Rabbit Diet & Nutrition: Complete Feeding Guide

Your rabbit's digestive system is fundamentally different from dogs and cats. Rabbits are strict herbivores with a unique gut ecosystem that depends on continuous hay consumption. Unlike dogs (who can eat once or twice daily), rabbits graze all day and their digestive system requires constant movement of food through their gut to function. The most common cause of death in pet rabbits under 5 years old is gastrointestinal stasis — a shutdown of the digestive tract that occurs when diet is incorrect, leading to accumulated gas, pain, and organ damage within hours. This is not a slow decline. This is a medical emergency. Understanding the correct diet for your rabbit prevents 80% of health problems rabbits experience in captivity.

Morning: Remove uneaten fresh greens, provide fresh hay, provide measured pellets, provide fresh water. Evening: Remove uneaten pellets, provide fresh greens. Weekly: Clean water bowl/bottle, check hay for mold. Frequency: This routine happens daily. There are no days off from hay.

Rabbits require a specific feeding ratio. This is not approximate. This is measured by weight. Daily Feeding Formula (per 5 lbs / 2.3 kg of rabbit): 70% hay by weight (timothy hay, orchard grass hay, or mixed grass hay, NOT alfalfa for adults), 1/4 cup pellets (high-fiber 17%+ fiber, species-appropriate), 1 cup mixed fresh greens (leafy vegetables: dark lettuce, parsley, cilantro, kale), Water unlimited, fresh daily. A 5-pound rabbit needs approximately 2 cups of hay per day and 1/4 cup of high-quality pellets.

When your rabbit is eating correctly, you will observe: Appetite (eats hay constantly, pellets eaten completely), Behavior (alert, active binkies), Feces (firm, round, consistent), Cecotrophy (normal), Urine (clear to slightly cloudy). Red flags: No appetite for hay, small hard feces, soft stool/diarrhea, overgrowth of incisors, obesity, hunched posture + teeth grinding.