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howellrichard · 5 years ago

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Oxalates in the Diet – Friend or Foe?

Oxalates – Sometimes the reason why a Gluten Free Diet Fails

Do you ever feel like you’re doing everything “right,” but you’re still not feeling your best? Maybe you’ve given up grains, but your symptoms still persist? Or maybe you’ve started experiencing new symptoms?

If your answer is “yes,” then I suggest learning more about oxalates. Because for some, a gluten-free or grain-free diet isn’t enough.

What are oxalates?

Oxalates are natural compounds found in both plants and humans.

Plants use vitamin C to make oxalic acid, which can bind with calcium to form calcium oxalate crystals. Scientists believe these crystals help protect plants from calcium excess, insects, and infections as well as provide structure.

As humans, we get oxalates from eating plants that make them. Our bodies produce them under certain circumstances as metabolic by-products. And yeast and fungal infections can also contribute to the production oxalates.

However, in humans, oxalic acid and oxalate crystals are not beneficial. For perspective, oxalic acid is capable of removing rust from metal and is used commercially for this purpose. Anti-freeze (a.k.a. ethylene glycol) gets converted to oxalate in humans, which is why it’s toxic if consumed.

It’s also worth noting that deaths have been reported from the consumption of 4 – 5 grams of oxalates in food, although 10 – 15 grams are generally required to cause a fatality. But don’t worry! It’s not easy or common to consume such a high amount of oxalates at once. For reference, you’d have to eat at least 14 cups of spinach at one sitting to get to 4 grams. And over 30 cups to consume 10 grams.

Potential Effects of Oxalates in Humans

If your nutritional status is optimal, you eat a diet with lots of variety, and all systems are working as they should, oxalates in moderate doses aren’t likely to pose much of a threat. However, in today’s world, the average diet is nutrient deficient. And chronic disease is rampant. So under these conditions, oxalates shouldn’t be ignored.

Mineral Deficiencies

Oxalates can cause mineral deficiencies–in two ways. Oxalic acid can bind with minerals in your gut after a meal and prevent them from being absorbed. Oxalic acid can also be absorbed into your bloodstream and bind with minerals in circulation, which renders them useless.

When oxalic acid binds with sodium, potassium, and iron, it forms soluble salts, which can more easily be excreted from the body. When it binds to other minerals, it creates insoluble crystals that are hard to get rid of.

However, oxalic acid is most attracted to calcium. For example, kidney stones are primarily calcium oxalate crystals.

Thus, calcium deficiencies are common in those with oxalate issues, which can cause muscle spasms, cramps, and fatigue as well as pain, brain fog, and irritability.

Magnesium is another mineral of concern. And like calcium, magnesium deficiencies affect the muscles. They’re also associated with fatigue, high blood pressure, depression, heart problems, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and extreme PMS symptoms.

It’s also worth noting that magnesium deficiencies in animal studies have been shown to contribute to the accumulation of a compound called glyoxylate. And glyoxylate can be converted to oxalate in both rodents and humans.

Kidney Disease

Your kidneys are responsible for filtering oxalates from the blood and excreting them in your urine. So kidney disease and stones are high risks when excess oxalates are present.

Whole-Body Effects and Symptoms

Your kidneys aren’t the only place oxalates can cause harm in your body. Oxalates are also believed to affect your heart, thyroid, skin, joints, bones, teeth, nerves, and eyes. Essentially, crystals can damage these tissues and cause inflammation, dysfunction, and disease.

Thus, oxalate-related symptoms are broad, and may include:

Pain (anywhere in the body)

Abdominal discomfort

Diarrhea or constipation

Urinary problems

Brain fog

Mood changes

Muscle weakness

Lack of coordination

Fatigue

Poor sleep

Skin rashes and lesions

Slow healing injuries

Diseases Linked to Oxalates

Because oxalates can affect most tissues in your body, an excess is associated with many chronic disorders, including:

Arthritis

Lupus

Fibromyalgia

Inflammatory bowel disease

Heart failure

Autism

Celiac disease

Vulvodynia

Plus, experts believe that oxalates may be the missing link for those with celiac disease that don’t find relief with a gluten-free diet.

Grains, Gluten, and Oxalates

There’s more than one connection when it comes to gluten and oxalates. So let’s take a look…

Grains are High Oxalate Foods

The first point I want to make is that grains, the source of gluten, are generally high in oxalates. This is especially true for wheat, bulgar, barley, rye, brown rice, and teff. The pseudograins buckwheat, amaranth, and quinoa are also high in oxalates.

In addition, oxalates concentrate most in the bran, the outer layer of the grain. So whole grains have higher amounts of oxalates when compared to refined grains, such as white flour and white rice.

Grain Induced Inflammation

For some, gluten damages the lining of the intestines and causes inflammation. As a direct result, more oxalates are absorbed into the bloodstream. In addition, gut dysfunction may make it harder to eliminate accumulated oxalates.

Grain Induced Malabsorption

Intestinal inflammation also disrupts the digestive process and prevents certain nutrients from being absorbed.

Fat is one example. And when fat malabsorption occurs, more oxalates may enter the body. Essentially, fat can bind to calcium, which then prevents calcium from binding to oxalates in the gut and being eliminated in your bowels.

This specific condition involving fat malabsorption, known as enteric hyperoxaluria, is also associated with irritable bowel disease, chronic pancreatitis, bariatric surgery, and celiac disease.

Vitamin B6 deficiency is common in those with gluten sensitivity. This stems from intestinal damage as well as the fact that a grain-rich diet doesn’t provide an adequate supply of vitamin B6. This is problematic because when vitamin B6 levels are low, your body is more likely to convert certain compounds (e.g., the amino acid glycine) into oxalate.

Gut Bacteria Imbalances Induced By Gluten and Grains

Gluten, pesticides (e.g., glyphosate), additives in processed foods, and intestinal damage from gluten can all disrupt the balance of bacteria residing in your gut. More specifically, it can reduce species of bacteria (e.g., oxalobacter formigenes) that are capable of degrading oxalates, which help prevent oxalate absorption as well as help eliminate oxalates from the body.

Yeast Infections

Eating a gluten-rich, processed food diet is also associated with candida (i.e., yeast) infections. Candida produces an enzyme capable of breaking down collagen in your body. And the by-products of this reaction can be converted into oxalates.

Medications to Treat Gluten Related Symptoms

Those with gluten sensitivity may be treated with medications that can increase the burden of oxalates. For example, NSAIDs can damage the lining of your gut as well as your kidneys. Steroids can also cause intestinal harm. And antibiotics can kill beneficial gut bacteria that degrade oxalates.

Additional Causes of Excess Oxalates

Oxalates aren’t just a problem for those with gluten sensitivity. Other chronic conditions cause gut inflammation, malabsorption, bacterial imbalances, and so on. Plus, below are two additional reasons why you might experience oxalate-related issues.

