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General guidelines are to feed a minimum
of 1 cup of fresh greens for each 4 lbs. of body weight, per day. Select three
to four types of
greens (i.e., leafy lettuces, kale, chard, mustard greens, parsley,
etc.) daily. A variety is necessary in order to obtain the necessary nutrients, with
one each day that contains Vitamin A, indicated by a * below. Add one
green item to the
diet at a time. Eliminate if it causes soft stools or diarrhea. Remember - each rabbit is
an individual, and you will need to alter these guidelines to meet your rabbits' specific
requirements based on his health and sensitivity to certain foods.
Limit fruits to 1 or 2 very small pieces (2" chunk or 1 inch slice)
no more than 1 or 2 times per week - none if your rabbit is dieting
or has soft stools. Choose from the list
below of high fiber fruits. Sugary fruits such as bananas and grapes should be
given only
sparingly, as occasional treats, in very tiny portions (1/4" slice
or 1 - 2 grapes).
Dried fruits
have concentrated sugars so should be given in only very tiny pieces
and only sparingly. If you give dried papayas or cranberries,
for example, they should get only 2 small pieces a couple times per
week - at most. Again, only if they are very healthy and not
overweight.
Bunnies have a sweet tooth and if left to their own
devices will devour sugary foods to the exclusion of healthful ones.
It's up to you to make sure your rabbit's diet is healthy. After
all, they don't have the option of shopping for themselves, so they
depend on you to feed them foods that help them to live long
and healthy lives.
Vegetables:
Alfalfa, radish & clover sprouts
Basil
Beet greens (tops)*
Bok Choy
Broccoli (mostly leaves/stems)*
Brussels sprouts
Carrot & carrot tops*
Celery
Cilantro
Clover
Collard greens*
Dandelion greens and flowers (available in produce aisle)*
Endive*
Escarole
Green peppers
Kale *
Mint
Mustard greens*
Parsley*
Pea pods (the flat edible kind)*
Peppermint leaves
Radicchio
Radish tops
Raspberry leaves
Red or Green Leaf lettuce
Romaine lettuce (no iceberg lettuce)*
Spinach *
Watercress*
Wheat grass
Fruits:
Apple
Blueberries
Melon
Orange (be sure to remove the peel as it can harbor pesticides)
Papaya
Peach
Pear
Pineapple
Plums
Raspberries
Strawberries
Absolutely NO chocolate (poisonous!), cookies, crackers, breakfast cereals, bread, pasta,
yogurt drops, or other "human treats." There is research to suggest these items
may contribute to fatal cases of enterotoxaemia, a toxic overgrowth of "bad"
bacteria in the intestinal tract.
Large, unlimited amounts of fresh hay
and water should be offered daily. Young bunnies should be introduced to hay as soon as
they can eat on their own. Mixed grass hay or Timothy hay is preferred because it is lower
in calories and calcium than alfalfa. Read about the different
hays and grasses available in San Diego.
See how to set-up bunny's litterbox to contain fresh hay.
For comprehensive diet guidelines, visit www.CarrotCafe.com.
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