Principles

• A balanced diet is central to good health.
• For many conditions dietary reform is the only necessary treatment.
• Dietary modification is essential to correct obesity Obesity, chronic soft stools ('sticky bottom syndrome') Sticky bottom syndrome, urinary calculi Urolithiasis and dental disease Dental malocclusion / overgrowth.
• Any dietary adjustment must be made gradually. If the rabbit refuses to eat new foods and becomes anorexic, even for 24 hours, it is at risk of developing hepatic lipidosis.

Print off the Owner factsheet Feeding your rabbit to give to your clients.

How to change the dry mix

Soft stools

Urolithiasis

Dental disease

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Meredith A L, Prebble J L & Shaw D J (2015) Impact of diet on incisor growth and attrition and the development of dental disease in pet rabbits. J Small Anim Pract 56 (6), 377-382 PubMed.
• Prebble J L & Meredith A L (2014) Food and water intake and selective feeding in rabbits on four feeding regimes. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 98 (5), 991-1000. PubMed.
• Tschudin A, Clauss M, Codron D et al (2011) Water intake in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from open dishes and nipple drinkers under different water and feeding regimes. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 95 (4), 499-511 PubMed.
• Kupersmith D S (1998) A practical overview of small mammal nutrition. Semin Avian Exotic Pet Med 7 (3), 141-147 ScienceDirect.
• Harcourt-Brown F M (1996) Calcium deficiency, diet and dental disease in pet rabbits. Vet Rec 139 (23), 567-571 PubMed.
• Hillyer E V (1994) Pet rabbits. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 24 (1), 25-65 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• FEDIAF European Pet Food (2013) Nutritional Guidelines for Pet Rabbits. Website: www.coursehero.com (pdf download).
• Harcourt-Brown F M & Friggens M T (1999) Intestinal Obstruction in Rabbits by Locust Bean Seeds. Vet Rec 145 (7), 203 (Letter).
• Harcourt-Brown F M (1999) Selective Feeding in Small Animals - A Difference Between Browsing and Feeding. Vet Pract July, 10 (Letter).
• Richardson V (1999) Rabbit Nutrition. Coney Publications, Chattisham, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK.
• Cheeke P R (1987) Rabbit Feeding and Nutrition. Academic Press, Orlando, USA.