Many people picture rabbits happily munching carrots, but a healthy rabbit diet looks quite different. Rabbits have a delicate digestive system designed to process large amounts of fibre throughout the day. Getting the balance right prevents most of the common health problems pet rabbits face, including dental disease and gut stasis.
Hay: around 80 percent of the diet
Fresh, good-quality grass hay should be available at all times. A rabbit should eat a pile of hay roughly the size of its own body every day.
Hay does two essential jobs:
- It keeps the gut moving. The long fibre keeps food passing through the digestive tract steadily.
- It wears down the teeth. Rabbit teeth grow continuously. Chewing tough hay grinds them down and prevents painful overgrowth.
Timothy, meadow and orchard grass hay are good choices for adult rabbits. Alfalfa hay is much richer in calcium and protein, so it is usually reserved for young, growing rabbits.
Fresh greens: about 10 to 15 percent
Offer a variety of leafy greens every day, roughly a packed cup per kilogram of body weight. Introduce new vegetables one at a time in small amounts so you can spot anything that upsets the stomach.
Good everyday options include:
- Romaine and other dark leaf lettuces (avoid iceberg)
- Coriander, parsley, basil and dill
- Bok choy and spring greens
- Carrot tops and celery leaves
- Dandelion leaves from areas free of pesticides
Pellets: a small daily portion
Plain, high-fibre pellets help fill nutritional gaps, but they should be a small part of the diet. A common guideline is about one tablespoon per kilogram of body weight per day for adult rabbits. Avoid muesli-style mixes with coloured pieces, seeds and dried fruit, as rabbits pick out the sugary bits and leave the healthy parts.
Treats: very small amounts
Fruit and root vegetables such as carrot are high in sugar. Treat them like sweets: a thumbnail-sized piece a few times a week is plenty. Suitable options include apple without seeds, berries, banana and carrot.
Foods to avoid
- Chocolate, sweets and baked goods
- Bread, crackers and cereals
- Avocado
- Onions, garlic, leeks and chives
- Potato and rhubarb leaves
- Iceberg lettuce, which has little nutritional value and can cause diarrhoea
- Seeds, nuts and corn
Fresh water
Rabbits need constant access to fresh water. Many drink more from a heavy ceramic bowl than from a bottle. Clean and refill it daily.
Warning signs to watch for
A rabbit that stops eating or stops producing droppings for more than 12 hours needs to see a vet urgently. This can be a sign of gut stasis, which can become life-threatening quickly. Other warning signs include drooling, dropping food, very small droppings and weight loss.
Summary
Unlimited hay, a daily mix of leafy greens, a small portion of plain pellets, occasional fruit treats and fresh water. Stick to that balance and you will give your rabbit the best chance of a long, healthy life.
Quick answers
How much hay does a rabbit need? Hay should make up most of a rabbit’s diet, and a good guide is a pile of fresh hay roughly the size of the rabbit’s body every day, available at all times.
Are carrots good for rabbits? Carrots are high in sugar, so they should be an occasional treat rather than a daily staple. Leafy greens are a better everyday choice.
Can rabbits eat fruit? Small amounts of fruit such as apple (without seeds) or berries can be given as treats a few times a week. Too much sugar can upset their digestion.
Do rabbits need pellets? A small measured amount of good-quality plain pellets can help balance the diet, but avoid muesli-style mixes, which encourage selective feeding.
When should I call a vet? A rabbit that stops eating or stops producing droppings for more than a few hours needs urgent veterinary attention, as this can signal gut stasis, a potentially life-threatening condition.