Seasonality and Healthy Food Trends

Oxalate poisoning has been documented since the 1850s. It was called oxalic acid diathesis. And it would occur mainly in Spring and Summer months when fresh greens were available.

But until modern times, these high oxalate foods were only consumed when they were in season, which helped prevent oxalates from building up and causing problems in most people.

Today, on the other hand, we consume high oxalate foods all year long. For example, spinach is one of the richest sources of oxalates. Historically, it was only available in the Spring. But today, it’s available year-round. And it’s probably the most commonly used “green” added to smoothies consumed by many on a daily basis.

In addition, almonds are rich in oxalates. And almonds, almond butter, and almond milk are also frequently used in green smoothies.

For perspective, a normal daily intake of oxalates is around 100 – 200 mg. And one green smoothie with spinach can contain up to 1000 mg of oxalates.

Other popular “superfoods,” such as turmeric, chia seeds, cinnamon, cacao, and green tea are also high in oxalates. So for some, these “healthy” trends might not be so healthy after all.

Vitamin C & Oxalates

Ascorbic acid, a form of vitamin C, can be broken down and converted into oxalates. However, it’s almost impossible to get too much vitamin C from food. In fact, studies have found no association between dietary vitamin C and the risk of developing kidney stones.

In terms of vitamin C supplementation, study results are mixed. There is some evidence that high daily doses of vitamin C are associated with an increased risk of kidney stones in men, but not in women.

Nevertheless, if oxalates are a problem for you, it’s something to consider. You may need to test your vitamin C levels and work with your doctor to adjust your dose.

Are Oxalates to Blame?

You may be wondering whether or not oxalates are to blame for your unresolved health issues or symptoms. If so, I recommend talking to your doctor about the following:

Testing for high levels of oxalates in your urine – However, a normal result doesn’t mean your body isn’t burdened with oxalates. Your kidneys may not be filtering them properly. And as I mentioned previously, oxalates can build up throughout the body. So if your test results are normal or even low, don’t rule oxalates out.

Genetic testing for gluten sensitivity, as it has been linked to increased oxalate toxicity issues.

Testing for gut bacteria composition, which may identify a lack of oxalate degrading bacteria

Testing for yeast and fungal infections because they may be sources of oxalate production. For example, science has found that the fungus Aspergillus is capable of producing oxalic acid. If infections are discovered, antifungal treatments may be needed.

Testing for nutrient deficiencies and excesses – Vitamin B6 is important to assess because it can help prevent the formation of oxalates in your body as well as help degrade them. When oxalates are high in your blood, they bind to calcium and magnesium and can cause deficiencies as I mentioned previously. Zinc and iron are worth testing since oxalates can bind to them. Testing for excess vitamin C (ascorbic acid) may also be valuable. Because it can be converted to oxalates, especially when copper is high.

Supplementation – Calcium citrate taken with meals may help bind oxalates in your gut and prevent them from being absorbed. Vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium supplements may be necessary to overcome deficiencies, especially during the healing process.

In this study, patients were given both vitamin B6 (pyridoxine-HCl) and magnesium oxide supplements for 4 months. The researchers reported a gradual, yet significant decrease in oxalate excretion over time.

You can also add foods rich in these nutrients to your diet. For example, fish is an excellent source of both vitamin B6 and calcium.

When it comes to magnesium, many foods that contain high concentrations are also high in oxalates. However, some safe options include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, winter squash, and romaine lettuce.

EDTA is a chemical that binds to minerals and can help eliminate them from your body. And research shows it may be helpful in dissolving calcium oxalate crystals (a.k.a. kidney stones) in the kidneys.

N-Acetyl glucosamine has been used to help reduce pain associated with oxalate toxicity.

Animal studies have shown that chondroitin sulfate may help prevent the formation of oxalate calcium crystals in the kidneys. Other animal studies have also had success with selenium and vitamin E supplementation.

Probiotics may help increase the concentration of oxalate degrading bacteria in the gut.

Omega-3 fats have been shown to reduce the amount of oxalate excreted in urine and reduce the risk of kidney stones. The best sources of omega-3 fats are fatty fish (e.g., salmon and sardines) as well as high-quality fish oil supplements.

Since oxalate toxicity is an acidic condition, alkalinizing substances may also be useful. These include sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), lemon juice, and unrefined salt (e.g., pink Himalayan salt).

A low oxalate diet

Since oxalate urine testing isn’t always reflective of what’s going on inside your body, one of the best ways to determine whether oxalates are a problem is by significantly reducing your intake. Then, see if your symptoms subside over time.

The goal is to get down to approximately 40 – 60 mg of oxalates per day. However, it’s important to reduce your intake slowly. Because a drastic drop can be dangerous, which is why I always recommend working with a professional.

On a low oxalate diet, it’s also important to drink plenty of water to help eliminate oxalates through your urine.

High Oxalate Foods

If you decide to try a low oxalate diet, you’ll want to start by slowly eliminating the following foods:

Grains & Pseudograins (all)

Vegetables

Spinach

Beets (and beet greens)

Potatoes

Sweet potatoes and yams

Turnips (and turnip greens)

Endive

Swiss chard

Tomato sauce

Carrots

Celery

Artichoke Hearts

Sugar snap peas

Okra

Parsnip

Fruit

Avocado (unripe)

Star fruit

Rhubarb

Prunes

Figs

Olives

Blackberries

Raspberries

Apricot

Grapefruit

Kiwi

Orange

Beans (all except mung beans)

Soybeans and Products (e.g., tofu, miso, tempeh, soy nuts, soy sauce)

Nuts (including butters and flours)

Almonds

Cashews

Peanuts

Pinenuts

Seeds (including butters)

Chia

Poppy

Hemp

Sesame

Chocolate (and Cocoa Powder)

Herbs and Spices

Black pepper

Turmeric

Cinnamon

Parsley

Cumin

Black and green tea

Grain-free Flours

If you’re following a grain-free diet, it’s important to note that some grain-free flours are also high in oxalates. These include:

Nut flours (e.g., almond and cashew)

Arrowroot powder

Green banana flour

Potato flour

Tapioca flour

Thus, coconut flour and potato starch (not flour) are the best low oxalate options.

Low Oxalate Foods

The list above may seem long, but there are plenty of low oxalate foods to choose from.

Meats, dairy, poultry, eggs, and seafood are all low in oxalates.

Healthy oils and fats, such as olive, coconut, avocado, and grass-fed butter and ghee are great. However, don’t overdo it! Especially if your gut is compromised. Because poorly absorbed fats in your intestines may cause more oxalates to be absorbed into your bloodstream.

