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What does a dwarf rabbit eat (full list)

What does a dwarf rabbit eat? Just like you, your dwarf rabbit enjoys a good meal. And remember that its diet is strictly vegetarian: hay, a good mix of vegetables, pellets, and a bowl of fresh water will make it happy and keep it healthy.

 

Continue reading the article if you want to learn more about what to feed your dwarf rabbit.

1. Hay

Fresh hay should be the basis of your rabbit’s diet and should always be available. Adult rabbits can eat Timothy, meadow, and oat hay, while babies should be fed with Alfalfa. Alfalfa, however, should not be given to adult rabbits due to its high protein and sugar content.

 

Hay is important for rabbits because it provides all the essential fibers for proper digestion and allows the rabbit to grind their teeth (which grow continuously), thus ensuring good dental health. Placing hay in a corner of the litter box will also encourage its use, as rabbits tend to eat hay and their own waste simultaneously.

 

When choosing hay, make sure it is fresh and has a good smell. Do not take brown hay or hay that looks moldy or doesn’t smell like freshly cut grass. Store the hay in a dry place inside a breathable container to prevent it from spoiling.

 

Buying hay in large quantities from a local farmer is usually cheaper than buying bags from pet stores.

2. Vegetables

An assortment of mixed vegetables should be part of your dwarf rabbit’s daily diet. Always try to choose fresh vegetables without pesticides. Always wash the vegetables carefully before giving them to your dwarf rabbit. Try to introduce new vegetables into their diet in small quantities to see if your rabbit tolerates them well. Do not feed your rabbit the leaves of plants in your home as many are poisonous to them. Here you can find a complete list of poisonous plants, take a look.

 

Your dwarf rabbit might enjoy one of these vegetables:

 

  1. Basil
  2. Chinese cabbage
  3. Broccoli leaves, but not the stems or central part as they can cause flatulence in your dwarf rabbit.
  4. Carrot tops: carrots have a high calcium content and should be given occasionally.
  5. Celery
  6. Coriander
  7. Clover
  8. Cabbage
  9. Savoy cabbage
  10. Dill
  11. Dandelion leaves
  12. Lettuce, romaine or dark leaf (no iceberg lettuce or savoy cabbage)
  13. Mint
  14. Indian mustard
  15. Parsley
  16. Watercress

3. Water

Your dwarf rabbit should always have access to fresh water. If you have a cage, a water bottle attached to one of the corners is an excellent solution. Your dwarf rabbit will also drink from a bowl. On particularly hot days, you can add one or two ice cubes. If you feel that your dwarf rabbit is not drinking enough water, you can leave the vegetables a little wet before giving them to him/her.

4. Pellet

Pellets should be purchased fresh, as rabbits turn up their noses at old and stale pellets. Look for pellets that are high in fiber and have a low protein content. Also, be careful to decrease the amount of pellets you give to your rabbit as it grows older.

 

Pellets that have a high protein content can lead to obesity and other diseases. Also, do not buy pellets that have “treats” inside (such as dried corn), as these additives are never healthy for rabbits and can cause digestive problems.

5. Fruit

Anyone feels like having a treat once in a while, but I invite you to pay particular attention to the health of your dwarf rabbit and to give them only occasionally.
I remind you not to give your dwarf rabbit foods with a high carbohydrate content such as bread, crackers, pasta, pretzels, biscuits, chips, or cereal. Even if they are sold as rabbit products, many treats are usually fatty and sugary and should not be eaten by them. Never give chocolate to your dwarf rabbit because it is toxic.
 
Fruit, on the other hand, is the best option if you want to offer a treat to your dwarf rabbit, but – again – give only small quantities because as you know it contains a lot of sugar. As with vegetables, try to buy organic fruit so that you can be sure it is pesticide-free. Also, be sure to wash it very carefully.
 
Here are some fruits that are particularly appreciated by dwarf rabbits:
 
  1. Strawberries
  2. Raspberries
  3. Bananas
  4. Pineapple
  5. Apples (to be given without seeds)
 

Fun fact: do rabbits store food in their mouths?

Unlike hamsters and squirrels, rabbits do not carry food in their mouths or hide it to eat later. Instead, they chew their food well and swallow it right where they are. This little curiosity applies to both our pet rabbits that live with us in the house and wild ones as well.