Why will your rabbit eat anything?

Answer 1

Rabbits have a sweet tooth and they'll usually chose sugary fruits and vegetables over other foods. Too much fruit can lead to many different kinds of sicknesses in rabbits, so you shouldn't indulge your rabbit's sweet tooth.

Rabbits need a diet high in fibre; low in protein, sugar, and carbs; and with the right mix of nutrients and vitamins.

The best thing for rabbits is hay. One problem with letting your rabbit eat too much fruit is she'll "spoil" her appetite for hay, but rabbits need to eat lots of hay every day to wear down their teeth and keep their digestive system moving.

Rabbit pellets and fresh leafy greens are other good things for your rabbit to eat every day. Other vegetables and fruits should be limited: a good guideline is up to 1 or 2 tablespoons per day for a normal, healthy 6 pound rabbit.

If you've been giving your rabbit too much fruit:your rabbit may be ignoring her other food because she's full up from the fruit. Start decreasing the daily portions and introduce a more balanced diet. Changes in diet should be done gradually, bit by bit, because a sudden change can make a rabbit sick.

If your rabbit isn't eating, except for the small amounts of fruit you give: your rabbit needs to see the vet as soon as possible. See the related question below for more help. Selective eating in rabbits is often the sign of a mouth problem (like overgrown teeth, or an abscess in the mouth or throat). Selective eating is very dangerous in rabbits and if left untreated it can lead to other serious health problems (like G.I. stasis, which is life-threatening).

Answer 2

Rabbits are naturally grazers, which means that in the wild they eat on-and-off all day and night long, so pet rabbits have a natural affinity for eating and chewing on everything in sight. Rabbits have teeth that never stop growing, and they need to be worn down through constant chewing of fibrous tissues (hay, weeds, woods). Rabbits also have a digestive tract that needs lots of fibre moving through it all the time, so rabbits always want food in their bellies.

When rabbits aren't given a proper outlet for all these natural behaviours, they tend to be destructive to their surroundings (your stuff!). Hay is the best way to satisfy all these needs: it's great for their dental health (wears down their teeth), mental health (it entertains them), and digestive health (it's loaded with fibre). Grass hay (timothy, brome, meadow, etc) is best for adults because it's super-high in fibre; alfalfa is best for young rabbits (under 1 year; also nursing/pregnant rabbits, underweight rabbits, and certain other cases) because it's high in protein, which a growing rabbit needs.

Giving your rabbit unlimited access to fresh yummy hay is a great way to keep your rabbit's interest diverted away from your belongings. You can supplement hay with certain twigs (like apple wood, willow wood -- untreated, no varnish or paint, no pesticides) and paper products (plain cardboard boxes, newsprint -- minimal colours, nothing slick or glossy or brightly bleached, no tape or staples, etc).