Domestic rabbits are mammals belonging to the order of Lakemorpha, that is, they are not rodents as they were considered until the twentieth century, they are of a different order, rabbits are social and intelligent animals, with a life expectancy of more as with dogs, currently there are several breeds of rabbits.
If you have decided to adopt a rabbit, it is important that you are well informed about the most suitable diet for rabbits, thus guaranteeing a good quality of life and a positive health state Have you ever wondered what is the best food for rabbits?What to offer a newborn rabbit? In this Animal Expert article we will explain the feeding of rabbits in all their stages, from puppies to the elderly, read on and learn the tips to keep your rabbit healthy, happy and well groomed.
- Rabbit cubs are very delicate and need special care to survive.
- It is usually the father who must feed their puppies breast milk.
- However.
- If the female rejects the puppies or dies.
- You must take care of the feeding of the newborn rabbit to ensure its survival.
It is important to note that the chance of survival of baby rabbits is low if you are away from the parent, so if you are in charge of the care of newborn rabbits we recommend that you consult a veterinarian for your health review and specific advice.according to the case.
Before you start explaining how to feed the newborn rabbit, it is important that you know what the care is with rabbits, for this it is worth mentioning the creation of a “nest” area for rabbits or a safe area.With a cardboard box, which will accommodate fluffy towels or a fur rug, you can even combine various materials to make the rabbit’s nest more comfortable and smooth.
You should leave this nest in a quiet place, without direct air currents or light, in addition, if the winter is more severe in your country, you should be careful with the weather and offer a thicker coverage.
Feeding the newborn rabbit is not an easy task, so it is recommended to seek the help of a veterinarian who specializes in exotic animals to accurately tell you the procedure. You must have a bottle with a small nipple (such as those used for kittens) or a tipless syringe and milk specific to bunnies, i.e. rabbit breast milk is sold in veterinary centers, animal stores or online stores.
The amount of milk is about 3 milliliters during the first week of life, at this point it is advisable to feed it about three times a day and monitor it regularly to make sure everything is well, gradually increase the amount of milk to 15 milliliters during the 6 or 7 weeks.Starting in the third week, leave small portions of fresh hay within reach of your puppy to start experimenting.
Important tips for feeding the newborn rabbit include
Weathing age is approximately 8 weeks. However, it is important to note that each rabbit has its own rhythm and that some start eating solid foods before or after 8 weeks, at this stage it is already possible to keep it in a cage of size suitable for the welfare of the animal.Being safe, the minimum measurements of the cage must be between 1 meter and 1.5 meters, but they may be more important if you have space, do not forget to put a nest in the cage so that the rabbit can take refuge.
From weathing to 6 months, the rabbit must have unlimited hay in the cage, so that it can ensure good, active and healthy intestinal transit.It is important that the rabbit always has hay at its disposal, because if intestinal transit to the rabbit could suffer serious health problems.In addition, you must also offer an unlimited number of good quality pellets, that is, those that are composed of 18% fiber.
You can supplement the rabbit oatmeal diet and start adding new foods to your diet, paying special attention to the fruits and vegetables recommended for rabbits. Due to the high sugar content, fruits should only be used as a price, but you can start offering green leaves such as arugula, endives, carrot leaves, etc., daily.In addition to food, rabbits should always have clean, fresh water.
When your pet is 6 or 7 months old, it is already considered an adult rabbit.At this point, your diet will change to prevent obesity.Any change in the rabbit diet should be made gradually, as this can cause gastrointestinal problems.
Adult rabbit hay should be offered unlimitedly as it will remain the basis of food and will ensure good intestinal transit, therefore make sure it is fresh and good quality hay, if your rabbit does not seem interested in eating hay or has stopped.eat, take it to the vet to rule out any health problems, but you can also try to encourage it with different types of hay and herbs, such as alfalfa, clover, Timothy hay, etc.
At this stage of your pet’s life you should limit the amount of granules, so it is recommended to check the amount indicated for adult rabbits on the back of the package, which usually varies depending on the age and weight of the rabbit.the amount is adequate and if you have any questions or if your rabbit changes weight, you should contact your veterinarian.
When your rabbit reaches six years old it means it enters old age, it’s important to spend more time and attention on behavior, habits, and stools to detect any problems and ensure the daily socialization your pet needs.
Older rabbits continue to follow the same diet as adult rabbits, however, in this case, an increase in pellets is necessary to maintain the weight of the rabbit, if you begin to notice a significant weight loss, it is highly recommended to evaluate with the veterinarian whether the dietary dose is adequate.
Keep in mind that older rabbits need more love and attention, remember that a rabbit can live more than 8 years, but it depends directly on food, care and socialization.
In addition to explaining the most appropriate rabbit food, it’s important to know which foods are toxic to your pet:
In addition, there are plants that are toxic to rabbits, such as
It is not recommended to offer human food or animal derivatives, remember that rabbits are herbivorous animals, fresh food is much more beneficial to the rabbit’s body and will taste much faster, so always be careful with the expiration date.
Now that you know more about rabbit food, what fruits and vegetables are recommended, what foods and plants are prohibited, you are better prepared to adopt a rabbit, it should be remembered that wild rabbits or those who live on the farm have other types of food, however, any domestic rabbit will benefit from the diets mentioned above.
Keep in mind that any changes in your pet’s behavior should immediately take you to a trusted veterinarian, only a professional can make a correct diagnosis and give the most appropriate treatment depending on the animal’s conditions and needs.
If you want to read similar articles on feeding rabbits, we recommend that you visit our Balanced diets section.