Other good food choices to reduce oxalate burden include:

Vegetables

Asparagus (boiled to reduce oxalate content)

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Romaine and other types of lettuce

Arugula

Cucumbers

Winter and summer squash

Red bell peppers

Lactinato kale

Squash

Mushrooms

Cabbage

Onions

Green peas (boiled)

Fruit

Apples

Avocado (ripe)

Grapes

Cherries

Plums

Peaches

Melon

Mango

Papaya

Blueberries

Bananas

Coconut

Seeds

Pumpkin

Sunflower

Watermelon

Flax

Herbs and Spices

White pepper

Basil

Cilantro

Honey

Mustard

Cardamom

Dill

Fresh garlic

Peppermint

Cayenne

Sage

Thyme

To Sum it Up

Because oxalates are natural and found in healthy foods, their potential for harm is often overlooked. However, there’s evidence that those with unresolved symptoms and conditions may benefit from reducing their oxalate intake. This includes those with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity when a gluten-free diet isn’t doing the trick.

Some people may also find that when they switch to a healthy gluten-free diet, their symptoms get worse. And oxalates may be to blame. Especially if the diet still includes “gluten-free” grains and green smoothies become a daily staple.

Thus, a grain-free, low oxalate diet may be necessary in some cases to heal your gut and reduce your oxalate burden. So if that’s determined to be true for you, I recommend working with a professional to ensure your plan is safe and effective.

Did you benefit by reducing oxalates from your diet? Comment below.

The post Oxalates in the Diet – Friend or Foe? appeared first on Gluten-Free Society.

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ionecoffman · 6 years ago

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The Snake-Poo Doctor

In 1862, an Edinburgh-trained physician, John Hastings, published a slim volume about the treatment of tuberculosis and other diseases of the lungs. It advocates the use of substances that much of the profession would regard as unorthodox, as he acknowledges in his preface:

It has been suggested that the peculiar character of these agents may possibly prove a bar to their employment for medicinal purposes.

Hastings then anticipates another likely objection—that the “medicine” he recommends is difficult to get hold of. Fear not: He can recommend some suppliers.

It may be useful to add that these new agents may chiefly be procured from the Zoological Gardens of London, Edinburgh, Leeds, Paris, and other large towns. They may also be obtained from the dealers in reptiles, two of whom—Jamrach and Rice—reside in Ratcliffe-highway, whilst two or three others are to be found in Liverpool.

One might reasonably ask what sort of medicine can be purchased only at a zoo or pet shop. Hastings explains that he spent several years trying to find novel medicinal substances in nature, without success. Deciding that pharmacies were already “crowded with medicines derived from the vegetable and mineral world,” he resolved to investigate possible miracle cures in the animal kingdom.

It would be foreign to my purpose to detail here the various animals I put in requisition in the course of this investigation, or the animal products I examined during a prolonged inquiry. It is enough to state that I found in the excreta of reptiles agents of great medicinal value in numerous diseases where much help was needed.

Yes, Hastings’s miracle cure was reptile excrement. His book is titled An Inquiry Into the Medicinal Value of the Excreta of Reptiles. Which reptiles, you may be asking?

My earliest trials were made with the excreta of the boa constrictor, which I employed in the first instance dissolved simply in water. A gallon of water will not dissolve two grains, and yet, strange as the statement may appear, half a teaspoonful of this solution rubbed over the chest of a consumptive patient will give instantaneous relief to his breathing.

This post is adapted from Morris’s new book.

Not just the boa constrictor, either. Hastings provides a list of the species whose droppings he has investigated: nine types of snake (including African cobras, Australian vipers, and Indian river snakes), five varieties of lizard, and two tortoises. After his eureka moment, the intrepid physician was eager to introduce the new medicinal agents into clinical practice, and so he started to prescribe reptile excrement for his patients. Since his specialty was tuberculosis, most of the people who came to see Hastings would have been scared and desperate. In the 1860s, there was no cure for TB; although it was not universally fatal, around half of those who contracted the disease would die, most of them within two years.

[Read: The danger of ignoring tuberculosis]

Hastings includes a number of case reports. The first concerns “Mr. P.,” a 28-year-old musician who consulted him about a troublesome cough. Unexplained weight loss had eventually prompted the diagnosis of tuberculosis:

I prescribed the 200th part of a grain of the excreta of the monitor niloticus (warning lizard of the Nile) in a tablespoonful of water, to be taken three times a day, and directed an external application of the same solution to the diseased side. He was much better at the end of a week, and after a further week’s treatment I lost sight of him in consequence of his believing himself cured.

Another was “the Reverend Q.C.,” who sought treatment after he started to cough up blood, the classic presentation of tuberculosis. He was treated with two different types of lizard poo:

I applied to the walls of the left chest a lotion composed of the excreta of the boa constrictor of the strength of the 96th part of a grain to half an ounce of water. Under this treatment his amendment made rapid progress, until the month of May, when I prescribed for him a solution of the excreta of the monitor niloticus ... of the strength of the 200th part of a grain in two teaspoonfuls of water three times a day, and directed him to use the same mixture externally.

The clergyman’s symptoms improved dramatically, and a few weeks later, he was able to walk eight or 10 miles “with ease.” But my favorite case is that of “Miss E.,” described as a “public vocalist,” which contains this magnificent paragraph:

This case is interesting, from the fact that I gave her the excreta of every serpent I have yet examined, and they all, without exception, after a few days’ use, occasioned headache or sickness, with diarrhoea to such an extent that I was obliged to relinquish their use. From the excreta of the lizards she experienced no inconvenience. She is now taking the excreta of the [common chameleon] with great advantage, and is better than she has been at any one period during the last three years.

It’s all pretty ridiculous—a fact that the medical journals of the day did not fail to point out. An 1862 review in The British Medical Journal makes an excellent point about the nature of scientific evidence, suggesting that the “positive” results he recorded were nothing of the sort:

This doctor, unfortunately, gives his cases—his exempla to prove his thesis; and we must, indeed, announce them as such to be lamentable failures as supporters of his proposition. We verily believe, and we say it most conscientiously, that if Hastings had rubbed in one-two-hundredth of a grain of cheese-parings, and had administered one-two-hundredth of a grain of chaff, and had treated his patients in other respects the same as he doubtless treated them, he would have obtained equally satisfactory results.

If The British Medical Journal was uncomplimentary, The Lancet was positively scathing. Its reviewer pointed out that 20 years earlier, Hastings had published another book in which he claimed to be able to cure consumption—using a flammable hydrocarbon called naphtha. And 12 years after that, he had decided that the cure for consumption was “oxalic and fluoric acids” (both toxic in large doses); oh yes, and “the bisulphuret of carbon” (also toxic). Hastings had in fact discovered not one but five cures. The reviewer adds, with considerable sarcasm:

As regards that—to ordinary men—unmanageable malady, consumption, all our difficulties are now at an end. The public may fly to Hastings this time with the fullest confidence that the great specific is in his grasp at last.

