Providing a Healthy Rabbit Diet
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An unlimited supply of fresh grass hay is the single most important part of a healthy rabbit diet. In fact, most adult rabbits should be eating 85 percent of their diet in hay. Throughout their lives, rabbits all need access to hay, but the amount and type of hay vary based on age, development, and individual health needs. Check-in with your rabbit-savvy vet about adjusting your bunny’s diet to meet their needs. The following guidelines can help:
Young bunnies should be introduced to hay as soon as they can eat on their own
Babies, nursing mothers, and elderly or injured rabbits can have alfalfa hay (usually too nutrient-dense for health, adult rabbits).
Adult bunnies thrive on mixed grass and timothy hay because it is lower in calories and calcium than alfalfa.
There are several hay varieties to choose from, and SDHRS recommends a blend of timothy and orchard hays as a good base. Meadow grass, ryegrass, and oat grass are also good options. A “mix” of these recommended hays provides the healthiest diet for your bunny and can be purchased directly from the SDHRS Bunny Story (see our website at www.sandiegorabbits.org).
A Note About Alfalfa
Alfalfa does not contain enough fiber to produce large, light-colored droppings that indicate optimum digestive health. It does, however, provide a high concentration of energy and nutrients that can benefit rabbits who need help gaining or retaining weight.
As noted in previous sections, it’s easy to help your rabbit get enough hay by using a large, clean litter box and topping off their hay supply throughout the day.
The Place of Pellets
An example of HEALTHY pellets
Remember, hay is the foundation of a balanced rabbit diet. Rabbits do not need a diet primarily of pellets. Pellets are supplemental food and energy-dense, and a pellet-centered diet is like eating energy bars for every meal. Some rabbits experience chronic intermittent diarrhea or constipation, some produce too many cecal pellets, and many are very overweight from a diet based primarily on pellets instead of hay.
“The uncontrolled feeding of a pelleted diet to a house rabbit can lead to obesity, heart and liver disease, chronic diarrhea, and kidney disease as a result of the high concentration of calories, low fiber, and high calcium levels in the pellets,” says Dr. Susan Brown of the Rosehaven Exotic Animal Veterinary Services.
Think of pellets as dietary supplements that supply a more concentrated amount of vitamins and minerals than you find in hay and veggies alone. There are some healthy choices available and we can safely include pellets to “round out” bunny’s diet. Some rabbits don’t need pellets, depending on their health, energy needs, and the quality of their hay and vegetables — talk with your rabbit-savvy vet about what your rabbit needs. If you feed your rabbit pellets, make sure the primary ingredients are hay, preferably timothy; these pellets will be dark green and well compressed.
Avoid pellets that contain seeds or fatty grains like wheat or corn. These products are too high in sugar and carbohydrates and can cause obesity, diarrhea, and other serious digestive upsets, resulting in long-term health issues and many visits to the vet. Avoid multi-colored mixes sold in pet stores.
Special Needs that Might Affect Pellet Portion Sizes
Angora rabbits may require more pellets to support the growth of fur.
Older, underweight, and ill rabbits can be given alfalfa pellets to increase their calorie intake.
If your rabbit is overweight (according to their rabbit-savvy vet), move down to a lower weight quantity, to support weight loss.
If your rabbit is recovering from an illness or injury that makes it hard for them to keep weight on, they may need to consume more pellets.
Rabbits who are breastfeeding their kits need access to unlimited pellets and hay.
Rabbits who have chronic digestive issues may need to reduce or eliminate their pellet intake.
Timothy Pellets
For most rabbits, timothy pellets are a healthy option when eaten sparingly. SDHRS recommends high-quality timothy or alfalfa blend pellets be fed, following the label on the pellet bag for recommended quantities.
They are available through several different sources, including:
Oxbow Essentials for Rabbits — relatively high in fiber and low in protein.
Zupreem Nature’s Promise — a good-quality soy-free timothy pellet.
Sherwood Pet Health — options include a pellet made of alfalfa and timothy. This product is grain-free and soy-free and can be good for rabbits with a delicate GI system.
