Rabbit food

Guidelines for feeding your rabbit

Proper feeding is essential to ensure the health and well-being of our rabbits. These adorable animals have specific dietary needs that must be met to keep their digestive system in good shape and prevent health problems. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about rabbit food, including recommended foods, feeding guidelines and important aspects to consider in order to provide them with a balanced diet.

Hay: The Basis of a Rabbit's Diet

Hay is the main food in a rabbit's diet (it makes up 80% of their daily diet) and should be available at all times. It provides essential fiber to maintain dental health (preventing dental overgrowth and malocclusion acquired for this reason) and the proper functioning of the digestive system.

Within the word "hay" we can find a great diversity of options, the most common being:

• Fescue
• Alfalfa
• Timothy Oats
• Mountain

Both fescue and Timothy are the best options to offer to our rabbit throughout its life, while alfalfa (and its mixture with fescue known as "alfastuca") should only be offered to animals under 5 months old and pregnant/lactating females due to its very high levels of calcium (which, in a wrong diet, can produce milky urine and renal problems).
Oat hay, on the other hand, is recommended only in times of molting due to its high sugar levels and great satiating power.

Fresh vegetables and fruits: A nutritional supplement.

Rabbits should also be given a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits to obtain the additional nutrients they need, which should be introduced into their diet gradually in order to observe any negative reactions (the "three-day rule"). Some recommended choices include carrot leaves, celery, lamb's lettuce and radish leaves, while in fruits, some of the suitable ones are apple, watermelon, strawberry, cherries, bell bell pepper (any color) and ripe red tomato. Fruits, we can give them with skin (with the exception of litchi) but we must always remove the bones and seeds.

Commercial rabbit food

Specific commercial rabbit food is a convenient option to guarantee a balanced diet. There are several brands on the market, but a recommendation of the highest quality is the brand Reis d'Aranda. This well-known brand specializes in the production of premium rabbit food, formulated with natural and nutritious ingredients. Reis d'Aranda foods offer complete and balanced nutrition, ensuring that your rabbit receives all the essential nutrients. By choosing Reis d'Aranda feeds, you can be sure to provide your rabbit with the highest quality food.
We should always opt for pelleted feeds with low or no levels of cereals in their composition, and avoid those of the "supermarket muslie" type where they mix corn grains, cereal "donuts" and canaryseed.

Fresh and clean water

A supply of fresh, clean water is vital for rabbits. Be sure to provide them with constant access to clean water in a suitable container. Regularly check that the water is not contaminated or clogged. Rabbits need to be properly hydrated to maintain their overall health and prevent gastric-intestinal (stoppage) and urinary problems.

We also have to keep in mind that those rabbits with large amounts of salads in their diet will drink less water than those following a "dry" diet because they will ingest water through the food.

Avoiding dangerous foods

Feeding your rabbit the right foods is crucial, but it is also important to know which foods to avoid. Some dangerous foods for rabbits include chocolate, sugary treats, nuts, dried fruit, onions, garlic, green/ripe tomatoes, leeks, potatoes and ultra-processed foods. These foods can cause digestive problems, obesity and other health complications (including death).

Conclusion:

Providing proper nutrition is critical to keeping our rabbits healthy and happy. Hay should be the basis of their diet, followed by a variety of fresh vegetables and specific commercial rabbit foods. The Reis d'Aranda brand is recognized for offering high quality food specially formulated for rabbits, providing complete and balanced nutrition. Be sure to provide fresh water and avoid dangerous foods. Always consult a veterinarian specializing in exotic animals for specific recommendations to ensure that your rabbit's diet is balanced and adequate for its long-term well-being.