The domestic rabbit is rapidly becoming a popular family pet.
Children adore them and the rabbit’s quiet, gentle, inquisitive and responsive nature makes it a fine companion animal.
As a bonus, they come in an assortment of shapes, colours and sizes. Special features include short hair, long hair, erect ears, lop ears, small or big, and a multitude of colours and colour patterns.
In general, rabbits are easily cared for. They can live outside safely in protected hutches or in the house because they are easily trained to use litter boxes. Clean housing, proper bedding and a good amount of exercise will ensure their health and longevity.
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Rabbits have special nutritional requirements essential to maintaining their health. They are non-ruminant herbivores with a specialized lower bowel, not unlike horses. Their lower intestine, or cecum, is a large fermentation vat.
Rabbits and horses both rely on a community of microbes or bacteria to digest the forage they consume. Their staple diet consists of roughages or forages such as fresh and dried mixed grasses. The fibre is critical because it aids in gut motility and water balance.
Rabbits generally do better on long stemmed hay and fresh forages than on short-stem fibre found in pellets and cubes.
Rabbits are nibblers and require an unlimited source of coarse mixed grasses or timothy hay.
Legumes such as alfalfa and clover are best fed in limited quantities because these supply too much energy.
Although feeding commercially prepared forage cubes or pellets is convenient for pet owners, the quality of the diet is compromised. The processing reduces the readily available nutrients and quality of the fibre in the forages.
Grass diets ensure dental health because the teeth are manicured by their chopping duties. Supplying pieces of wood such as thick aspen, pine branches or rose bushes allows the rabbits an opportunity to further chew.
Rabbits’ incisors continue to grow throughout their lives and are intended for wear and tear.
Rabbits with too little roughage in their diet can develop diarrhea, constipation, hairball impactions, dental overgrowths and general symptoms of ADR, otherwise known as ain’t doing right.
Ill health in pet rabbits can often be traced to malnutrition. The “add-ons” to a rabbit’s diet complement the balance of forages.
Dark green or dark yellow vegetables bring live enzymes, minerals, vitamins and variety to the rabbit’s menu. Carrots, carrot tops, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli leaves, green peppers, romaine lettuce, kale, wheat grass, pea pods and dandelion leaves are all excellent choices, in moderation.
Small amounts of high fibre fruits such as apples, peaches, plums, pears, melons, strawberries and pineapples can also be added.
A source of fresh clean water is important. Water bowls or sipper bottles are both adequate.
The popularity of rabbits as pets has also created a plethora of commercial pet rabbit feeds and rabbit furniture and trinkets.
A common sense, mindful approach, along with a basic understanding of the simple nutritional and husbandry requirements, will ensure the health of these adorable creatures.
Carol Shwetz is a veterinarian practising in Westlock, Alta.
