Rabbit with overgrown teeth

One of the commonest problems we see with rabbits is related to their teeth. This can often be diet related, so what is the correct diet to feed?

Hay, meadow grass and vegetables, with a small amount of pelleted rabbit food is the ideal diet for your bunny. As a rough guide timothy based hay mixed with other hay should be offered ad lib – as this will help wear down your rabbits teeth. 1 cup of varied vegetables and or edible plants, and 25gms of a pelleted (not muesli) commercial diet per kg body weight (1 tablespoon 2x daily for an average 2.5kg adult rabbit). We always recommend pelleted rabbit food not muesli as your rabbit may become become fussy and pick out the bits they don’t want to eat but with pellets all the goodness is included in each pellet.

We recommend a varied diet to include green leafy foods and vegetables, such as cabbage, chard, parsley, watercress, broccoli, basil, carrot, brambles, and dandelions. All of these foods should be washed before being fed to your rabbit. Fruits should be avoided as they are very sugary. Always ensure that fresh water is available at all times. In the summer you can put their water bottle in the fridge overnight and give it to them in the morning and it will keep cool on a hot summers day.

Their teeth, unlike ours, grow continuously, and wear down during the grinding and chewing of grass and hay. If your bunny eats only commercial rabbit food, they will not wear down their teeth correctly and are much more likely to develop dental problems, which can be painful and require lifelong treatment.

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