Bunnies. Lagomorphs. House hippos. Whatever you call them, it’s hard to find a being that is more fun to watch or listen to when they are eating.

I don’t know about your house rabbits, but mine are always up for MORE food. They always give me the stare-down, saying it’s dinner o’clock while I am trying to work. It is tough to say no to them when they are asking for more food and extra treats, which is even more challenging, but it is very important not to give in to those cute faces staring at you.

Sticking to their correct daily food amount and ignoring them when they ask for more will encourage them to graze on their hay. You may get some more disapproving bunny stares, but grazing on their hay is so important for many reasons.

As rabbits’ digestive systems are super sensitive, we will discuss some more of today’s most common feeding mistakes.

Not a mistake! A vegan diet for your bun

Did you know rabbits are vegan? They are! Technically, all lagomorphs are herbivores, meaning they eat plant- and plant-based material.

If you’re unfamiliar with what to feed your bun, we’ve got some information for you.

Don’ts: Foods rabbits shouldn’t eat

Like their humans, rabbits LOVE eating foods they shouldn’t. Depending on what those foods are, the second-order adverse effects can range from GI (gastrointestinal) system problems to significant weight gain, dental issues, or death. As your rabbits trust you to properly care for them, we wanted to list foods rabbits shouldn’t eat.

Several foods can disrupt bunnies’ digestion and be harmful to their health. There are also a few foods — some of them surprising — that are potentially poisonous to them. Check out our list of foods that you should never feed your rabbit:

Iceberg lettuce:

This may come as a shock, but you should avoid feeding your rabbit light-coloured lettuce, including iceberg. Iceberg lettuce is mainly water and will add little to no nutrition to a diet, and it can contain lactucarium, a chemical that can be harmful to your bunny’s health if ingested.

Yoghurt Drops:

According to Rabbit.org, research suggests that yoghurt drops may contribute to lethal cases of enterotoxaemia, “a toxic overgrowth of ‘bad’ bacteria in the intestinal tract.” Try green peppers or Brussels sprouts if you want a healthy treat to feed your bunny.

Bread, Pasta, Cereal, Cookies, and Crackers:

These high-carb, sugary treats will only “treat” your bunny to stomach issues. Avoid foods high in sugar or artificial ingredients, like yoghurt drops, which could lead to enterotoxaemia.

Avocado:

Fresh fruits and veggies come to mind when you think of ideal rabbit snacks. Avocados, however, should never be included in your bunny’s diet. This fatty fruit can be deadly if ingested by a rabbit.

Unhealthy rabbit food/pellet mixes:

Unfortunately, many rabbit food mixes in pet stores are unhealthy for rabbits. These pellet mixes will have many colourful, fruity pieces that look appetising on the pet store shelf. However, the high sugar content and the added nuts and seeds are unsuitable for a rabbit’s digestion. Over time, these can lead to severe health problems (such as GI Stasis).  Feed a good quality pellet that is high in fibre and low in fat.

Fruit and carrot:

Remember your mum saying you shouldn’t believe everything you see on TV? Bugs Bunny should not have snacked on that carrot at every opportunity, but now we know why he did…bunnies have a horrible sweet tooth. That’s why your bun always tries to steal a piece of your fruit, too. Sugar is just as bad for bunnies as it is for humans and may cause GI Stasis and other health concerns. However, feeding your buns the green, leafy carrot tops is always a DO! (Check with your grocer’s produce department; many will give you the carrot tops for free as customers don’t want them.) Keep carrot and fruit as a small treat only.

Do’s

As much as we joke that bunnies love a schedule, keeping their food and eating habits consistent is super important. As mentioned, rabbits’ digestive systems are easily upset, leading to GI stasis.

Sometimes, the best offence is a strong defence. Therefore, following a proper rabbit diet where unlimited hay makes up 85% of their daily food intake helps keep their teeth from overgrowing and their digestive system moving smoothly. Hay also provides mental enrichment for your long-eared crew. When your bunnies dive headfirst into their hay buffet, searching for the perfect piece, it mimics wild rabbits’ foraging behaviour.

 

What if your bun is not enthused about their hay or a certain kind of green? What is the best way to find solutions to these issues? Keep a food diary to see what suits and doesn’t suit your bunny’s tummy. While there are apps and spreadsheets, you don’t need anything fancy. A paper and pen will do.
And our blog here will help encourage your bunny to eat more hay…. Clever ways to encourage your rabbit to eat more hay – no matter how stubborn!

Finally, make sure they have unlimited water access.

Like most buns, mine prefer a sizeable ceramic bowl…well, they prefer a bowl, but I like a bowl my buns can’t flip over. I don’t mind them throwing their pellet bowl after their bedtime snack, but flinging a whole bowl of water is not something I enjoy cleaning up.

Written by Bunny mom, Jess Sullivan