Animal Care - Rabbit Diet


Keeping Rabbits Healthy
The guidelines offered will help you maintain the good health of your rabbits.

Special attention to changes in droppings and urine is allways important. Some rabbits develop "sludgy" urine when to much calcium is in the diet. This is characterized by a chalky consistency and color. This can also be caused by a bacteral infection. if changes to the diet do not bring about a change back to clear urine, a Veterinarian should be consulted. Changes in the size or consistency of droppings can be caused by diet or infection Smaller droppings may indicate a need for more fiber, as is provided by hay. Diarrhea can be fatal, so watching for this deadly condition is very important.

Keeping rabbts at an optimum weight is also important for good health. Good diet and yearly visits to a veterinarian will help keep your rabbit healthy and happy for years to come. rabbits start getting overweight, eliminate oat hay and increase straw. Give at least one handful twice a day.

Some veggies, such as broccoli and cabbage can cause gas. Be careful when feeding these items. Make sure all fruits and veggies are fresh!

Keeping rabbts at an optimum weight is also important for good health. Good diet and yearly visits to a veterinarian will help keep your rabbit healthy and happy for years to come.
Prescribed Diet By Sandi Ackerman and Dr. Susan Brown, DVM
Babies
Birth to 3 weeks - mother's milk
3 to 4 weeks - mother's milk, nibbles of alfalfa and pellets
4 to 7 weeks - mother's milk, access to alfalfa and pellets
7 weeks to 7 months - unlimited pellets, unlimited hay
12 weeks - introduce vegetables one at a time, quantities under ½ cup and watch droppings to be sure they are not causing diarrhea.
7 months to 1 year
Introduce timothy, grass hay, and oat hays, decrease alfalfa
Decrease pellets to 1/2 cup per 6 lbs. body weight
Increase daily vegetables gradually
2 Tablespoons fruit per 6 lbs. body weight
1 to 5 years
Unlimited timothy, grass hay, oat hay, straw. Choose according to weight. If rabbits start getting overweight, eliminate oat hay and increase straw. Give at least one handful twice a day.
1/4 cup pellets per 6 lbs. body weight
Minimum 2 cups chopped vegetables per 6 lbs. body weight
2 Tablespoons fruit per 6 lbs. body weight
Over 6 years
Increase pellets and if calcium levels are normal Alfalfa hay if weight begins to drop.
Maintain vegetables as for younger adult rabbits.
Vegetables - At least three a day
Alfalfa, radish & clover sprouts Basil Beet greens (tops)* Bok Choy Broccoli (mostly leaves/stems)* Brussels sprouts Carrots & carrot tops* Celery Cilantro Clover Collard greens* Dandelion greens/flowers (no pesticides)* Endive Escarole Green peppers Kale (!)* Mint Mustard greens* Parsley* Pea Pods (the flat edible kind)* Peppermint leaves Radicchio Radish tops Romaine lettuce (no iceberg or light colored leaf)* Spinach(!)* Watercress Wheat grass

!Use occasionally because they are high in oxalates or goitrogens and may be toxic in accumulated quantities over a period of time
*At least one a day for Vitamin A content
Fruits
Apple (no stems or seeds) Banana Blueberries Melon Orange (including peel) Papaya Peach Pear Pineapple Plums Raspberries Strawberries
Occasional Treats
Oatmeal Oatgroats Raisens
Kind Planets' Safe Herbs and Flowers List
Blackberry Vines & Leaves Chamomile Fennel Marigold Mint Nasturtium Plantain Raspberry Vines & Leaves Rosemary Roses Sage Thyme Violets Yarrow

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We Hope This Helps You In Your Quest
To Keep Rabbits Healthy & Happy!

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