Feed bunnies any grassy hay except alfalfa

Q: Fern, our daughter’s first rabbit, simply joined our household. Might she eat solely rabbit pellets, or ought to we additionally give her lettuce and carrots?

A: Most of Fern’s weight loss program ought to encompass quite a lot of contemporary grass hays, akin to timothy, Bermuda, brome, oat, rye, barley, meadow and orchard grass hay. Keep away from alfalfa, which is simply too excessive in energy and protein.

Grass hay ought to at all times be accessible to her, ideally in a field or hay rack to maintain it clear. It’s wealthy in protein, nutritional vitamins, minerals and different necessary vitamins.

It is also excessive in fiber, which is able to maintain Fern’s gastrointestinal tract shifting. Rabbits’ enamel develop repeatedly, and the fiber in grass hay will assist put on them down correctly.

After grass hay, the second most plentiful a part of Fern’s weight loss program needs to be quite a lot of darkish leafy greens. Present romaine, kale, collards and different greens, in addition to herbs akin to parsley, cilantro and mint. Feed one packed cup of washed leafy greens for each 2 kilos of Fern’s physique weight per day.

Should you give her dandelion greens, be certain they have not been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides. Do not feed iceberg or bibb lettuce, as a result of these light-colored greens aren’t very nutritious.

You could supply different washed greens, akin to carrots, celery and bell peppers, at 1 tablespoon per 2 kilos of physique weight per day. Keep away from onions, leeks, chives and associated greens, as a result of they’re poisonous to rabbits.

Fruits are excessive in energy, so give Fern not more than 1 teaspoon of contemporary fruit per 2 kilos of physique weight per day. Dried fruit is thrice extra concentrated, so give much less of this deal with should you select to supply it. Think about fruit as a coaching deal with.

Rabbit pellets are excessive in energy and starch, so supply not more than 1/4 cup per day.

Do not feed grains, nuts, seeds or industrial rabbit treats, which trigger weight problems and digestive issues.

Make sure contemporary water is at all times accessible.

Make meals entertaining by hiding hay and different meals inside an empty rest room paper roll and inspiring Fern to seek out it.

To be taught extra about caring for Fern, construct a relationship with a veterinarian who is aware of rabbits. If Fern is not already sterilized, schedule her for spay surgical procedure to assist stop uterine most cancers.

Q: I brew craft beer at dwelling, and my canine Pilsner is interested in the hops. Are hops good for canines?

A: Sorry, however they don’t seem to be protected for canines, so maintain Pilsner away out of your hops — and your beer, too, for that matter.

Inside just a few hours after ingestion of uncooked or spent hops, the canine’s physique temperature soars, reaching 105 to 110 levels. Coronary heart and respiration charges improve, and the canine may regurgitate and have seizures.

Canine with delicate hop poisoning that obtain quick remedy get well in about three days. In untreated canines, loss of life happens inside three hours of the onset of medical indicators.

Hold your hops in sealed, dog-proof containers secured behind a closed door. Discard spent hops in a protected means that ensures no canine can come into contact with them.

Remind Pilsner that, regardless of his title, beer is dangerous for canines, so he ought to keep on with water.

Lee Pickett, VMD, practices companion animal drugs in North Carolina. Contact her at

vet@askthevet.pet