But he saves the best till last:

What can the public be thinking about, we would ask, when it supports and patronizes such absurd doings? Will there still continue to be found persons ready to allow their sick friends to be washed with a lotion of serpents’ dung?

Hastings was so offended by this article that he attempted to sue the publisher of The Lancet for libel. The matter was heard before the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Alexander Cockburn, who dismissed the case, ruling:

It might be that he had discovered a remedy, and, if so, truth would prevail in the end; but it was not to be wondered at that the matter was treated rather sarcastically when the public were told that phthisis could be cured by the dung of snakes.

Well said!

This post is adapted from Morris’s new book, The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth: And Other Curiosities From the History of Medicine.

Article source here:The Atlantic

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busterbaxtersite · 8 years ago

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Choosing The Best Rabbit Food in 2017

Someone wise once said that, ‘A rabbit is only as good as the food they eat’

Ok. That someone was me.

And that stemmed from the fact that choosing the best rabbit food for your bunnies is made out to be this immensely challenging, scientific load of bull that it is not.

Rabbit nutrition is simple. It is true that they eat a lot. But that is what precisely spreads out their daily nutritional requirement over a variety of food items that is tailored for them.

In this blog post today, I will be addressing everything related to food for your bunnies. Consider it like the Rabbit nutrition 101 guide that you always wanted. We will discuss everything from hay, natural grazing, vegetables and the occasional treats that will keep your bunny healthy, happy and fit.

By the end of this, you will be armed with enough information to pick the best rabbit food for your bunnies irrespective of the breed or the size. So sit back and resist your urge to chew on the furniture while you read this.

Quick Comparison: Top Rabbit Foods in 2017

Rabbit Food Quality Our Rating Best Rabbit Food For Adult Rabbits Oxbow Animal Health Bunny Basics Essentials A+ Small Pet Select Rabbit Food Pellets A+ Kaytee Supreme food for Rabbit A Sherwood Adult Rabbit Food - Timothy blend A- Manna Pro Small World Rabbit Feed A- Best Rabbit Food For Young Rabbits Oxbow Animal Health Bunny Basics Young Rabbit Formula A+ Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Food for Juvenile Rabbits A- Best Hay For Your Rabbit Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting Timothy Hay A Kaytee All Natural Timothy Wafer-Cut Hay A- Standlee Premium Western Forage Timothy Grass A-

* click on the product name to be taken to Amazon where you can check the current price and read customer reviews.

Below you’ll find in-depth reviews of each of the above products.

Understanding Your Rabbit’s Diet

Before we get going, let me clear one thing right off the bat.

Rabbits were originally wild animals that were later domesticated for keeping them as pets in homes. Hence, many experts refer to pet bunnies as ‘house rabbits’. If you are wondering why I mentioned this in the first place is that from a digestive and nutritive point of view, there is very little difference between a wild rabbit and a house pet.

They have identical digestive systems but there’s a huge difference in the type of food they eat which has been brought about by man’s addiction to dry packaged foods.

Don’t get me wrong here. Your rabbit will still need their pebbles. But many rabbit parents are guilty of overfeeding them with pebbles.

Like wild rabbits, which graze for hours on naturally available fresh grass, herbs, tree barks, dry grass, leaves, fruits, shrubs, herbs and sprouts, your first attempt must be to supplement your rabbit’s diet with a supply of natural grass.

The Natural Ingredients in Your Rabbit’s Diet

In ideal circumstances, your pet rabbit will have a healthy mix of grass, hay, herbs, vegetables, fruits and dry food which not only fill in their daily nutritive requirement but also cater to their taste buds by giving them a plethora of textures and flavors which wont keep them bored.

There are other advantages too which we will talk about in a bit.

But firstly, here’s a percentage graph of what your rabbit’s diet should look like.

Grass/Hay – 75- 80%

Fresh Veggies – 10-15%

Healthy Treats – 5%

Dry food/ Pellets – 5%

Now let’s go through each one of those in detail.

Grass or Hay

It is given that if you live in a city, getting access to meadows of fresh grass is next to impossible. The next best option that you have is to feed your rabbit with grass hay. Grass hay or just hay is nothing but dried grass that retains a lot of its nutritional content making it an excellent choice for rabbits that do not have access to fresh grass. It contains Vitamins A, D, Calcium, trace amounts of protein and a bunch of other nutrients.

Most rabbit parents don’t think twice before feeding their pets with a particular type of hay, which may be the most easily available option. However, different varieties of hay have different nutritional content. Some of this, when consumed in excess, can even be fatal for your pet.

Hence, it is always healthier to mix different types of hay depending on the age and weight of your pet.

Adult rabbits need less of calories and protein as compared to babies. So, babies should be fed more of alfalfa grass which is high in both the ingredients. For adults, a mix of orchard, timothy (both of which are fiber rich), oat, dried grass, meadow and Bermuda grass will be a good choice.

A small percentile breakdown of the nutrient profile of each type of hay:

Orchard grass: 32% Fiber, 10 % Protein, 0.33% Calcium

Timothy: 34% Fiber, 11% Protein, 0.5% Calcium

Alfalfa: 34% Fiber, 19% Protein, 1.5% Calcium

You can also pick one or two of the above and mix them for your pet.

As healthy as hay can be, loss of some of the nutrients, including vitamins and minerals is unavoidable due to the drying process. This is where fresh herbs and vegetables come into the picture.

Veggies and herbs

Fresh foods, vegetables and herbs in particular, can give the rabbit the moisture that is lacking in dry hay. Not only will it cater to your bunny’s taste buds, it will also improve their kidney and bladder function.

Now, there’s a lot of debate as to what the fresh part of your rabbit’s diet must contain. Having lived with bunnies for over a decade, I have learnt from experience that at least 75% of the fresh food that you give your bunnies must come from leafy green veggies.

That might sound blasphemous to a lot of people who will start to cringe about oxalic acid and the potential damage that it can do to your rabbit’s kidney function over a prolonged time frame.

For those who are unaware, Oxalic acid which is also called ‘Oxalate’ is naturally occurring ingredient in many foods, which has become a buzzword in health circles for humans as well as their furry counterparts. But the fact is that it is far from the bête noir that it is made out to be.

In limited quantities, it is harmless for bunnies. When it comes to rabbits, there are ample choices of leafy greens that do not contain oxalates.

To that end, I have a small table to share with you.

Here’s a bunch of low oxalate leafy greens and other veggies that you can feed your bunny.

Asparagus, Broccoli, romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, swiss greens, turnips, basil, radish tops, beet greens, mint, chicory, cucumber leaves, carrot tops, watercress, bok choy, dill leaves, dandelion, frisee lettuce, wheatgrass, endive, cilantro and kale.

