This is by far one of the most common mistakes I see new rabbit owners make. It should be obvious by now that there is a TON of misinformation on rabbit care on the internet. The hard truth is that having a poor quality diet, such as what is generally recommended online, can cost a rabbit its life.
One of the key reasons why rescue rabbits having such tragically short lifespans is that rescue groups and other such organizations constantly push greens as a necessity in a rabbit's diet. While it might seem nice from a human's perspective to offer a nice big plate of vegetables to our rabbits, in reality, it causes a serious negative impact on the rabbit's health. Rabbits have extremely sensitive digestive systems; in fact, digestive issues are the most common cause of death in domestic rabbits. All you have to do is take a peek at the House Rabbit Society or other rescue Facebook groups to see rabbits *constantly* dropping dead of bloat and GI stasis. The sad part is, these deaths are almost always preventable by being a responsible owner and feeding your animal an appropriate diet.
The problem with greens is that they tend to have a high water content. The more minor symptoms you'll see at first will be wet poop, diarrhea (which causes dehydration), gas, and a grumbling belly. These, of course, are terrible for the rabbit's health. However, what you'll start to find later down the road are more serious symptoms. You'll start to see rabbits going off their food, losing weight, losing flesh and fur condition, acting visibly "sick" and lethargic, curling up into a ball, and experiencing extreme discomfort. Later, they go into complete digestive shutdown. This is called GI stasis. When a rabbit goes into GI stasis, they typically die, even if you rush them to a vet for a $1,000 surgery. In my mind, I just can't justify this all for the sake of wanting to feed greens.
Given their extremely sensitive digestive systems, rabbits simply cannot cope with a varied diet. They are not humans - they are not omnivores. They do not need a billion different things in their diet. What they need is blandness and consistency. Contrary to what the rescue groups love to spout, the MOST IMPORTANT part of a rabbit's diet is a high quality show rabbit pellet. Avoid all pellets marketed toward pet owners. They are all overpriced and poor quality. A good quality alfalfa based pellet is considered a "complete feed", meaning it has all nutrients necessary for a rabbit to live and be healthy. See why there's no need for greens? Do your research, and find what protein percentage is appropriate for your breed. Feed a good quality timothy or orchard grass hay for added fiber. Add supplements too, if you want. Just avoid fruits and vegetables.
If you want to show your rabbit that you love them, there are much safer ways of doing so! Pick up your rabbit and hold it. Spend time with it. If you must offer treats, make it something SAFE. Shredded wheat (the non-frosted kind) is a great option! Cheerios will work too, or Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. Just keep it all in moderation, and introduce new foods gradually.
One of the key reasons why rescue rabbits having such tragically short lifespans is that rescue groups and other such organizations constantly push greens as a necessity in a rabbit's diet. While it might seem nice from a human's perspective to offer a nice big plate of vegetables to our rabbits, in reality, it causes a serious negative impact on the rabbit's health. Rabbits have extremely sensitive digestive systems; in fact, digestive issues are the most common cause of death in domestic rabbits. All you have to do is take a peek at the House Rabbit Society or other rescue Facebook groups to see rabbits *constantly* dropping dead of bloat and GI stasis. The sad part is, these deaths are almost always preventable by being a responsible owner and feeding your animal an appropriate diet.
The problem with greens is that they tend to have a high water content. The more minor symptoms you'll see at first will be wet poop, diarrhea (which causes dehydration), gas, and a grumbling belly. These, of course, are terrible for the rabbit's health. However, what you'll start to find later down the road are more serious symptoms. You'll start to see rabbits going off their food, losing weight, losing flesh and fur condition, acting visibly "sick" and lethargic, curling up into a ball, and experiencing extreme discomfort. Later, they go into complete digestive shutdown. This is called GI stasis. When a rabbit goes into GI stasis, they typically die, even if you rush them to a vet for a $1,000 surgery. In my mind, I just can't justify this all for the sake of wanting to feed greens.
Given their extremely sensitive digestive systems, rabbits simply cannot cope with a varied diet. They are not humans - they are not omnivores. They do not need a billion different things in their diet. What they need is blandness and consistency. Contrary to what the rescue groups love to spout, the MOST IMPORTANT part of a rabbit's diet is a high quality show rabbit pellet. Avoid all pellets marketed toward pet owners. They are all overpriced and poor quality. A good quality alfalfa based pellet is considered a "complete feed", meaning it has all nutrients necessary for a rabbit to live and be healthy. See why there's no need for greens? Do your research, and find what protein percentage is appropriate for your breed. Feed a good quality timothy or orchard grass hay for added fiber. Add supplements too, if you want. Just avoid fruits and vegetables.
If you want to show your rabbit that you love them, there are much safer ways of doing so! Pick up your rabbit and hold it. Spend time with it. If you must offer treats, make it something SAFE. Shredded wheat (the non-frosted kind) is a great option! Cheerios will work too, or Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. Just keep it all in moderation, and introduce new foods gradually.