Food And Nutrition Guide For Rabbit Owners
Bunny looks so adorable nibbling his carrot friskily, isn’t he? But is that carrot good for his health?
Do you know rabbits have a very frail digestive system?
Yes! They need food that is high on nutrition like fruits, veggies, clean hay, pellets, and clean drinking water. We must avoid high fat or high-protein diet if we really want our bunny to stay healthy and frivolous. His meal should be loaded with fibers and vitamins and must be low in carbs to avoid gastrointestinal issues.
Let’s get into more details to know what specifically must be given and avoided when planning your beloved bunny’s diet.
Nutritious Food For Rabbits
Consider giving your rabbit a good amount of colorful veggies that boost immunity and keep digestion intact.
Veggies You Must Give To Your Bunny
- Spinach
- Broccoli (sparingly)
- Cucumber
- Bok Choy
- Basil
- Bell Peppers
- Chard
- Peapods
- Cilantro
- Parsley
- Eggplant
- Grass
- Brussels sprouts (Sparingly)
- Asparagus
- Mint
- Cauliflower
- Lettuce (sparingly)
- Radish Tops (sparingly)
Fruits You Must Provide Your Bunny
- Apples with pip removed
- Melon
- Papaya
- Kiwi Fruit
- Pineapple
- Pear without seeds
- Raspberries
- Plum
- Peach
- Strawberries
Hays and Commercial Food
Hay is quite beneficial for rabbits’ health. It has a sufficient amount of fiber and helps in trimming their constantly growing teeth. Rabbits love to graze a lot and hay is perfect to satiate this desire. However, refrain from Alfafa hay.
Although it is rich in minerals, this hay must be avoided because it is very high in calcium and protein which can cause digestive issues in rabbits.
Pellets also make for a superfood for rabbits. They are made from hay and thus have high nutritional content. However, make sure you opt for a plain one as others may contain nuts, puffs, and other unwanted contents.
Supplements can also be included in the rabbit diet as they provide an apt amount of daily nutrition and are easily digested. Choose the one that has low lactose levels.
You can include oats occasionally as they are a rich source of fiber. However, maintain moderation.
Foods To Avoid
- Carrots – they have high sugar content thus must be avoided
- Iceberg
- Legumes
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Yogurt
- Corn
- Bananas – high sugar
- Turnip Greens
- Kale
A healthy diet rich in fibers, vitamins, and minerals is ideal for a bunny. Thus, provide foods that will help keep his gastrointestinal tract healthy and will, hence, let him stay hale and hearty.
However, make sure you do not feed him all at a time. Divide the meals into parts for the whole day and let him nibble gullibly. Hay is the only food that must be available to him all the time to curb his hunger and nibbling instincts.
Certain foods may prove to be more harmful than beneficial hence knowledge of what goes into your pet’s mouth is of utmost importance. So, check before you feed as – a good habit will make a good rabbit!