Here are a few leafy greens which have higher oxalate content. But there’s no reason for you to skip these completely from your rabbit’s diet. Instead, you can balance them out by feeding these in limited quantities because of the other nutrients that your rabbit can get from it.

Spinach, Mustard greens, Parsely, Carrots

The idea should always be to mix up the source of fresh greens and veggies giving your rabbits access to varied taste, textures and flavors while ensuring that the nutritional requirements are not left out. You can mix at least 2 -3 types of leafy greens and spread them out over the day. I regularly include spinach in my pets’ diet but ensure that I don’t overdo it for the risk of the side effects of oxalates.

Oxalates when fed in excess can cause a tingling sensation around the skin and the mouth of your pet. In extreme cases, it can cause severe kidney damage.

The only thing that I would keep an eye on while feeding the rabbit fresh veggies is to reduce the quantity of starchy and sugary veggies like broccoli because of possible gastrointestinal disturbances.

Fruits

The USDA recommends that you eat at least 5-7 servings of fruit every day. But that’s not intended for your bunnies. There’s a misconception that fruits which are touted to be loaded with antioxidants will do your bunnies a lot of good. The fact is that most fruits are loaded with natural sugars and starches which make for excellent treats but should not be a regular part of your rabbits diet.

Given a chance, your rabbit will gorge on all the fruit that they can get their hands on. That’s their natural instincts kicking in because in the wild, fruits are seasonal and in limited supply. Given the competition for food in nature, rabbits are inclined to eat as many fruits as they can at a time because it remains unsure if and when they will get their next meal.

However, excessive amounts of fruit will lead to an obese pet that most likely has gastrointestinal problems. Not the best of scenarios for a house rabbit.

It is recommended that you limit the fruit serving to less than half a tablespoon per lb of your pet’s bodyweight. Like other ingredients, this should be spread out over the day.

I usually introduce fruits to my rabbit’s diet after they have been fed hay for at least four weeks. This gives their digestive systems enough time to get used to the new foods and reduces the risk of any possible complications. You can introduce fruit in small limited doses and monitor the stool to see how your pet is faring. Soft stools may indicate that the rabbit’s digestive system is not agreeing with a particular food. You may want to strike that one off the shopping list.

If you are giving fruits as special treats, your rabbits will look forward to it and it is also a great way to motivate them to get some much needed exercise. There’s nothing worse than a bunny that refuses to budge after sprawling out in a cage.

Dry food

Finally, we come to, what comprises of a large part of most house rabbits diets, dry food. Dry food was originally designed for caged rabbits that were bred for meat. For this reason, it is a very concentrated form of nutrition that packs in more nutrients than what your rabbit would need on a daily basis.

But that’s not necessarily everything that your rabbit needs. Most dry food lacks an adequate quantity of fiber that your pet needs for properly regulated bowel movement. If you try to increase the quantity of food to make do for the lack of fiber, it will lead to an overdose of most of the nutrients that your pet needs which will lead to severe health complications.

Now that we know about the disadvantages, let’s also talk about the perks of mixing this into a rabbit’s diet.

You may or may not have access to a mix of grass hays and all the veggies and herbs listed here for various reasons. If that is the case, then even a small dose of the best rabbit food can supplement for the nutritional deficiencies. Also, any rabbit’s diet that only consists of fresh foods clearly lacks many trace nutrients, vitamins and minerals that can be supplemented by using a good quality commercial dry food.

There are two main types of dry rabbit foods available in the market.

Mixed foods: These are a blend of different dried and processed ingredients that may include dried vegetables. It looks similar to breakfast cereals or muesli which makes them appear to be healthier than pellets, which are the other type of dried rabbit food. However, rabbit food mixes with their bright colors may not be the best of choices for your pet because your rabbits may selectively pick their choicest morsels leaving out nutritional ingredients. Also, I’d rather give my pets as less added flavoring and coloring as I can. That’s just me though. Nothing has been proven scientifically about the coloring and flavors in rabbit food.

Pellets: Pellets or nuggets are mostly made from dried grass and are uniform sized chunks that your rabbits cannot pick from. For this reason, you will find that a rabbit usually eats all the pellets left in their food bowl rather than cereals. There are many different brands of pellets to choose from in the market and there’s a lot of misleading advertising being used by manufacturers. A red colored pellet for example with the label screaming ‘all-natural ingredients’ may be misleading you into believing that it possibly contains carrot. A green one possibly indicating that it is sourced from leafy greens. But that is rarely the case. The most important thing that you should keep an eye on is the nutritional value on the product information label. This becomes all the more necessary if your pet does not have access to grass hay or other fresh herbs and veggies. For adult rabbits, look for a bare minimum of 19-20% dietary fiber to make the food easier for your bunny to digest. For young rabbits that are below six months of age, the food must contain at least 19% of protein to help them develop their bodies.

The next most important question that rabbit parents have is how much to feed their bunnies at different stages of their body growth. And it is a very critical part of the rabbit’s diet and well being.

How much is adequate? How much is too much or too little?

How Much Food Does my Rabbit Need?

Rabbits are natural foragers and in an enclosed environment like an urban home, it is very easy to overfeed them. So, I always divide the food that a rabbit needs everyday into different groups to make it easier for rabbit parents to understand the dietary needs of their pets.

Water: 24/7 – Your pet needs a never ending supply of fresh drinking water at all times. However, merely filling a water bottle or a bowl doesn’t cut it anymore. Water in bowls can get frozen in winters and bottles can get clogged especially if algae start to grow in it. You need to keep a check on these things.

Hay: An adult rabbit needs one bundle of hay that is the same size as they are. I will speak about the type of hay that a rabbit needs at different stages of their growth in a minute.

Leafy greens: There should at least be a handful of leafy greens fed to your rabbits spread out over the day. This should have at least three types of leafy green vegetables. Rotate the different leafy greens over the week to avoid repetitiveness and to introduce new nutrients to your pet’s diet.

Fruits: An occasional treat of apples or carrots will keep your rabbit happy and healthy. Limit this to one treat a day.

Pellets: A rabbit needs approximately 25 grams of pellets per kg of their bodyweight. For an adult rabbit that averages 4 kgs of weight, that translates into 2 cups or 50 grams of pellets per day.

How much food do baby rabbits and teenage rabbits need?

The first 12 weeks are the most important phase of a baby rabbit’s life where you need to establish the fundamentals of healthy eating and ensure that the nutritional requirements of their rapidly developing bodies are fulfilled. Here’s what you should feed your pets for the first 12 weeks of their life.

From birth until they reach 3 weeks of age – Only mother’s milk

3 to 4 weeks – In addition to mother’s milk, this is a great time to introduce alfalfa in tiny quantities

4 to 7 weeks – In addition to mother’s milk and alfalfa, you can give them access to the best rabbit food pellets.

