- Food rich in calcium, sugar and fat is BAD for your bunny,

- Hay and water should be base of your bunny’s diet program,

- Sweets, such as chocolate, bonbons and cookies are POISON!

- provide lots of vegetables and branches, to insure normal and constand teeth grinding, and wearing off.

Lets now see what should bunny diet program look like:

To read more about food, food pyramid and to see tables with good food for your bunny, visit this page: Bunnie-as-Pets.

Bunny Food Pyramid

Hay and water,

should there all the time, for your bunnies. There are lots of hay types. Two major groups there are: Grass hay and Legume hay.

Grass hay should be offered in unlimited quantity. Timothy and meadow hay are the best. This hay is low in calories, and has lots of branches for their teeth sharpening.

Legume hay, on the other hand id rich in calories, and some og them are rich in calcium too. So, limit the quantity of legumes. Alfalfa hay and beans and peanuts are the most commonly used legume hay.

Most owners tend not to give hay, if they keep rabbits indoors. The reason is mostly that hay is easily being spread all over the house by the bunny, or even owners. That problem can be solved easily by putting hay in a box (litter box i.e). Just, then, keep in mind to change hay frequently, for the simple reason: bunnies poop and pee in the same place with hay. And they don’t like to eat in filthy places. Bunnies are know as quite clean and picky animals.

Water.

You need to provide water to them all the time. Water is not only to prevent them dehydrating, but also to prevent gastrointestinal blockage, known as Ileus. GI blockage is caused ingesting too much hair during the moult. Bunnies use licking themselves to clean themselves. This way they ingest too much hair. You need to keep track on their emptying. If it stops, it is not good. Aside of water, some authors are recommending papaya or pineapple juice to be given once a week.

Vegetables.

I am sure you are thinking of carrot right now. :) Well, I was taught that bunnies eat only carrots. I must say, know that I have more experience with them, I have learned that carrot is not that healthy for them. Carrot is rich in sugar, so you should limit that vegetable in their diet program. Use only 1-2 slices of it per day. Give carrot tops instead. Perfect vegetable IMO is salad. It is rich in fibers, low in calorie and rich in water. Spinach is also one of vegetables that owners feed their pets with. It is rich in oxalate, and thus is not recommended to be given in large amount. Limit spinach on leaf or two per week.

For detailed list of vegetables that is good for your bunny, follow link given above.

Fruit.

While fruit is being food article No.1 for human beings, it can be dangerous for your house bunnies. As well known, fruit is rich in sugar, and can harm weak digestive system of your pet. Lots of sugar will cause GI flora dis-balance, and that can be lethal. Of course, it is recommended to feed your bunny with fruit. Just you have to know what is right fruit for them. My bunny, Gary, loves apples, bananas, pineapples. You will find your bunny loves everything you give to them. 1-2 pieces of apples, raisins, pears is good for a day. Banana should be offered once or twice a week. Use fruit as reward when they do something good.

Sweets.

Let me put it this way: keep them away from sweets (chocolate, bonbons, lollipops, cookies). They love those, and can smell them from across the house. If you want your bunnies to live long, and be healthy and happy (FAT RABBIT IS NOT A HAPPY RABBIT), think of chocolate as of poison!

Thank you for reading my article. For any questions, feel free to ask me.

For more info on house bunnies, visit: bunnies-as-pets blog.