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Pellet Food
Rabbit pellets comprise a very small portion of an indoor rabbit's diet. Nevertheless, it's important to choose a healthy pellet. As attractive as the "gourmet" mixes may appear to us, they are bunny junk food. Plain, timothy-based pellets are recommended for a rabbit over 6 months of age. [Plain, alfalfa-based pellets are recommended for younger rabbits.]
A few recommendations...
Grain/soy free pellets available online... For those looking for the freshest pellets available, I would recommend Sherwood Pet Health. Their pellets can be ordered online and shipped directly to you. It wasn't long ago when their pellets would arrive boxed in a clear plastic bag. They have since grown to commercial packaging. Their pellets arrive date-stamped and very fresh. They also have a formula for baby rabbits. Check out their website for further ordering information. I've also seen their pellets for sale on Amazon.
Commercial pellets readily available in US pet stores... When it comes to choosing a good pellet brand, many look to their local pet store. Unfortunately, some options are poor indeed -- like those "gourmet" mixes. There are, however, some acceptable options as well. Supreme Selective is a solid choice that not only has good numbers for protein and fiber, but also has good calcium to phosphorous ratios, low fat and appropriate vitamins. They carry formulas for junior rabbits, adult rabbits and mature (4+ years) rabbits. They also now have a grain free formula. Oxbow has a few good options. Their original "Essentials" has two formulas - one for young rabbits and one for adults. Their "Simple Harvest" rabbit pellets are made with a variety of grass hays and also have formulas for young rabbits and adults. Their "Organic Bounty" line is certified organic for adult rabbits. The "Garden Select" young rabbit pellets are soy and wheat free. Both the young and adult formulas are certified non-GMO. All of these have the lower 12% to 14% protein recommended for spayed, indoor rabbits and a healthy high fiber content. Last I checked, Oxbow brand is sold in Petsmart, while Supreme Selective is sold at Petco. |
Never switch brands suddenly. Whenever pellet brands need to be switched it is necessary to make the switch gradually. As mentioned before, a rabbit's gut is very sensitive. Sudden changes can cause upset and potentially lead to GI stasis.
To transition to a new brand, mix 1 part of the new with 3 parts of the old. Feed that for several days. Then mix equal parts of each type for a few days. After that, use 3 parts new to 1 part old. By then, bunny will have been getting used to the new pellet. Several days of that last mixture will make switching solely to the new brand an easy transition.
How much to feed? For a rabbit over 6 months of age, the following are recommended amounts per day:
(under 5 lbs, see below)
5-7 lb of body wt. 1/4 cup daily
8-10 lb body wt. 1/2 cup daily
11-15 lb of body wt. 3/4 cup daily
(under 5 lbs, see below)
5-7 lb of body wt. 1/4 cup daily
8-10 lb body wt. 1/2 cup daily
11-15 lb of body wt. 3/4 cup daily
This may seem like very little, but with unlimited hay and generous greens, the pellets are simply providing a few extra minerals to ensure a nutritious balance. Rabbits less than 5 lbs may also need 1/4 cup per day. Very small rabbits tend to be high in energy and may do best with less restriction on pellets. As long as they are eating their hay well, 1/4 cup is ok to feed. If they start to get overweight, just reduce the pellet amount. [Rabbits 6 months or younger can be fed even more freely. These younger rabbits may actually be offered unlimited pellets provided that they continue to eat a large amount of hay every day. If they start eating less hay, then pellets should be reduced to encourage more hay eating.]
Note on price: Since adult rabbits get limited pellets anyway, it really is worth it to pay a slightly higher price for a healthy, reputable brand of pellet food.
What about mineral blocks and salt wheels?Salt and/or mineral wheels are often wrongly recommended as necessary for the health of pet rabbits. The truth is that not only are they unnecessary, they can even be harmful. Salt wheels contain salt and mineral oil. Mineral wheels contain salt and a variety of minerals. But it isn't the ingredients themselves that are the problem.
Pellet food already contains the salt and minerals needed for a rabbit's health. The process of eating those pellets provides one of the necessary chewing motions needed to keep a rabbit's teeth worn down properly. By providing a mineral or salt lick, bunny may rather get those minerals in a way that does not promote correct dental wear. Licking a wheel does nothing to promote dental wear. Another potential problem is the excess calcium in mineral blocks. Rabbits that already get calcium in their pellets and in their daily greens, may get too much by also licking on a mineral block. Excess calcium may contribute to bladder sludge. |
Allow your rabbit to have fresh greens daily and avoid mineral supplement blocks for them to gnaw on. These are unnecessary for rabbits fed a balanced diet and do not promote correct dental wear, and can cause other health problems.
Woodcroft Veterinary Group, Ltd. |