7 weeks to 7 months – Time to weed them off the mother’s milk and alfalfa and give them unlimited access to their dry food (in controlled doses) and their blend of hay.

12 weeks – Time to introduce leafy greens one at a time

How much food does a young adult rabbit need?

Once a rabbit’s core dietary habits are established in the first few months, their digestive flora is primed and more readily accepts newer and more complex food sources. This is a great time to reduce their dependency on dry food and introduce newer fresh food sources. If you haven’t introduced a blend of hay yet, then it’s time to bring in timothy hay, oat hay and some of the others that I have mentioned earlier. It is also time to reduce the alfalfa content in their food, if you are still feeding them.

Pellets can be reduced to as less as 10-12 grams per 6 lbs of body weight. You can experiment with different veggies to see what your pet can tolerate without it causing digestive problems.

This is also a great time to introduce the occasional fruit treat. Just a reminder, your best choices are apples and carrots.

How much food does a mature adult rabbit need?

The diet for a mature adult rabbit and a young adult is mostly identical. The only notable difference is that now you can experiment more with fresh veggies and give them unlimited access to their hay. There should always be a bundle of hay in their crate or cage. Veggies can be increased to as much as 2 cups a day and pellets can be increased or decreased depending on the other parts of the diet.

What is the ideal diet for senior rabbits?

The diet for a mature adult rabbit depends completely on their weight and overall health. If the rabbit is healthy and does not have any health problems, then a diet similar to that of the adult rabbit can be continued. However, if the rabbit has geriatric problems, like excessive calcium in the blood or is underweight, then they may need more pellets or alfalfa.

What Are The Best Rabbit Food Brands?

There are tons of rabbit food brands to pick from and the term ‘best rabbit foods brand’ may well be subjective. For example, if I have an adult rabbit, I’d look for the brand that offers the best pellets that are derived from timothy hay and do not have an excessive amount of sugar or starch.

But if I have a senior rabbit that is above the age of 6, I’d want to consider one which contains a little of alfalfa.

However, if you are new to rabbit foods and want to know about some of the popular brands, then here are some of them.

Oxbow: One of the most popular brands of rabbit foods that has a range of products for different age groups of bunnies.

Mazuri: Offers a wide range of exotic pet foods and is considered to be among one of the most trusted brands of rabbit foods in the world.

American Diner: Good old American made rabbit food available in both pellets as well as mixed forms.

Kaytee: Kaytee is another great choice of homemade foods for small animals. Their range has a variety of options for rabbits, guinea pigs and tortoises.

If this is the first time you are venturing to shop for nibbles for your rabbit, then here’s some help for you. Here’s a list of the top rabbit foods in the market. To make it easier for you to pick, I have categorized these according to the age of the pet.

My Picks of The Best Rabbit Foods For Adult Rabbits

#1 – Oxbow Animal Health Bunny Basics Essentials

One of the most popular brands of rabbit foods, Oxbow’s essential range boasts of the most complete nutritional profile among dried foods. It contains a blend of natural and synthetic ingredients that encompasses of vitamins, minerals, protein, healthy fats and calcium that an adult rabbit needs every day.

The main ingredients in the formula are timothy hay for fiber, soy for protein and fats and wheat for carbohydrates.

The vitamin blend is comprehensive and includes Vitamins A, D, E and a bunch of B vitamins which are vital for the rabbit’s fur, skin, nails and eyes.

Many vets recommend switching over to the Oxbow essential range of rabbit foods, especially if rabbits are facing problems like poor fur quality or gastric stasis.

The pellets are soft and easily chewable for rabbits of all ages.

What I like about it

Time tested and proven formula

Loved by bunnies of all ages

Complete nutritional profile

Premium ingredients for protein, healthy fats and carbs

Blend of vitamins

Easy to chew pellets

Buy from AMAZON.COM

#2 – Small Pet Select Rabbit Food Pellets

Despite being a new and niche brand that caters to a specific target audience (read fresh bunny food lovers), the small pet select rabbit food has become quite popular in a very small time. One of the reasons is because their rabbit food isn’t mass produced.

Instead, small batches of the food are produced (less than 500 packets a month) and sold exclusively on Amazon. This assures you about batch freshness and also about the attention to quality which may be lacking in mass produced foods.

The pellets itself are quite soft and rabbits take an instant liking to it. The primary ingredient is timothy hay which makes it an excellent source of indigestible fiber. Other than this, it also contains soy ingredients for fat and a health blend of vitamins.

Some of the notable ones are Vitamin A, D, E, B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus and proteins.

The product is made in the USA by a small family based business with 4 employees and comes with a 100% money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the quality.

What I like about it

Small batch produced food with fresher ingredients

Timothy hay based

Tasty pellets that bunnies love

100% money back guarantee

Made in the USA

Healthy vitamin, mineral blend

Buy from AMAZON.COM

#3 – Kaytee Supreme food for Rabbit

Go to any pet store and ask for a good quality rabbit food and the first one that you’d come across will be Kaytee Supreme food for rabbits. This is hands down, among the most widely used rabbit foods in the world.

And for good reason too. The pellets are soft, fresh and most rabbits would instant devour it without any hesitation. If you have been using other store brands, you will notice a marked difference in the color of your bunny’s ‘poo’. That’s an indicator of the fresher ingredients that Kaytee uses.

The food is sourced from a blend of grains and seeds according to Kaytee’s official website. However, the supreme food formula does contain oat hay as the primary ingredient along with traces of alfalfa.

So, if alfalfa is restricted for your pet, then you may have to look at some of the other options in this list. It has a healthy vitamin blend along with Rosemary, Vitamins A, E, B12, Niacin, Folic acid among others.

What I like about it

Most popular adult rabbit food brand

Oat based pellets with traces of alfalfa

Fresher and healthier

Excellent blend of vitamins

No artificial flavors or coloring

Buy from AMAZON.COM

#4 – Sherwood Adult Rabbit Food – Timothy blend

A lot of rabbit parents don’t want to feed their pets foods derived from soy or grain sources. If you are one of them, then you’ll love my next pick in this list of best rabbit foods. This is the Sherwood Adult rabbit food that is sourced from Western Timothy Hay and is completely free of Soy and food grains.

For rabbits that are allergic to soy or grains, this is easier on their digestive systems and contains a healthy blend of nutrients that keep their coat shiny.

The pellets have a fresh timothy hay aroma to it and it is not from artificial coloring or flavors because the food contains none. It is testimony to the quality that Sherwood Forest takes pride in.

If your bunny takes a liking to this, you can also buy this in bulk from the manufacturer to save some Benjamin.

Also, there are two varieties of the food available from Sherwood. One is the professional pellets which are ideal if your rabbit’s diet comprises of more than 50% timothy hay and the other is the complete pellet which is ideal for pets who consume less than 50%.

