Rabbits are very sweet and gentle animals.  They thrive best on a diet composed of unlimited timothy hay and fresh greens.  Pellets in small amounts are ok, but are really designed to grow up rabbits fast and heavy.  Fresh greens such as arugula, endive, radaccio, dandelions, parsley, cilantro, mustard, chard, green beans, broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower, carrots are excellent to add to their food.  Start slow if your bunny is only used to eating pellets, but in general fresh greens should not cause any loose stool.  Fresh fruits such as apple cores, papaya, goji berries are safe in small amounts, but avoid high-sugar fruits such as banana and grapes.  Foods high in calcium should be fed only in small amounts, such as spinach.  Alfalfa hay should be avoided for the same reason, and in addition it is too high in protein for these hind-gut fermenters. 

            Herbs such as fennel, rosemary, basil, thyme, burdock and dandelion root are nice to add every once in a while, as well as sticks for them to chew on.  Lagomorphs, not rodents, they do share their cousins’ trait of continually growing teeth.  If the diet is lacking in fiber, they can get sharp points on the sides of their rear molars, which are extremely painful and will make them eat let and lose weight.  An oral exam with a speculum is necessary to be able to visualize these back teeth.  Although this does not usually require sedation, if they have developed spikes, they must be ground down, which is best to do under anesthesia. 

            Rabbits have a nightly ritual of consuming their own droppings directly from source to increase their own B vitamins and normal gut flora.  This is normal and desirable.  They must have a hutch with flooring that is not too rough on their feet and can otherwise let droppings fall beneath.  Many rabbits can be trained to use a litter pan or papers. 

            Male rabbits can develop embarrassing tendencies if left un-neutered, although some are fine intact.  Female rabbits are prone to ovarian, uterine or mammary tumors later in life if not spayed, although many intact live a long healthy life.  Females develop the dewlap, or extra flap of skin under their chin, which is an easy way to sex rabbits if they are mature. 

            When handling rabbits, make sure to always support under their belly and keep their back legs and feet tucked in.  If they kick, they can actually break their backs if held improperly.  Watch for sharp nails, as these need trimming on a regular basis.  Many bunnies prefer water bottles to dishes, and many enjoy a good salt block from time to time.

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