Are pellets necessary?

[Moonlightbunny66]

So I watch 101rabbits a lot and I’ve heard her say a few times that she doesn’t feed her rabbits pellets. She said it’s something she decided with her vet. I was just watching another video “Emergency Prepping For Rabbits” and around the middle of the video she talks about how you shouldn’t feed them pellets. She said they are digested really slow. I think she also said before that it’s just unnecessary nutrients that they won’t absorb all of? Maybe that was someone else but anyone have an opinion?

[Wick & Fable]

By including a small amount of pellets in a rabbit’s diet, it is a way of ensuring that the rabbit is getting all its necessary nutrients and minerals. Those who do not feed their rabbits pellets have the task of filling in those gaps with a constant variety of vegetables paired with have a good hay-eating rabbit. That is my understanding.

It is definitely possible to have a healthy rabbit whose diet doesn’t include pellets– it’s simply more work for the owner to ensure that the variety of vegetables they are offering cover the spectrum of what a rabbit needs.

I think a component of it is also that it is very easy to incorporate pellets into a rabbit’s diet in an unhealthy way. Too frequent feedings or too much given can reduce hay consumption and cause obesity. These lead to a myriad of problems, including sore hocks, dental complications, gut complications…. at the same time, it’s hard to not give rabbits pellets because many of them love them so gosh darn much! … and thus, cutting out pellets all together may be appealing to dissuade owners from promoting poor eating and lifestyles in their rabbits.

I have read here and there about concerns for what “fillers” or “fluff” are included in pellets that some rabbits have difficulty with. I have never had an issue with Oxbow’s pellets, from which I have read some of those complaints, so I don’t think it is explicitly and overall harmful.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Moonlightbunny66]

@Wick Thank you! Good info! 🙂

[prince dorian the bun]

I think it is a discussion you really should make on your vet as a lot depends on your ability to feed a variety and your buns health/eating habits. I was told Dorian is a good candidate as he eats a good amount of hay and loves his leafy greens & herbs. I also give a large variety, as in a minimum of 3 different types a day and a minimum of 9 different varieties a week. I grow some myself and forage, as well as have the budget to buy a large variety and stores that carry them. He also generally loves his greens and easily will eat 3 to 4 cups a day. I realize not everyone has the time or budget to insure that variety.

That all said I do still feed pellets, I was initially holding off until he was 1 year old to phase them out to make sure he got full nutrition while he was still growing a bit, but in truth he loves them and we make a game of feeding time by hiding them through out his room in little cups or boxes so he still gets them. He gets somewhere between 1/8 to 1/4 cup a day, I use them as treats and just measure out a little under 1/4 cup… some days he gets it all others only half. He’s still young bun and even if I think he is pretty damn lazy, he is lean and healthy weight. I may still cut back or eliminate in future especially if he gains weight, but they are a healthier snack than many options. He does also get a small (think raisin sized sized piece of fruit a day and small portion of veg (teaspoon) most days. I may skip a day if he got a little extra one day or he isn’t that interested. He’s weird about new fruits, will eat every damn dead leaf he finds but totally snubs a piece of raspberry.

[Louiethebunny]

It really depends on your rabbit’s eating habits. Louie devours all kinds of greens and fruits, so he may be able to cute down on pellets and receive enough nutrients from veggies, but Lola is more reluctant to munch her veggies, (most likely because she came from a rescue that can’t provide a variety of greens.) So I make sure she eats pellets to get the rest of the nutrition she needs.

[Moonlightbunny66]

@princedorianthebun Wow you have a good eater! That’s cute that you make the pellets into a game. Thanks for the info. 🙂

@Louiethebunny Yeah I’ll have to wait and see if my buns will eat a lot of veggies and hay. Aw Lola, I hope with time she will grow to like her veggies.

[DanaNM]

Others have covered pretty much everything. I will just add that for a brand new bunny owner, it is safer to feed a small amount of pellets, and discuss with your vet if you eventually want to eliminate them.

Pellet free is possible, but you have to make sure to feed a wider variety of veggies, and preferably a variety of grass hays as well.

Pellets are such a small amount of my rabbits’ diet (1 tablespoon per day), I almost think of them like a treat and multivitamin, rather than a foundation of the diet. At one point my girl Bertha was on the heavy side and my vet said to eliminate them completely. My vet also knows my buns get a wide variety of veg that covers the vitamins and minerals that aren’t found in hay. She did lose weight… but she also passed away the following year so I think the weight loss may have been more due to aging and possibly cancer (she was a senior bun so it was just her time). Currently Bun Jovi (who is also a senior) is pretty trim, so I am keeping him on some pellets so he maintains his muscle mass.

It is also true that some bunnies don’t do well with pellets (just as some don’t do well with certain veggies), but the huge majority of rabbits do well on them and love them. 🙂

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Moonlightbunny66]

@DanaNM Thank you so much! I’m sorry you lost a bun. I’m sure she lived a great life with you. I will ask questions when they go to the vet. 🙂

[DanaNM]

Thank you <3 <3 She was a lovely sassy lady (the white and brown one in my pic). 🙂

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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