What I like about it

Fresh, green and delicious pellets

Free of soy and grain

Timothy hay based

Helps improve digestive problems and fur problems in rabbits

Buy from AMAZON.COM

#5 – Manna Pro Small World Rabbit Feed

The no-corn formula from Manna Pro is perfect for adult rabbits that have digestive enteritis caused due to high energy grains in their food. The endosperm in corn is one of the leading causes of a carb overload in the hindgut of some bunnies.

The Small world range from Manna Pro is a nutritional pellet that contains high fiber content along with a healthy mix of vitamins and minerals.

The primary ingredients are wheat mill run, alfalfa meal, soybean hulls, rice bran, soybean meal and dried grains.

The pellets are firm and easily chewable by bunnies of all ages. I have spoken to countless rabbit parents who use Manna Pro Small World as the primary dried food for their bunnies. Others also keep it as a secondary option in case they run out of supply of their chosen dry food brand.

What I like about it

Unbeatable pricing

No-corn formula that contains wheat mill run, alfalfa meal, soybean hulls and rice bran

Blend of vitamins, minerals

Ideal for rabbits of all ages

Buy from AMAZON.COM

My Picks of The Best Rabbit Foods For Young Rabbits

If you have a growing bunny below the age of 7 months to a year, you can take a pick of one of these two rabbit foods. Both of these are good quality formulas that have a healthy nutritional profile.

#1 – Oxbow Animal Health Bunny Basics Young Rabbit Formula

My #1 pick for growing bunnies is this Young Rabbit Formula from Oxbow. This is the perfect age for you to give your bunnies unlimited access to pellets and this formula from Oxbow with its Alfalfa content ticks all the right boxes.

It gives them enough protein and enough calories to help sustain the nutritional requirements of their bodies.

In addition to the alfalfa, it also contains a healthy blend of fats, carbohydrates, amino acids, minerals and vitamins.

The formula is gentle enough to be easily digested by young bunnies. This also allows you to use this for geriatric rabbits that have lost a lot of weight lately as well as pregnant bunnies.

The pellets are soft, have a fresh aroma and are much loved by bunnies who are usually finicky towards certain brands.

What I like about it

Soft and delicious pellets that are liked by rabbits of all ages

Alfalfa based formula that is rich in proteins and calories

Contains fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins

Easily digestible

Buy from AMAZON.COM

#2 – Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Food for Juvenile Rabbits

Kaytee’s forti-diet pro formula is specially designed for growing bunnies and contains a bunch of beneficial ingredients that provide the necessary support to their developing bodies.

Along with alfalfa, which caters to the high calorie and protein requirements, the food also contains ground oats, ground wheat, oat hulls and flax seed which provide much needed dietary fiber and make this formula rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids.

This helps the bunnies in developing a rich and lustrous coat.

I have donated a lot of bags of this food to a foster home that houses abandoned and orphaned rabbits and it has really helped a lot of the bunnies survive without nursing from their mothers. That alone stands testimony to the quality of the pellets.

The best part is that it is a budget priced option and it also helps to establish your bunnies’ taste buds towards timothy hay based pellets.

What I like about it

Alfalfa based formula for juvenile bunnies

Rich in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for a shiny coat

Rich in dietary fiber

Vital blend of vitamins, minerals and amino acids

Buy from AMAZON.COM

The Best Rabbit Food – Hay For Your Rabbits

A list of the best rabbit foods would be incomplete without recommending some of the best brands of hay for your pet. Once again, to keep it diverse, I have included a variety of types of hay. You can pick the one that best works for your pet.

#1 – Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting Timothy Hay

A lot of pet parents don’t think twice before ordering timothy hay without realizing that there’s a marked difference in quality in many brands of hay available online. This one from Small Pet Select is of the freshest ones in the market. It is the second cutting, which is softer than the first cutting but not extremely soft.

It contains long and delicious strands of hay with very little powdery or dusty residue which is an indicator of an old or stale batch.

Also, it does not contain any bugs or mites which are commonly found in cheaper timothy hay brands. No seed heads either which makes it easier for the bunny to chew and digest.

If your bunny has been refusing to eat Timothy hay that you batch purchased off the supermarket shelf, then you’d want to try switching to this one. Excellent quality and great pricing too!

What I like about it

Fresh, minimally processed timothy hay

Second cutting

Long and delicious strands

No dusty residue or seed heads

No mites, bugs

Buy from AMAZON.COM

#2 – Kaytee All Natural Timothy Wafer-Cut Hay

Kaytee’s Timothy Hay has a slight edge in terms of pricing. If you compare it per ounce, this is cheaper than any other variety of hay. Also, it comes in wafer cut stacks which make it easier to feed to your bunnies and there’s less chance of wastage.

The quality of the hay is pretty good at the price point. It is not as good as the one from Small Select but once again, it all boils down to what you are willing to spend.

You will find a bit of dust and some brown hay strands in this. But I wouldn’t consider it to be a deal breaker at this price.

This is a perfect low protein, high fiber hay for bunnies, guinea pigs and other small animals.

What I like about it

Wafer cut stacks of hay for easy feeding

Decent quality timothy hay

Great pricing

Bestseller on Amazon

Buy from AMAZON.COM

#3 – Standlee Premium Western Forage Timothy Grass

If you want nothing but the best for your bunny, then check out the Standless Premium Western Forage Timothy Hay.

This is grown in the sun kissed volcanic plains of Southern Idaho which boasts of some of the most nutrient dense soil in the world. The lower humidity in the air clubbed with the friendly irrigation practices make this one of the best forages for your bunnies.

The hay is the second cutting and is long, nutritious and easy to chew. There is zero wastage, brown dust or residue in the box. You get fresh and aromatic timothy hay in every batch.

The only caveat is that if your bunnies get used to the taste of the Standlee Premium Western Forage Timothy, they will refuse to touch any other product of questionable quality.

What I like about it

Top quality timothy hay

Grown in the United States in the nutrient dense soil in Southern Idaho

Second cutting

Long and delicious hay strands

Zero wastage, brown dust or residue

Buy from AMAZON.COM

An optimum diet that is the right mix of fresh ingredients and the best rabbit food (dry) will enable your bunny to lead a healthy, happy and disease free life. If you need any further assistance or wish to add anything to this, then feel free to reach out to us via the contact us form or via the comments section.

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furryfiestaweb · 8 years ago

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Choosing The Best Rabbit Food in 2017

Someone wise once said that, ‘A rabbit is only as good as the food they eat’

Ok. That someone was me.

And that stemmed from the fact that choosing the best rabbit food for your bunnies is made out to be this immensely challenging, scientific load of bull that it is not.

Rabbit nutrition is simple. It is true that they eat a lot. But that is what precisely spreads out their daily nutritional requirement over a variety of food items that is tailored for them.

