The result can be serious GI disease. Foods that are notorious for causing rabbit GI problems when fed improperly are grains of any kind and legumes beans, peas, etc.
Even starchy root vegetables and fruits if fed to excess with their high load of sugars and starch could be a problem and should only be fed as a very small part of the diet. One study done on rabbits indicated that it would take several weeks of exclusively feeding huge quantities of these foods to see any abnormalities in the blood. This is so far removed from normal feeding instructions for rabbits that there is no cause for concern in feeding these nutritious foods.
These foods are often higher in starch or sugars and should be fed in lesser amounts than the leafy greens. Avoid foods in the onion family such as leeks, chives and onions because eating these foods could cause blood abnormalities. Fruits can also be fed in small amounts.
In the wild these would be special high calorie foods obtained only at certain times of the year. Fruits make great training treats! You also might choose to hand-feed the fruit portion of the diet as part of developing a close bond with your bunny and also to make sure he has an appetite every day. It is a great way to see if your bunny is feeling good when you observe if he takes his fruit treat every morning! Remember that dried fruits are about 3 times as concentrated as the fresh variety so feed less of those.
Rabbits, like many animals naturally gravitate towards high calorie foods such as those high in sugar or starch. This is a protective device from the wild days when they could never be sure when or if they would get the next meal.
When a plant would produce fruit, it is for a limited time and all the animals in the area would want to gobble these gems up quickly! This means that rabbits cannot limit themselves when given sugary or starchy foods if left to their own devices! Overfeeding fruits can result in a weight gain or GI upset so it is up to you to feed these foods in limited amounts. An approximate amount of fruit to feed your rabbit is a teaspoon per 2 lbs of body weight daily in one feeding or divided into multiple feedings.
The grass hay will help to get his GI tract motility and flora in good working order so that he will be able to accept new foods more easily. Introduce one new food every three days and keep a watch on the stools. Keep a list as you go of the foods that your rabbit has successfully eaten; you will then have a handy shopping list when you go to the store! See our rabbit meal planner. Hay isn't just bedding. Fresh, dust-free hay should be your rabbit's main source of food and you should make sure they have access to it at all times.
Eating lots of hay or grass helps wear down rabbits' constantly growing teeth and keeps their tummies healthy. It also allows foraging and grazing, which are important natural behaviours. Rabbits shouldn't eat some lettuces such as iceberg , as they contain lactucarium, which can be harmful in large quantities. Some lettuce is 'worse' than others - light-coloured varieties are high in water and have very little nutritional value, so are not recommended.
You can feed darker, more leafy and fibrous varieties e. Introduce them gradually, as large amounts of lettuce can cause tummy upsets for rabbits not used to it.
You can feed your rabbit a small, measured amount of pellets or nuggets each day to ensure they get all the vitamins and minerals they need. Don't overfeed pellets.
Bunnies should only be on a limited amount of pellets. Not only does it put weight on, but a diet too heavy in pellets can cause a build-up of calcium in the system and lead to urinary system problems sludge in the urine, etc. Also, don't feed too much carrot, as it is higher in carbohydrate and sugars and can put weight on them as well.
Dark-leaf lettuce, parsley, and cilantro are all examples of healthy and safe greens you can feed without too much worry. We all have regular health checks..
Skip to: Page content - Global navigation - Login field. Can you give a bunny too much lettuce? Hi there, my mom is wondering if there is a limit to how much lettuce and greens I should be eating. Many people have told her to watch how much lettuce we are given becuase there is so much water in it and it could bloat our bellies up.
Has anyone else heard this? I like to eat LOTS of lettuce, but mom usually gives me a little bit and then lots of parsley to be on the safe side. Thanks for all the info, my mommy feels better now! For our breakfast with mostly eat fresh hay,and dried fruitits like prunes for you humans Lunch massive bowl of our dry food and dinner ,our dry food with greens,carrots I have been really consistant with the pellets with chevy as I have read a lot about overeating.
He always has unlimited hay, and at night I usually give him a big handful of parsley or cilantro. I give him lettuce a few times a week, and of course he usually gets yogurt drops, or other treats as well.
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