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Introduction
Diet is the single most important factor to the well being of your rabbit and if you read no further then remember this word…GRASS.
Grass - You Can't Beat It
Grass holds the key to a healthy rabbit, the high fibre content is essential for normal gut function. The low fat content helps prevent obesity and the high calcium level keeps rabbits' bones strong. Also because rabbits have to chew large quantities of abrasive grass, this grinds down the cheek teeth preventing dental disease.
The Problem
So why do vets see so many overweight rabbits with brittle bones and appalling dental disease despite having access to grass? It's because bunnies are given a choice of foods to eat. Rabbits are often overfed poor quality pet-shop mixer diets which they gorge on leaving no room for grass.
I like to ask owners which they'd prefer to eat given a choice, brown bread toast or a fry-up. The answer is always the fry-up. Of course it is, we all eat what tastes good if we don't know better. It's just the same with rabbits, sure grass is good for them but do they know that? No, so they fill up on the more palatable high fat, low calcium, low fibre pet shop mixes, resulting in obesity and developing irreversible life-threatening dental disease.
The Answer
We recommend feeding mixer and fresh veg only as a supplement to grass. Wild rabbits thrive on grass and don't suffer any dental disease.
If you have difficulty getting regular access to fresh cut grass then we recommend the use of a good quality hay and supplement rabbit foods, the best of these is Suparabbit XL, which Parkvets stock.