Quick Comparison: Top Rabbit Foods in 2017

Rabbit FoodQualityOur RatingBest Rabbit Food For Adult RabbitsOxbow Animal Health Bunny Basics EssentialsA+Small Pet Select Rabbit Food PelletsA+Kaytee Supreme food for RabbitASherwood Adult Rabbit Food - Timothy blendA-Manna Pro Small World Rabbit FeedA-Best Rabbit Food For Young RabbitsOxbow Animal Health Bunny Basics Young Rabbit FormulaA+Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Food for Juvenile RabbitsA-Best Hay For Your RabbitSmall Pet Select 2nd Cutting Timothy HayAKaytee All Natural Timothy Wafer-Cut HayA-Standlee Premium Western Forage Timothy GrassA-

* click on the product name to be taken to Amazon where you can check the current price and read customer reviews.

Below you’ll find in-depth reviews of each of the above products.

Understanding Your Rabbit’s Diet

Before we get going, let me clear one thing right off the bat.

They have identical digestive systems but there’s a huge difference in the type of food they eat which has been brought about by man’s addiction to dry packaged foods.

Don’t get me wrong here. Your rabbit will still need their pebbles. But many rabbit parents are guilty of overfeeding them with pebbles.

The Natural Ingredients in Your Rabbit’s Diet

There are other advantages too which we will talk about in a bit.

But firstly, here’s a percentage graph of what your rabbit’s diet should look like.

Grass/Hay – 75- 80%

Fresh Veggies – 10-15%

Healthy Treats – 5%

Dry food/ Pellets – 5%

Now let’s go through each one of those in detail.

Grass or Hay

Hence, it is always healthier to mix different types of hay depending on the age and weight of your pet.

A small percentile breakdown of the nutrient profile of each type of hay:

Orchard grass: 32% Fiber, 10 % Protein, 0.33% Calcium

Timothy: 34% Fiber, 11% Protein, 0.5% Calcium

Alfalfa: 34% Fiber, 19% Protein, 1.5% Calcium

You can also pick one or two of the above and mix them for your pet.

As healthy as hay can be, loss of some of the nutrients, including vitamins and minerals is unavoidable due to the drying process. This is where fresh herbs and vegetables come into the picture.

Veggies and herbs

That might sound blasphemous to a lot of people who will start to cringe about oxalic acid and the potential damage that it can do to your rabbit’s kidney function over a prolonged time frame.

In limited quantities, it is harmless for bunnies. When it comes to rabbits, there are ample choices of leafy greens that do not contain oxalates.

To that end, I have a small table to share with you.

Here’s a bunch of low oxalate leafy greens and other veggies that you can feed your bunny.

Spinach, Mustard greens, Parsely, Carrots

Oxalates when fed in excess can cause a tingling sensation around the skin and the mouth of your pet. In extreme cases, it can cause severe kidney damage.

Fruits

However, excessive amounts of fruit will lead to an obese pet that most likely has gastrointestinal problems. Not the best of scenarios for a house rabbit.

It is recommended that you limit the fruit serving to less than half a tablespoon per lb of your pet’s bodyweight. Like other ingredients, this should be spread out over the day.

Dry food

Now that we know about the disadvantages, let’s also talk about the perks of mixing this into a rabbit’s diet.

There are two main types of dry rabbit foods available in the market.

How much is adequate? How much is too much or too little?

How Much Food Does my Rabbit Need?

Hay: An adult rabbit needs one bundle of hay that is the same size as they are. I will speak about the type of hay that a rabbit needs at different stages of their growth in a minute.

Fruits: An occasional treat of apples or carrots will keep your rabbit happy and healthy. Limit this to one treat a day.

Pellets: A rabbit needs approximately 25 grams of pellets per kg of their bodyweight. For an adult rabbit that averages 4 kgs of weight, that translates into 2 cups or 50 grams of pellets per day.

How much food do baby rabbits and teenage rabbits need?

From birth until they reach 3 weeks of age – Only mother’s milk

3 to 4 weeks – In addition to mother’s milk, this is a great time to introduce alfalfa in tiny quantities

4 to 7 weeks – In addition to mother’s milk and alfalfa, you can give them access to the best rabbit food pellets.

7 weeks to 7 months – Time to weed them off the mother’s milk and alfalfa and give them unlimited access to their dry food (in controlled doses) and their blend of hay.

12 weeks – Time to introduce leafy greens one at a time

How much food does a young adult rabbit need?

Pellets can be reduced to as less as 10-12 grams per 6 lbs of body weight. You can experiment with different veggies to see what your pet can tolerate without it causing digestive problems.

This is also a great time to introduce the occasional fruit treat. Just a reminder, your best choices are apples and carrots.

How much food does a mature adult rabbit need?

What is the ideal diet for senior rabbits?

What Are The Best Rabbit Food Brands?

But if I have a senior rabbit that is above the age of 6, I’d want to consider one which contains a little of alfalfa.

However, if you are new to rabbit foods and want to know about some of the popular brands, then here are some of them.

Oxbow: One of the most popular brands of rabbit foods that has a range of products for different age groups of bunnies.

Mazuri: Offers a wide range of exotic pet foods and is considered to be among one of the most trusted brands of rabbit foods in the world.

American Diner: Good old American made rabbit food available in both pellets as well as mixed forms.

Kaytee: Kaytee is another great choice of homemade foods for small animals. Their range has a variety of options for rabbits, guinea pigs and tortoises.

My Picks of The Best Rabbit Foods For Adult Rabbits

#1 – Oxbow Animal Health Bunny Basics Essentials

The main ingredients in the formula are timothy hay for fiber, soy for protein and fats and wheat for carbohydrates.

The vitamin blend is comprehensive and includes Vitamins A, D, E and a bunch of B vitamins which are vital for the rabbit’s fur, skin, nails and eyes.

Many vets recommend switching over to the Oxbow essential range of rabbit foods, especially if rabbits are facing problems like poor fur quality or gastric stasis.

The pellets are soft and easily chewable for rabbits of all ages.

What I like about it

Time tested and proven formula

Loved by bunnies of all ages

Complete nutritional profile

Premium ingredients for protein, healthy fats and carbs

Blend of vitamins

Easy to chew pellets

Buy from AMAZON.COM

#2 – Small Pet Select Rabbit Food Pellets

Some of the notable ones are Vitamin A, D, E, B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus and proteins.

The product is made in the USA by a small family based business with 4 employees and comes with a 100% money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the quality.

What I like about it

Small batch produced food with fresher ingredients

Timothy hay based

Tasty pellets that bunnies love

100% money back guarantee

Made in the USA

Healthy vitamin, mineral blend

Buy from AMAZON.COM

#3 – Kaytee Supreme food for Rabbit

What I like about it