F.A.Q Rabbits

What should I feed my rabbit?

The current veterinary thinking is that rabbits should be fed basically on grass, due to the need of a rabbit to eat constantly to exercise their jaws, and so wear down their ever-growing teeth.

• 20 - 25% crude fibre
• 12 - 14% crude protein 
• 1% fat 
• And various minerals

This matches entirely with grass, as does the calcium phosphate balance needed by rabbits.

For instance, an article in the Veterinary Times on (October 2001) says that 'rabbits are herbivores with a digestive system specially adapted for a high fibre diet. For optimal health, they require the combination of a high food intake, together with a low retention time in the gut. A reduced fibre intake will affect the normal functioning of the intestine and frequently lead to digestive disturbances, which can be potentially fatal'.

The author goes on to say, 'A particle size of 2mm is required for good gut health, and this can only be provided from a 'long chop' supplementary forage source, such as grass or hay. Long chop fibre sources, as well as providing the bulk for good digestion, will also have the following benefits':

• Reduced dental problems. Rabbits depend on dried forage to wear down their premolars and molars
• Alleviation of boredom. Rabbits naturally forage for 60 per cent of their time 
• Fewer hairballs

Hay and grass are both of the 'long chop' forage sources, so either can be fed. The important thing, though, is that in addition to getting the high fibre diet they need, rabbits get enough sunlight for vitamin D production.

An article in Veterinary Practice (January 2001) also stresses the importance of feeding grass or hay as the staple diet. This says: 'By keeping them (rabbits) on grass, wherever possible, so that this forms the mainstay of their diet and by feeding concentrate as a supplement rather than the other way round, dental overgrowth can be avoided. The sunlight they are thus exposed to also allows adequate vitamin D synthesis for calcium absorption'.

Dental problems are the reason for 13 per cent of the rabbits coming to the vet's and 69 per cent of these are dwarf breeds. The pelleted diets do not offer chewing exercise, as they require crushing and rabbits’ teeth have evolved for grinding. Rabbits fed exclusively on this type of diet will get wear abnormalities in their teeth resulting in malocclusion (or abnormal positioning of the teeth). Particularly for the front teeth, but the back teeth (or molars) can also be affected.

The symptoms include:

• Difficulties in swallowing 
• Excessive salivation (drooling) 
• Refusal of food, especially if it is hard 
• Progressive weight loss

The treatment can involve filing or trimming of the back teeth and this procedure usually needs sedation or an anaesthetic.

As regards their teeth, rabbits have special dietary needs and require food that needs grinding. The diet fed to rabbits should be as near to their natural diet as possible. In the summer, feed fresh green grass, growing grass and other vegetation. In the winter, grass, hay, other vegetation and 'doormat grass'. Doormat grass are pads impregnated with grass seeds that can be grown indoors.

Rabbits are very sensitive to any dietary changes, so always discuss any proposed alteration in their diet with the vet.