp. per 2 pounds

of body weight per day

• Apple (any) �

• Pear �

• Peach �

• Kiwi �

• Plum �

• Mango �

• Berries (any) �

• Banana (remove peel) �

• Star Fruit �