Author: Andrea Austin
One of the most important aspects of properly caring for
a pet rabbit is providing him with a healthy, satisfying,
and well-balanced diet.
Fortunately, doing so is relatively easy, since there is
general consensus about what is good for rabbits and a wide
range of great food pellet options. Rabbits can also eat many
of the fruits and veggies that you probably have on your dinner
table every night (see below for recommendations and portions).
Pellets
Rabbit pellets, available at your local pet store, on the
internet, or through mail-order, can be a backbone of your
pet's diet. They provide many nutrients in a dense fashion,
and they make your job as a feeder so easy. However, you don't
need pellets to keep your rabbit healthy. Hay, veggies and
the
occasional treat of fruits can be an equally or even more
effective diet. After all, rabbits in the wild subsist on
hay, grass, and veggies ... why should domestic rabbits be
any different? On the other hand, pellets are easy and widely
available. The choice is really up to you.
If you do decide to feed your rabbit pellets, alfalfa pellets
are recommended, as are the excellent rabbit pellets offered
by Oxbow (Bunny Basics), Purina or Manna Pro. Feed your rabbit
a small amount twice daily (morning and night).
Purchase in small bags if possible (not jumbo size) to ensure
that they are as fresh as possible by the time your bunny
actually gets to eat them. Pet rabbits are widely known as
picky eaters who respond badly to sudden changes in diet,
and they may balk if you try to feed them pellets that are
spoiled or that
have gone rancid or stale.
Veggies
Pellets are a great starting point, but they are only a portion
of an overall balanced diet. Rabbits also love to consume
vegetables, and many vets recommend giving pet bunnies a small
amount of a variety of veggies each day.
Here are some veggies rabbits love: Alfalfa sprouts Basil
Brussels sprouts Carrots Celery Clover Green peppers Mint
Parsley Peppermint leaves Radish tops Wheat grass
While you may have seen bunnies crunching down on carrot
sticks in the cartoons, it's important not to give only carrots
or to overfeed too many carrots to your pet. Carrots contain
vitamin A, and too much of it can cause problems. On the other
hands, vitamin A is essential to good nutrition, so aim for
one item
that contains it per day. Besides carrots, some veggies that
contain vitamin A are:
Beet tops Broccoli Endive Romaine leaves Dandelion greens
Be careful not to give your rabbit too many vegetables, as
they are high in water content and can cause diarrhea or loose
stools. If this happens, reduce or eliminate veggies from
the diet.
Moreover, don't give your bunny rabbit so many veggies that
he starts to eat them only and neglect his pellets. Veggies
should be a supplement, not a main dietary staple.
Fruits
While you should give your rabbit more veggies than fruits,
some fruits can be a nice treat for your pet. Only give him
fresh fruit, never canned (which often has added sugar). Again,
give only small amounts, as too much can cause watery stools.
Rabbits tend to like apples, bananas, kiwi, and strawberry.
Papaya and pineapple are also great choices, as they both
contain papain, which is an enzyme that helps to keep rabbit
hairballs at bay.
Be Consistant!
Rabbits tend to be quite sensitive when it comes to changes
in their diet or feeding schedule. In fact, if there is a
sudden change or interruption, a rabbit may lose his appetite
or become ill.
Therefore, it's important to maintain consistency. Establish
a feeding routine that is easy for you to stick to each and
every day. Set your timer and fix the feeding schedule into
your own everyday routine. Make sure you have enough rabbit
food (whether hay, pellets, veggies, etc.) on hand so that
you don't run out unexpectedly.
Feeding your rabbit a consistent, balanced and healthy diet
is one of the best ways to ensure that your pet rabbit has
a long and happy life as your prized companion.
by Andrea Austin, http://www.rabbits-n-bunnies.com
About the author:
We hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like more
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