If you are a happy owner of a cute rabbit, then you certainly want the fluffy ball to thrive. However, choosing the right menu for your pet can sometimes be tricky. At one point, you might find yourself asking the question: is giving horse pellets to rabbits a good idea?
The truth is that you can feed horse pellets to rabbits, but it can’t be the only thing that you give them. The little guys need more hay, vitamins, and, in some cases, protein.
So, if you decide to give your rabbits horse pellets, make sure that their diet still includes additional nutrients.
Can I use horse Timothy pellets for rabbits?
Horse Timothy pellets usually contain Timothy grass that is moderate in protein, low in sugar and calcium, and has fewer calories than alfalfa, for example. The majority of pellets are also high in fiber.
Make sure to check the ingredients. If the horse Timothy pellets that you are looking at contain only grass and some safe additives (like soybean hulls), you can surely feed these pellets to your rabbit.
Don’t forget to ensure that there are no nuts, sugary bits, seeds, corn, or unknown ingredients.
To go the extra mile, have a closer look at the main components. Pellets suitable for rabbits should contain 25-30% of fiber, 15% or less protein, 2% or less fat, and a maximum of 0.8% of calcium.
In general, for every five pounds of weight, veterinarians recommend giving your fluffy friend between an eighth and a quarter of a cup of pellets per day.
Why are pellets bad for rabbits?
Any kind of pellets that are low in fiber, too high in protein, sugar, or calcium can be dangerous for your pet’s health. Different additives like nuts and seeds may lead to unpleasant consequences if eaten.
Giving too many pellets to the little guy can cause obesity, digestive, and even heart problems. If given a chance, your rabbit will, most likely, overeat. So, it’s up to you to control the amount of food it gets.
You would have to also make sure that the pellets are hard enough. The teeth of a rabbit are constantly growing and the animal needs to chew on something to maintain dental health. The teeth will start to overgrow if your pet eats soft food.
Fun fact: continually growing teeth is something that rabbits and horses have in common. Both animals also have small stomachs. The cecum is where the food continues to break down with the help of bacteria that love fiber.
Yet another reason why pellets have to be high in fiber. Without a normal supply, these important bacteria can’t flourish.
With that being said, high-quality pellets are not bad for rabbits. But they can’t be the only kind of food that their diet includes.
Give your pet not more than a quarter of a cup of pellets on a daily basis for every five pounds of weight, up to 1¼ cups of vegetables (peppers, for example), and, of course, fresh hay. The latter has to make up around 80% of the rabbit’s diet. So, provide unlimited access to hay at all times.
What are the best rabbit pellets to feed?
Veterinarians agree that Timothy-based pellets are an amazing option for grown-up rabbits as they contain plenty of fiber.
Oxbow All-Natural Rabbit Pellets are a great choice. The pellets are made with high fiber Timothy hay, antioxidants, and prebiotics and have the necessary vitamins and minerals.
Kaytee Timothy Complete Rabbit Food is another option that you might want to consider. These ones are made with Timothy hay and have added probiotics and prebiotics to support digestive health.
When it comes to baby rabbits, the little guys need to consume pellets that have alfalfa in them. Those are a lot higher in such elements as calcium and protein – perfect for a tiny fella that is growing very fast.
Your pellets of choice have to be fresh. When placing your next order, get enough food for not more than 6 weeks. Just to make sure that the diet of your fluffy ball of happiness includes the freshest ingredients.
Conclusion
Horse pellets for rabbits? Is that a good idea? Is that even an option?
Let’s put it this way – if you can buy rabbit pellets, then you should definitely do that. But if you don’t have a choice, horse pellets will do the job.
Always pay attention to the list of ingredients and the key components, like fiber and calcium. Give your pet the correct quantity of pellets, according to its weight, and you will be good (even if you are feeding the cutie with horse pellets).
However, always remember that your rabbit can’t thrive on pellets alone. Feed the little one with vegetables and make sure that it has fresh grass hay available at all times.
By the way, in some cases, rabbits can even eat guinea pig food! But that’s a whole different story…
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