by Phyllis O’Beollain, Dayton Small Pets Examiner At any given time, rabbits require a good deal of water – proportionately more than other species. A rabbit weighing five pounds will drink as much water as a dog weighing 25 pounds! With hot weather or the dry air of air conditioned rooms, rabbits will drink even [...]
Read More ...Category: Nutrition and Diet
How Do I Get My Rabbit To Drink More Water?
HAY ~ NUTRITIONAL VALUE CHART
This chart was found by Flash Gordon and posted on another rabbit website. It is copied here with his permission. All Hay Sun-cured Values in % or Ratio Dry Matter % Crude Protein % Calcium % Phosph. % Magnes. % Ca:P Ratio Alfalfa —- All 90 16.0 1.28 0.24 0.30 5.3:1 Alfalfa – Prebloom 90 [...]
Read More ...CALCIUM CONTENT OF LEAFY GREENS
Rabbits metabolize calcium different from other animals. In rabbits, calcium in their diet is absorbed whether they need it or not. The excess calcium is mainly secreted via the kidneys. While most animals excrete only 2% of their calcium intake through their kidneys ~ rabbits excrete 45-60% of the calcium they consume. If a rabbit eats a lot of calcium, much of it is excreted through the kidneys and will end up in the bladder.
It is, therefore, important to know the calcium content of the greens we feed our companion rabbits ~ so that a greater proportion of lower calcium foods is fed to help flush out the excess calcium.
Read More ...VEGETABLES ~ TO AVOID GIVING TO YOUR RABBITS
There are some vegetables which should not be fed to rabbits. This article specifies which vegetables fall into this category and explains why.
Read More ...VEGETABLES ~ LIST
Dana Krempels, Ph.D. states ~ “Fresh, moist greens are about as important as hay in maintaining a healthy intestine.”
This article contains a list of the specific greens and other vegetables which are healthy and safe to feed to companion rabbits.
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