Before Introducing Rabbit Feed
In the early days of Taiwanese society, children were often taught incorrect ideas such as "white rabbits eat carrots" and "rabbits will die if they drink water." As a result, when pet rabbits later became popular, many people knew little about the proper way to care for them.
Today, we hope that accurate knowledge about rabbit care can take root in people's minds — that a rabbit's main diet should be hay, with vegetables, fruits, and feed as supplements, and that they must always have access to clean drinking water. By understanding these essentials, we can prevent poor living conditions and health problems caused by outdated misconceptions.
The Truth About Rabbit Pellets: Are Compressed Feeds Really the Best?
On the internet, you'll often see many rabbit owners from Taiwan share a common belief about rabbit food: "Compressed cylindrical pellets are the best, puffed pellets are bad, and those colorful mixed feeds with grains are the worst—so just pick the compressed ones!"
We're actually quite fortunate that most pet stores today import a wide variety of rabbit feeds from different countries. This gives us an impressive range of choices when it comes to what we feed our furry companions.
But is this popular belief really true? Let's take a closer look at this idea from several perspectives and see if the "compressed equals best" mindset truly holds up.
Comparison of Rabbit Feed Types by Country
By Country
- United States: Most brands primarily produce compressed pellet-type feeds.
- Japan: Most brands focus on puffed or expanded-type feeds.
- Europe: Many brands offer puffed-type and mixed-type feeds, which often combine artificially processed pellets, puffed feed, and naturally dried grains and hays.
By Feed Variety
- United States: Most brands only offer two types of feed—one for young rabbits and another for adult rabbits.
- Japan: Brands typically provide a broader range, including feeds for young, adult, and senior rabbits, as well as specialized formulas for rabbits with hairball issues, sensitive digestion, obesity, or those needing immune support.
- Europe: Many brands offer only feeds for young and adult rabbits, with some providing just a single general-purpose formula.
This comparison highlights how regional preferences and pet care standards shape the development of rabbit feed products worldwide.
What Do Rabbits Eat Around the World?
Based on the analysis above, it seems that American rabbits, which eat compressed pellet feed, appear to be the healthiest. However, rabbits generally do not live long, so there's no market for "senior rabbit feed."
Meanwhile, Japanese rabbits are given puffed or extruded feed. This type of food may not be the best, as it can cause the animals to become overly sensitive or overweight. Still, these rabbits tend to live longer than their American counterparts.
As for European rabbits, they are often fed a variety of grains—a diet considered the least healthy overall.
Thinking about these differences makes one wonder: is diet the real reason behind these outcomes, or are there other factors at play such as breeding, lifestyle, or environment? Perhaps the story of the rabbit's health is more complex than feed composition alone.
What do you think — is it really that simple?
Different Approaches to Rabbit Feed Design
The philosophy behind rabbit feed design varies by country, reflecting distinct cultural priorities and understandings of pet care. In the United States, practicality is the main consideration. American feed is usually designed as uniform, compressed pellets that are high in fiber. This helps rabbits wear down their teeth naturally and makes it easier for owners to monitor how much their pet eats. However, such design can lead to problems — rabbits that eat too quickly may choke, and rabbits with weak or misaligned teeth might find these pellets too hard to chew comfortably.
Japanese rabbit feed, by contrast, tends to focus on refinement and delicacy. These feeds are crisp, aromatic, and easy to bite into, designed to minimize dental strain and improve digestion through better absorption. The downside, however, is that these feeds often contain less fiber and can encourage picky eating habits, as rabbits may choose only the parts they like most.
European feed designers emphasize natural nutrition. Their products often include a variety of dried grains to provide a balanced diet similar to what rabbits might find in the wild. Because these feeds are made from natural ingredients, they come with certain drawbacks — in Taiwan's warm and humid climate, they can easily attract insects, and some pet owners may mistake grains for the cause of bloating or digestive issues.
Do Rabbit Feeds Contain Grains?
In fact, except for feeds specifically labeled as completely grain-free, most pellet or extruded feeds contain grain ingredients. This is because the nutrients in grains are actually quite beneficial for rabbits.
For healthy rabbits, moderate consumption won't cause bloating or digestive problems, so there's no need to completely avoid grain-based feeds.
Choosing the Right Rabbit Feed
When it comes to selecting the proper balance of fiber, protein, and the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in your rabbit's feed, it is best to consult a veterinarian who specializes in rabbit care. Every rabbit is unique, and their dietary needs vary depending on their health conditions and physical constitution.
For example, the author's rabbit was born with a fragile constitution and developed cataracts and patellar dislocation at around one year old. Their veterinarian recommended switching to senior rabbit feed containing supplements such as Coenzyme Q10 and glucose to support its health.
Another friend's rabbit had long-term kidney issues reflected in abnormal renal indicators. In that case, the veterinarian advised choosing feed with lower protein content and a reduced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio to lessen the strain on the kidneys.
There are also cases where elderly rabbits lose too much weight as they age. Veterinarians may recommend mixing in a portion of young rabbit feed every three days to provide higher protein intake and help maintain a stable body weight.
The Philosophy of Rabbit Nutrition
To sum up, whether it's Americans, Japanese, or Europeans, their philosophy of rabbit care shares a common foundation: a rabbit's diet should prioritize the consumption of hay for natural fiber intake and dental health. Pellets serve only as a supplementary addition rather than the main source of nutrition.
When it comes to choosing rabbit feed, there is no absolute "good" or "bad." The key lies in whether the feed suits your rabbit's physical condition and your style of care. As long as it fits your rabbit's needs, it is the best choice for them.
Feeding Tips for Healthy Rabbits
Here's a small piece of advice: for rabbits in good health, it's beneficial to offer a mix of two to three different types of feed at the same time. For example, you can combine compressed pellet feed with puffed pellets, or use a mix of compressed pellets and a European-style blend.
Alternatively, you can give one type of feed in the morning and another in the evening. This approach not only helps prevent picky eating, feed shortages, or supply discontinuations, but also provides your rabbit with a variety of nutrients. Based on years of experience, this feeding method has proven to be quite effective and practical.
- Mix 2–3 types of rabbit feed for balanced nutrition.
- Alternate feeding types between morning and evening.
- Reduces risk of selective eating and supply issues.
- Helps maintain a diverse and healthy diet.
