Just like people, rabbits feel best when they eat well.
It’s important to feed your rabbit properly. A poor diet can lead to serious medical issues. To keep your bunny healthy and happy, here are my personal guidelines when it comes to food.
Hay is the bunny’s staple. 75% of our diet should be comprised of hay. There are many varieties out there — Timothy hay is the best. Not only is it nutritious but the straw tends to be thicker, which is excellent for our teeth. There are many brands of Timothy hay available. Bunnies can be picky so you might have a try a few brands before you find the one your bunny will love. My personal favorite is Oxbow Western Timothy Hay.
Many people give their bunnies pellets. Before mom adopted me, my diet consisted mostly of pellets. After bringing me home, mom slowly weened me off pellets. Our personal opinion is that while pellets are convenient, they are not ideal. First, pellets are processed and this means that we don’t have to do as much chewing when we eat them. Chewing is very important for our dental health. Second, when a rabbit is in GI Statis, an experienced vet will tell you to stop feeding us pellets. Also, wild buns don’t have access to pellets — why should we?
Mom does a good job of shopping for my food.
In addition to my hay, I eat fresh veggies daily. My favorites includes parsley, carrot tops, kale, and celery. I love carrots as well but due to the high sugar content, they are given in moderation. I am notorious for my sweet tooth — I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE fruit. Fruit is given in moderation. I love white nectarines, banana, apples, pears, watermelon, grapes, and cherries.
The House Rabbit Society has an excellent article about diet. I highly recommend reading it before giving your bunny something new.