Feeding your Rabbit

Choosing what food to feed your rabbit can be difficult; there are so many different foods available, which one to choose? We've tried to make this decision less complicated by pointing out the key features and benefits of different foods. Obesity is an issue for domestic rabbits and food may need to be rationed:

Extruded food:

The extruded food sold at Pets at Home is a premium dry food that provides your rabbit with all the goodness they need in every mouthful.

Extruded food combats selective feeding whereby your rabbit may only eat their favourite bits out of their muesli mix and therefore miss out on the nutritional benefits of the rejected food. Extruded food includes all the same ingredients as muesli, but is mixed up, cooked and squashed into small pellets, so every pellet eaten is tasty and provides an ideal, balanced diet.

Muesli:

The traditional muesli mix incorporates the vitamins and minerals that rabbits need in various different ingredients e.g. seeds, grains and vegetables.

When you feed your rabbit check if there is any food left over and you should be soon able to tell if your rabbit is selective feeding and leaving certain bits every time.

If so, you could try feeding a little less food at feeding time so they eat the whole lot before being refilled, or, if it is becoming a serious problem switch to an extruded diet to ensure your rabbit gets a balanced diet.

Hay:

Although many foods are referred to as 'complete' none can compensate for a fresh supply of hay every day. Hay fulfils many essential functions for rabbits:

• Hay provides something to chew on and keep them from being bored
• Rabbit's teeth grow continuously and can become painful if not kept short, chewing hay helps to wear your bunny's teeth down.
• Hay plays a vital role in rabbits' digestion, known as a 'long fibre' hay.

Supplements

Fresh foods

Fresh foods should be introduced gradually to young rabbits to vary the diet. Small amounts of apples, cabbage or kale as well as edible wild plants like dandelions, chickweed or clover may be fed but always remember to wash them first. Young rabbits in particular can get upset stomachs quite easily from too much green food or being allowed to eat too much grass. Beware of some fresh plants that might be poisonous for your rabbit. Some common garden plants which may be harmful to your rabbit if eaten are: Anemone, Azalea, Deadly Nightshade, Poppies, Buttercups, Daffodils, Bluebells, Foxglove, Mistletoe, St Johns wort, Dahlias, Lupins, Chrysanthemums, Delphinium, Lily Of The Valley, Tulips, Iris, Lobelia, Fig, Juniper, Hyacinth, Privet, Yew, Laburnum, Ivy, Rhododendron, Wisteria, Clematis, Holly. If you suspect your bunny has eaten any poisonous plants and is visibly unwell with symptoms such as an upset tummy or breathing trouble, take your rabbit to the vet with, if possible, a sample of the plant they have eaten, that way the vet will be better able to treat it.

Treats

With teeth that are permanently growing rabbits are susceptible to dental problems, particularly overgrowth. Providing chew treats that are fun to nibble and tasty to eat will give your rabbits teeth a work out. There are lots of tasty treats available for your rabbit but give in moderation and adjust your rabbit’s main food quantity if necessary.

To view our range of rabbit food and rabbit treats please click here