Feeding Pet Rabbits
July 12th 2008 16:06
Whether you are thinking about getting a pet rabbit, or you already have one and you want to make sure that you're providing the best diet for your pet, you'll want to check out the proper pelleted diets and proper veggies that your rabbit will love and benefit from.
Hay is the most important part of your rabbit's diet. You want to make sure that you offer fresh timothy hay, oats, and other grass hays every day. You want ot cut down the amount of alfalfa hay because it can high in calories and calcium, which can cause bladder problems on a long term basis. Alfalfa hay is ok every now and then, but don't use it as a staple hay.
You also want to provide fresh fruits and vegetables daily. This will help balance out your rabbit's diet. Generally, you want to offer 2 to 4 cups of fresh fruits and vegetables per every 5 pounds. You want to make sure that all vegetables are washed and organic because you never know what pesticides are used. For example, because people do not eat the carrot tops or radish top, typically this portion is sprayed with a pesticide, which can be dangerous, if not fatal.
Make sure that you provide a varied diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, try to include the following produce:
Fruits:
* Apple
* Blackberries
* Blueberry
* Pineapple
* Melon
* Papaya
* Peach
* Plum
* Pears
* Raspberries
* Strawberries
Vegetables:
* Alfalfa, Radish and Clover Sprouts
* Asparagus
* Basil
* Beet Greens 1
* Bok Choy
* Broccoli 1,2
* Brussels Sprouts
* Carrots and Tops 1
* Chard
* Chicory Greens 3
* Cilantro
* Clover
* Collard Greens 3
* Dandelion Greens
* Eggplant
* Endive
* Escarole
* Kale 3,4
* Mint
* Mustard Greens
* Mustard Spinach 3
* Okra Leaves
* Parsley 1
* Pea Pods 1
* Peppermint Leaves
* Peppers (green, red, yellow)
* Pumpkin Leaves
* Radicchio
* Radish Tops
* Raspberry Leaves
* Squash: Zucchini, Yellow, Butternut, Pumpkin
* Turnip Greens 3
* Various Lettuces, Avoid Very Light Hearts: Romaine, Butter, Green Leaf, Boston, Bibb, Arugula... No Iceberg
* Watercress 1
* Wheat Grass
Notes
1 Good source of vitamin A, offer at least one daily
2 Some rabbits find this as grassy, and can cause diarrhea, if so remove it
3 High in calcium, use sparingly- only once or twice a week; avoid offering if you have an older bunny with bladder or kidney problems
4 High in either oxalates or goitrogens, which can cause or exacerbate sludging and other calcium/kidney problems; offer sparingly
But, don't thinks that you can get away with just hay and fresh fruits and vegetables. You also wantt o offer ea high quality pelleted diet. You don't want the commercial diet to include all the additives or seeds and dried vegetables. You want a pure pelleted diet because you are already offering fresh hays and vegetables.
Hay is the most important part of your rabbit's diet. You want to make sure that you offer fresh timothy hay, oats, and other grass hays every day. You want ot cut down the amount of alfalfa hay because it can high in calories and calcium, which can cause bladder problems on a long term basis. Alfalfa hay is ok every now and then, but don't use it as a staple hay.
You also want to provide fresh fruits and vegetables daily. This will help balance out your rabbit's diet. Generally, you want to offer 2 to 4 cups of fresh fruits and vegetables per every 5 pounds. You want to make sure that all vegetables are washed and organic because you never know what pesticides are used. For example, because people do not eat the carrot tops or radish top, typically this portion is sprayed with a pesticide, which can be dangerous, if not fatal.
Make sure that you provide a varied diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, try to include the following produce:
Fruits:
* Apple
* Blackberries
* Blueberry
* Pineapple
* Melon
* Papaya
* Peach
* Plum
* Pears
* Raspberries
* Strawberries
Vegetables:
* Alfalfa, Radish and Clover Sprouts
* Asparagus
* Basil
* Beet Greens 1
* Bok Choy
* Broccoli 1,2
* Brussels Sprouts
* Carrots and Tops 1
* Chard
* Chicory Greens 3
* Cilantro
* Clover
* Collard Greens 3
* Dandelion Greens
* Eggplant
* Endive
* Escarole
* Kale 3,4
* Mint
* Mustard Greens
* Mustard Spinach 3
* Okra Leaves
* Parsley 1
* Pea Pods 1
* Peppermint Leaves
* Peppers (green, red, yellow)
* Pumpkin Leaves
* Radicchio
* Radish Tops
* Raspberry Leaves
* Squash: Zucchini, Yellow, Butternut, Pumpkin
* Turnip Greens 3
* Various Lettuces, Avoid Very Light Hearts: Romaine, Butter, Green Leaf, Boston, Bibb, Arugula... No Iceberg
* Watercress 1
* Wheat Grass
Notes
1 Good source of vitamin A, offer at least one daily
2 Some rabbits find this as grassy, and can cause diarrhea, if so remove it
3 High in calcium, use sparingly- only once or twice a week; avoid offering if you have an older bunny with bladder or kidney problems
4 High in either oxalates or goitrogens, which can cause or exacerbate sludging and other calcium/kidney problems; offer sparingly
But, don't thinks that you can get away with just hay and fresh fruits and vegetables. You also wantt o offer ea high quality pelleted diet. You don't want the commercial diet to include all the additives or seeds and dried vegetables. You want a pure pelleted diet because you are already offering fresh hays and vegetables.
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