Supreme Selective Naturals — a high-fiber pellet made with timothy hay and without corn or wheat. They offer a grain-free option as well.
Several of these products are available at the SDHRS Bunny Store.
When switching to a new brand of pellets, remember to make the change gradually. Mix a few of the new pellets in with your current pellets, increasing the percentage of new pellets over a period of several days until that is all you give.
Water
Rabbits should have access to fresh water at all times. We recommend using a large ceramic bowl, or crock, to provide water for your bunny. Lighter bowls will be easy for rabbits to tip over or toss, but a large crock will help prevent spills.
We do not recommend using a water bottle, unless your rabbit is already accustomed to drinking water this way. If your bunny does drink out of a bottle, try offering a bowl of water as well to see if they will use it.
Rabbits do not naturally lap up water with their tongues like dogs or cats do, so licking the ball at the end of a water bottle is an unnatural way for rabbits to drink. In addition, only a small drop of water comes out of the bottle at a time, so it is much harder for rabbits to be able to drink enough water to stay hydrated using the bottle alone.
Daily Fresh Leafy Greens
Fresh greens help house rabbits stay hydrated and provide fiber and essential nutrients. Many people find it helpful to split bunny’s salad into two meals: breakfast and dinner. This helps you keep better track of whether they are eating regularly or may be experiencing digestive problems. Note, too, that if you decide not to incorporate pellets into your bunny’s diet, it can be a good idea to raise their greens intake, so consult your vet periodically about their dietary needs.
Feed a minimum of 1-2 cups of fresh leafy greens for each 4 lbs. of body weight, or as directed by your rabbit’s vet. Select at least three types of greens daily to obtain a variety of nutrients. When trying new leafy greens, introduce only one new item to the diet at a time. Eliminate a green if it causes soft stools or diarrhea and try something else. Build a bunny's daily salads from a selection of rabbit-safe veggies listed below.
Rabbit-Safe Veggies
Alfalfa and clover sprouts
Basil (sweet, lemon, or purple)
Beet greens (tops)
Bok choy
Brussel sprouts*
Carrot** and carrot tops
Celery leaves
Cilantro
Clover
Collard greens*
Dandelion greens
Endive (esp. the curly kind)
Escarole
Green leaf lettuce
Kale*
Mint
Mustard greens
Parsley
Pea pods (the flat edible kind)*
Radicchio
Radish tops
Raspberry leaves
Red leaf lettuce
Romaine lettuce (no iceberg)
Spinach* (no more than twice a week)
Watercress
Wheat grass
*Limit quantities. If your rabbit has a delicate GI system, do not give.
**Limit carrots to tiny pieces daily or as a small weekly treat. Carrots are sweet and contain natural sugars.
Fruit Is a Tasty Treat
Fruits like apples, bananas, and berries are a treat because of their high sugar content. Bunny may ask for fruit often, but limit this type of food to once or twice a week, and keep portion sizes small.
Carrots are also high in sugar and should be considered a treat as well. Remember, too many sweets will cause your rabbit to become obese and can cause soft stools and diarrhea, and dental problems, potentially causing long-term health problems.
Offering fruit as a treat once or twice a week is fine, but needs to be limited to very small piece: one grape (cut in half), 1/4” slice of banana, a 1-inch cube of apple or carrot, etc. Overfeeding your rabbit fruits is not worth the risk. Vet bills pile up due to intestinal problems that result from too much sugar intake.
Rabbit-Safe Fruits (in small portions):
Apple (no seeds)
Banana
Blueberries
Melon
Papaya
Peach (no pit)
Pear (no seeds)
Pineapple
Raspberries
Rosehips
Strawberries
Dangerous/Poisonous foods for your rabbit
- Chocolate
- Baked goods
- Crackers
- Breakfast cereals
- Bread
- Pasta
- Yogurt drops (even if they are sold for rabbits)
- Candy or “human treats”
- Packaged dairy or seed based pet store treats
- Bulb flowers
- Nightshade leaves (including tomato)
- Onions
- Garlic
- Spicy peppers
- Anything containing essential oils
