Bringing rabbits into your life offers countless benefits. For one, bunnies are wonderful companions that can keep your stress and boredom at bay. Bunnies also require low maintenance, ideal for individuals who live in small spaces or have a limited budget.
Being a pet owner is rewarding, but you’ll have a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders—and this includes feeding your rabbits the right food. As a pet owner, the health and safety of your bunnies depend on the diet you provide to them, which is why you should be very careful about what you feed them. You need to make sure that your bunnies receive a well-balanced diet.
Listed below are foods that your rabbits can safely eat. Incorporate the following into your rabbits’ diets, so they can receive the essential vitamins and minerals that their bodies need.
Hay
Your rabbits’ diets should contain at least 80% of hay. Hay is an excellent source of long-strand fiber to your bunnies, which can keep their digestive tracts and teeth healthy.
Some of the best types of grass you can give to your bunnies are orchard grass, oat hay, timothy, and brome. Depending on your preferences, you can feed your rabbits with one type of grass hays or give them a combination of different types. Just make sure that you provide unlimited amounts of hays to your rabbits as they naturally graze upon it all day.
Pellets
Because they’re packed with the essential vitamins and minerals, feeding your rabbits with pellets is a must. Pellets basically compensate for the nutrients that aren’t found in hay and other fresh foods. This reduces any deficiencies in your rabbits.
When feeding pellets to your rabbits, be cautious about the amount you feed to them. Average-sized rabbits (weighing around six to ten pounds) should only be given a one-quarter cup of pellets every day. Rabbits weighing less than five pounds should be fed with one-eighth of a cup, while rabbits larger than ten pounds should have a quarter of a cup of pellets.
Lettuce
Yes, your rabbits can eat lettuce. This vegetable is actually packed with several nutrients, such as vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, calcium, and potassium. Lettuce is also low in calories, which means that it won’t contribute to your rabbits’ weight gain or obesity.
Of all the varieties of lettuce available today, avoid giving iceberg lettuce to your rabbits. Iceberg lettuce has very little nutrients and contains lactucarium, a chemical that can be highly toxic to rabbits when ingested. Iceberg lettuce and other light-colored lettuces also have a high water content that can trigger diarrhea and constipation in your bunnies.
Celery
Celery stalks are safe and healthy for your rabbits. This vegetable contains high levels of folic acid, calcium, potassium, and different B vitamins. Celery also contains phytochemical compounds known to fight inflammation, lower blood pressure, and prevent several types of cancer. Because of its water content, celery can also aid with your rabbits’ hydration.
Aside from the stalks, it’s perfectly safe to feed your rabbits celery leaves and tops, as well. Just make sure that these are properly washed before serving them to your bunnies. Celery leaves and tops are exposed to pesticides and can cause several health risks to your rabbits when not removed properly.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm isn’t only safe for your rabbits; it’s actually recommended for bunnies to maintain and improve their overall health. And why, you might ask? Simple, lemon balm is packed with powerful viral and antibacterial properties that can protect your bunnies from infections and speed up their bodies’ natural healing process.
Adding lemon balm to your rabbits’ diets can also help relieve bloating, diarrhea, and gas. This works because lemon balm is also a calming agent that can reduce stomach sensitivity and keep your rabbits’ digestive systems healthy.
Carrots
It’s common knowledge that rabbits love to nibble on carrots. However, you shouldn’t feed your pet with whole carrots as the sugar content of the vegetable can cause several health issues, namely obesity, and digestive problems.
One general rule of thumb to follow when feeding your rabbits with carrots is to limit the amount to a quarter of a carrot every other day. With this controlled amount, your rabbits can enjoy several nutrients from the vegetable, namely vitamin A, vitamin K, folate, potassium, and manganese, without worrying about them putting on some pounds!
Pineapple
When you have rabbits at home, you’ll no longer have to throw the center part of the pineapple as this is actually very healthy for your bunnies. This part of the pineapple is abundant in bromelain, an enzyme that can help relieve diarrhea and improve hairballs in rabbits.
When giving pineapples to your rabbits, make sure to serve them fresh as this has more active forms of the enzymes. Refrain from giving your rabbits frozen pineapples, as these can be a choking hazard.
Blueberries
In general, you should never give your rabbits fruits with seeds. But because the seeds of the blueberries are very small, feeding them some will not harm your bunnies. Besides, you can always remove the seeds from the blueberries before feeding the fruit to your rabbits.
Offering your rabbits blueberries can provide countless health benefits. Blueberries are packed with several antioxidants and minerals that can support brain health and cell repair. Blueberries are also low in sugar and provide a steady release of energy in rabbits.
Oats
Aside from being a healthy and filling breakfast for humans, do you know that you can also share some of your oats with your rabbits? Rabbits find it easy to chew and ingest oats, so you won’t have to worry about them choking.
Aside from this, oats can also reduce the risk of diabetes and insulin resistance among rabbits. So if your bunnies are underweight, incorporate oats into their diets as these can help them achieve a healthy weight fast.
Apples
Apples are great options for rabbits as they’re rich in antioxidants and fiber. Apples also contain high levels of calcium, potassium, and several B-complex vitamins.
Studies show that vitamin B6 deficiency among rabbits can cause anemia, convulsions, and scaly skin. In worse cases, vitamin B6 deficiency can cause sudden paralytic collapse. You can protect your bunnies from all of these health issues by giving them apples.
To ensure the safety of your rabbits when feeding them with apples, remove the core, seeds, and stem of the fruit. These contain cyanide, which can cause diarrhea and even death in rabbits.
Partner With A Vet
If you’re a first-time pet owner, incorporating the foods mentioned in this article can be challenging. You’ll likely see yourself clueless about how you’re going to start.
To make things easier for you, consult with a vet before adding any food to your rabbits’ diets. Vets have the experience to properly guide you as you change your rabbits’ diets to ensure that your pets remain safe and healthy.