Essential Guide to Feeding Pet Rabbits
Before we begin: No matter what kind of education or information you've received in the past about rabbits and their diet, please set it aside and read this section anew.
In earlier times, people had different ways of feeding rabbits depending on their background or purpose. Older generations often used sweet potato leaves, those without rabbits might think of feeding carrots, livestock farmers preferred mixed feed powder, and wild hares naturally ate young plant sprouts at dawn. Each of these practices arose from different needs and circumstances of their era.
However, it's important to understand this key principle: when raising a rabbit as a companion pet, the ideal diet consists mainly of hay combined with quality rabbit pellets. This method is now the most widely recommended and accepted by veterinarians and experienced rabbit owners.
Pet rabbits fed according to this guideline—along with regular check-ups and a modern, clean living environment—can live up to 10 to 12 years. In contrast, rabbits raised under the older feeding styles typically lived only about 3 to 5 years. With the right diet and care, your rabbit's lifespan can more than double!
Hay: The Proper Staple Food for Pet Rabbits
In modern pet care principles, using dried hay as the main staple for pet rabbits has become the widely accepted standard among owners and rabbit veterinarians alike. Dried or packaged hay is convenient for urban rabbit owners to purchase and store, making it an ideal and reliable food source.
Eating hay allows rabbits to naturally perform horizontal chewing motions that wear down their molars effectively — a crucial action that differs from simply gnawing on chew sticks. The crude fiber in hay also promotes intestinal movement and aids digestion, contributing to better gastrointestinal health.
Overall, allowing rabbits to consume large amounts of hay helps prevent a variety of diseases. In households where rabbits are kept primarily as companion animals, hay combined with supplementary feed is essential and irreplaceable in maintaining their well-being.
How Rabbits Chew Grass: A Close-up Analysis
When observing how rabbits eat grass up close, you'll notice that their chewing movements are quite specialized. Pay attention to the sides of the rabbit's cheeks—its molars move in a nearly horizontal, oval-like motion to grind the grass efficiently. In contrast, only the front teeth, the incisors, move vertically to cut the blades of grass.
Typically, the rabbit first uses its front teeth to grab the grass horizontally, then slices it in the middle. After folding the piece lengthwise into a straighter shape, the rabbit gradually nibbles it down into smaller fragments, gently feeding them into its mouth. Finally, the molars take over, grinding the grass into fine particles before it is swallowed.
This combination of cutting and grinding motions allows rabbits to process fibrous plants with remarkable efficiency, aiding in digestion and nutrient absorption. It's a precise, rhythmic action that reflects how well-adapted these animals are to a herbivorous diet.
Special Exceptions in Rabbit Feeding
Yes, there are certain special circumstances in which rabbits are not fed hay. For example, rabbits raised for livestock use may be given powdered or paste-like feeds, and laboratory rabbits for research purposes are supplied with specialized lab-formulated diets. These feeding methods exist because the purpose of raising such rabbits is not as companion pets but for specific industrial or scientific needs.
In Taiwan, rabbits are still classified as economic animals (or at least they have not yet been completely removed from that category). Therefore, pet rabbit owners in Taiwan should learn to respect the practices of those who raise rabbits for agricultural or research purposes and refrain from unnecessary criticism or personal attacks. Just as countries around the Mediterranean consider rabbit meat as commonplace as chicken, pork, or beef, a mutual respect between pet keeping and livestock farming can be achieved through understanding and cultural sensitivity.
