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Mon. - Fri.: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Sat. - 9:00 AM to Noon

 

Fresh Foods
These foods should be given daily. Rabbits in the wild eat primarily tough, fibrous leaves, bark and other difficult to digest plants. Their digestive tract is healthiest when it has the most work to do in breaking down cellulose. If your pet is not used to getting any fresh foods, then start out gradually with the green leafy veggies and add a new food item from the list every 5-7 days. If the addition of any item leads to diarrhea or unformed stools in 24 to 48 hours, then remove it from the diet.

Young bunnies should also be introduced to new foods gradually. However, once your pet is eating these foods, try to give at least 3 types daily. We find the addition of these fresh fibrous foods help in the prevention of hairball's and other digestive upsets, plus your bunny will love you for it!

The following are all foods that you can try on your pet:

  • Carrot tops
  • Beet tops
  • Dandelion greens and flowers (these are excellent, but no pesticides, please)
  • Kale
  • Collard greens
  • Escarole
  • Romaine lettuce (don't give light colored leaf lettuce or iceberg lettuce)
  • Parsley
  • Radicchio
  • Spinach
  • Clover
  • Cabbage
  • Broccoli (don't forget the leaves)
  • Carrot
  • Green peppers
  • Pea pods (the flat edible kind)
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Basil
  • Peppermint leaves
  • Raspberry leaves
  • Bok choy

The total amount of fresh food that can be given daily (once your pet has been gradually introduced to it as described above) is about 1 heaping cup (loosely packed) per 5 pounds of body weight.

Treat Foods
In a small amount, you can give one of these "treat" foods daily (give about 1 level tablespoon per 5 lbs of body weight):

  • Strawberries
  • Papaya
  • Pineapple
  • Apple
  • Pear
  • Melon
  • Raspberries
  • Peach
  • Pear
  • Dried whole grain bread

One can alternately give one level teaspoon per 5 pounds of body weight of banana or dried fruit.

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND GIVING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING FOODS ROUTINELY BECAUSE OF THEIR POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING DIETARY UPSET AND OBESITY:
  • Salty or sugary snacks
  • Nuts
  • Chocolate
  • Breakfast cereals
  • Other grains (including oatmeal and corn)
Water
This should always be available, and changed daily. A dirty water container can breed bacteria that can cause disease. The container can be either a water bottle or heavy bowl that is weighted or secured to the side of the cage so that it does not tip over. Because medications or vitamins may alter the taste or color of water, your pet may not drink it.

Vitamins
Vitamins are not felt to be necessary if the rabbit is getting pellets, hay and fresh foods in the diet. In fact, the indiscriminate use of vitamins may lead to over dosage and serious disease.

Salt and Mineral Block
A salt and mineral block is not necessary for the house pet on the described diet. You may want to have one available for those animals kept outdoors in warm climates and for breeding animals.

Night Droppings
It may seem strange to list this as a part of the diet, but these "special droppings" are an essential part of your pet's nutrition. During certain times of the day, usually in the evening, you may observe your pet licking the anal area and actually eating some of the droppings in the process.

These cecal pellets, as they are called, are softer, greener, and have a stronger odor than the normal hard, dry, round waste droppings. Your pet knows when these droppings are being produced and will take care of eating them himself. These cecal pellets come from the cecum, which is the part of the digestive system where fermentation of food takes place, and they are rich in vitamins and nutrients, which are needed by your pet to maintain good health. After eating these "vitamin pellets" he will redigest the material and extract all the necessary nutrients. This habit may appear distasteful to us, but it is normal and important for your pet.

Occasionally a rabbit will drop these cecal pellets along with the waste pellets instead of eating them. They will be soft, brighter green, misshapen, but formed and have an odor. This is not considered diarrhea, and if it only occurs occasionally, it is not considered a disease problem.

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