Basic Rabbit Care
Diet
Rabbits are herbivores (they eat plants). Their daily diet should include:
- Unlimited mixed grass hay or timothy hay. Do not feed large amounts of
alfalfa hay to indoor adult rabbits.
- Less than 1/8 cup of high-fiber (18% or more) pellet (alfalfa based)
per 5 pounds of rabbit.
- No less than 1 cup of 3 types of dark green or yellow veggies: alfalfa
sprouts, basil, beet greens, broccoli leaves, brussel sprouts, carrots and
carrot tops, cilantro, collared greens, endive, green peppers, parsley,
romaine lettuce, kale, outer cabbage leaves, wheat grass, pea pods (no peas),
squash, dandelion leaves.
- Small amounts of fruit totaling no more than 1 to 2 level Tbs. Per
5 pounds of body weight: apple, peach, plum, pear, melon, raspberry, papaya,
blueberry, blackberry, strawberry, pineapple. No bananas or grapes.
Housing
Partial solid flooring is recommended in rabbit caging. 100% wire flooring
may induce severe foot ulceration and infections. Rabbits may be trained to a
litter box, suggested box materials are: Cellu-Dri, Yesterday’s News, Mountain
Cat Kitty Litter, or Harvest Litter. Do not use corncob, walnut shell, wood
shavings, or clay litters.
Preventative Care
- Sanitation is extremely important…. Keep the cage clean.
- Fur should be combed 1 to 2 times per week. More frequent combing is
required in longhaired breeds.
- Nails should be trimmed as needed (see your veterinarian).
- Fresh pineapple juice should be given monthly to prevent potentially
life-threatening hairballs. Alternatively, a small dose of a cat laxative may
be given weekly after grooming.
- Weigh rabbits monthly, and record the weight. If the weight drops
significantly, telephone your veterinarian.
- Teeth should be checked on a regular basis for overgrowth. This is
especially important if appetite seems to be flagging.
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