Rabbits are strict herbivores, subsisting entirely on plant matter. This classification hides a delicate digestive system evolved to process high volumes of fibrous vegetation. A rabbit’s survival depends on a continuous, high-fiber, low-energy diet that satisfies unique mechanical and microbial requirements. Understanding this specialized nutrition is necessary, as feeding errors can lead to severe health issues.
Defining the Rabbit Diet: Strict Herbivores
A healthy domestic rabbit diet must mimic the low-nutrient density foods of its wild ancestors, focusing on high fiber content. Approximately 80 to 90 percent of a rabbit’s daily intake should consist of fresh grass hay to ensure the digestive system receives the constant flow of fiber required to function correctly.
The remainder of the diet includes smaller portions of fresh greens and a measured amount of commercial pellets. Leafy green vegetables can make up about ten percent of the daily food volume, providing necessary micronutrients and variety. Pellets, which are concentrated sources of nutrition, should be restricted to about five percent of the diet to prevent overfeeding of protein and calories.
The Role of Hay and Forage
Hay is a functional necessity that serves two mechanical purposes: dental abrasion and gut stimulation. Rabbits possess hypsodont teeth, meaning their incisors and cheek teeth grow continuously throughout their lives. The constant side-to-side grinding motion required to chew tough, long-strand hay is the only natural way to wear these teeth down evenly.
The long, coarse fibers in hay are important for maintaining proper gut motility, the movement of food through the digestive tract. Without enough coarse fiber, intestinal function slows down, which can lead to a potentially fatal condition called Gastrointestinal (GI) stasis. For most adult rabbits, grass hays like Timothy, Orchard, or Meadow are ideal due to their lower calcium and caloric density. Alfalfa hay, which is higher in protein and calcium, is reserved for growing rabbits or nursing mothers.
Unique Digestive System: Why Rabbits Eat Their Poop
The rabbit’s digestive system is classified as a hindgut fermenter, allowing them to extract maximum nutrition from poor-quality forage. After food passes through the small intestine, a sorting mechanism in the colon separates fiber particles based on size. Large, indigestible fibers are quickly expelled as hard, round fecal pellets, which stimulate the gut muscles.
Smaller, digestible particles are shunted into the cecum, which acts as a fermentation vat. Trillions of specialized microbes break down the plant material, producing volatile fatty acids, amino acids, and B vitamins. These synthesized nutrients are packaged into soft, mucus-coated pellets known as cecotropes.
The rabbit must consume these cecotropes directly from the anus to absorb the vitamins and microbial protein during the second pass in the small intestine. This practice, known as cecotrophy, is an indispensable biological process for nutrient recovery. Without reingestion, the rabbit loses access to essential nutrients created during fermentation.
Common Foods Rabbits Must Avoid
The delicate balance of the rabbit’s digestive flora means many common human foods can be disruptive, even if they are plant-based. High-sugar and high-starch items are dangerous because they can rapidly destabilize the gut microbes, leading to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria. This imbalance can quickly trigger fatal gastrointestinal issues like enterotoxemia.
Foods to avoid include all processed human snacks, such as bread, crackers, pasta, and sugary treats, as well as high-starch vegetables like potatoes. Certain plants are toxic, including chocolate, avocado, and rhubarb, which contain compounds that can cause severe illness or death. Fruit should only be given in very small amounts due to its high natural sugar content.