Rabbit Appropriate Fresh Foods
(based on diet information of Susan Brown, DVM)
| Green Foods | Fruits and Other Vegetables (Treat Foods) | |||
When selecting and using green foods follow these guidelines:
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Depending on the time of year, rabbits in the wild would have access to additional foods such as fruits, vegetables and flowers. Since these items do not make up the majority of the diet, we recommend feeding these treats in limited quantities. Another reason for limiting the amount is because some rabbits like these foods so well that they will eat them to the exclusion of all others, thereby creating a potential for health problems. Foods from this list can be fed daily and you may even wish to use them as part of a reward or training system.For treat foods, follow the same guidelines listed above for selecting and using green foods with the exception of the amount. You can feed your pet a total of 1 tablespoon per 2 pounds of body weight per day of any combination of the fruits below. Other veggies should make up no more than 15% of the total diet. | |||
| Arugula Bok Choy BorageBasil (any variety) Broccoli (leaves and top) Cabbage (red, green, Chinese) Carrot/beet tops Chickory Cilantro Collard greens Dandelion greens Dill leaves Dock Endive |
Escarole Fennel (leafy top and base) Kale Mache Mint (any variety) Mustard greens Parsley (Italian or flat leaf best) Radicchio Red or Green leaf lettuce Romaine lettuce Spring greens Swiss chard (any color) Turnip greens Water cress |
Apple Banana (remove peel, no more than ¼ inch slice for 5 lb rabbit) Bean or alfalfa sprouts Bell peppers (any color) Berries (any type) Broccoli (leaves and stems) Brussels sprouts Carrots Cherries Chinese pea pods (no large peas) Cranberries |
Green or red bell peppers Kiwi Fruit Mango Melons Papaya Peach Pear Plum Pineapple Raspberries Summer squash Zucchini squash |
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| Occasionally you may have a situation where a select green food causes a soft stool. You will know if this is the case within 12 hours of feeding the offending food. If you are feeding a variety of greens and are not sure which one is causing the problem, then feed only one green food every 48 hours until the offending food is identified and then simply remove it from the diet. This is not a dangerous situation, but it can be messy and there is no need to give a food that is causing a problem. There are many green foods from which to choose. | Dried fruit can be used as well, but since it is so concentrated, use only one third the amount as fresh. Instead of one tablespoon use one teaspoon. We do not recommend feeding bananas and grapes as rabbits sometimes become “addicted” to these foods. If you chose to feed them, watch your pet carefully to ensure that he is also eating sufficient quantities of green foods and hay. | |||
| *TIP: Find at least one food in this list that your rabbit likes and feed a small amount daily to check on how good your rabbit’s appetite is. If your rabbit will not eat her treat food, then there may be other problems brewing and you need to keep a close eye on your pet for health problems. | ||||