One of the most important aspects of properly caring for your
pet rabbit is providing him with a healthy, satisfying, and
well-balanced diet. Fortunately, doing so is relatively easy,
since there is general consensus about what is good for rabbits
and a wide range of great food pellet options. Rabbits can also
eat many of the fruits and veggies that you probably have on
your dinner table every night (see below for recommendations and
portions).
Hay
Hay is an essential component of a rabbit's healthy diet. One
reason why is that feeding a rabbit hay on a daily basis seems
to reduce rabbits tendencies to pull out and consume or chew on
their own hair, which leads to (sometimes very dangerous)
hairballs.
Buy high-quality leafy grass hay, timothy hay or clover hay.
Avoid alfalfa hay, as it can sometimes be problematic and has
been shown to increase the risk of bladder stones.
FRESH Water
Like all creatures, rabbits need fresh water in order to
survive. Change water daily or at least every two days. When you
change the water, also wash the water bottle or dish thoroughly
to get rid of bacteria.
You may want to use a water bottle that can hang on a cage, as
this can reduce the messiness factor. If you prefer to use a
bowl, make sure it is sturdy and heavy enough so that your
rabbit won't overturn it.
Yogurt?
Although it may sound funny, rabbits can actually benefit from
yogurt just the same way that humans do. Yogurt is proven to
reduce the bad bacteria in the body, balancing out the good
bacteria in the process. Many pet rabbits seem to like yogurt
and accept it as a part of a balanced daily diet.
Chew Toys
As you will quickly learn as a new rabbit owner, bunnies love to
bite and chew on things. This is actually essential for good
dental health, but the trick is to give them good substances to
chew on so they won't be tempted to eat up your furniture or
other, more dangerous substances, like wires or electrical
cords.
A dog's chew toy (on the smaller side) can be a great
alternative, one which most rabbits seem to enjoy a great deal.
Two more natural options are a large bone from a piece of boiled
meat, with the bone marrow taken out, or some apple tree
branches (the twigs are great roughage and help keep the bunny's
intestines clean).
Rabbits tend to be quite sensitive when it comes to changes in
their diet or feeding schedule. In fact, if there is a sudden
change or interruption, a rabbit may lose his appetite or become
ill.
Therefore, it's important to be consistant. Establish a feeding
routine that is easy for you to stick to each and every day. Set
your timer and fix the feeding schedule into your own everyday
routine. Make sure you have enough rabbit food (whether hay,
pellets, veggies, etc.) on hand so that you don't run out
unexpectedly.
Feeding your rabbit a consistent, balanced and healthy diet is
one of the best ways to ensure that your pet has a long and
happy life as your prized companion.
by Andrea Austin, http://www.rabbits-n-bunnies.com
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