Rabbits are strict herbivores with a cecal fermentation digestive system. Unlimited timothy hay is the foundation — it provides fiber essential for gut motility and dental health. Fresh leafy greens daily, limited pellets, and very small amounts of fruit.
Daily nutritional needs for adult domestic rabbits — hover any bar to explore. Log scale.
Fiber is the single most important nutrient in your rabbit's entire diet — and it is not even close. Rabbits are hindgut fermenters with a …
Calcium is the most carefully managed mineral in rabbit nutrition — not because rabbits need more of it, but because of how uniquely they handle …
Vitamin A is essential for your rabbit's vision, immune defenses, skin integrity, and healthy growth. Unlike cats, rabbits are excellent at converting beta-carotene from colorful …
Vitamin D is calcium's essential partner, regulating how much calcium and phosphorus your rabbit absorbs from food and directing those minerals into bones and teeth …
Water is critically important for your rabbit's digestive health and plays a direct role in preventing the two most common rabbit health emergencies: GI stasis …
Protein provides the amino acid building blocks your rabbit needs for maintaining muscle mass, growing a healthy coat, repairing tissues, and supporting a strong immune …
Phosphorus works hand-in-hand with calcium to build and maintain strong bones and teeth, and it plays a vital role in energy metabolism and cell membrane …
Magnesium supports bone structure (about 60% of your rabbit's magnesium is stored in bones), nerve signaling, muscle relaxation after contraction, and hundreds of enzymatic reactions …
Potassium is a key electrolyte that keeps your rabbit's heart beating steadily, muscles contracting properly, and fluid balance regulated throughout the body. It works in …
Iron is essential for producing hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to every cell in your rabbit's body. …
Zinc supports over 300 enzyme reactions in your rabbit's body, playing key roles in immune defense, skin and coat health, wound healing, and reproductive function. …
Vitamin E is the body's primary fat-soluble antioxidant, protecting cell membranes from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. For your rabbit, it supports a healthy …
Unlike guinea pigs, rabbits can synthesize their own vitamin C in the liver, so it is not a dietary essential in the strict sense. However, …
Thiamine is essential for nerve function and energy metabolism, helping convert carbohydrates into usable energy. In rabbits, a significant portion of B vitamin needs are …
Riboflavin supports energy production at the cellular level, healthy skin, proper eye function, and red blood cell formation. Like other B vitamins in rabbits, riboflavin …
Niacin is important for energy metabolism, maintaining a healthy digestive tract lining, skin integrity, and nervous system function. Rabbits obtain niacin from both dietary sources …
Pyridoxine is essential for amino acid metabolism, red blood cell production, brain neurotransmitter synthesis, and immune function. It helps your rabbit efficiently use the protein …
Vitamin B12 is essential for red blood cell formation, proper nerve function, and DNA synthesis. Here is what makes B12 unique in rabbit nutrition: it …
Fat provides concentrated energy, supports the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), maintains healthy skin and a glossy coat, and forms essential components …
Sodium is an essential electrolyte that maintains fluid balance, supports nerve signaling, and helps regulate blood pressure. Rabbits need very small amounts, and their natural …
Vitamin K is essential for proper blood clotting and plays a supporting role in bone metabolism. Rabbits obtain vitamin K from two sources: dark leafy …
Omega-3 fatty acids provide anti-inflammatory benefits, support a healthy coat, and contribute to immune function. While rabbits do not need fish oil or marine sources, …
Carbohydrates in a rabbit's diet are a complex topic. Rabbits do not primarily use simple carbohydrates (sugars and starches) for energy the way humans do …
Copper supports red blood cell formation, connective tissue development, iron metabolism, and the production of melanin (the pigment in fur). It is a trace mineral …
Manganese supports bone formation and growth, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, and acts as a cofactor for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. It is needed in …
Selenium is a trace mineral that works hand-in-hand with vitamin E as part of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, protecting your rabbit's cells from oxidative …
Iodine is essential for your rabbit's thyroid gland to produce the hormones T3 and T4, which regulate metabolism, body temperature, growth, and overall energy levels. …
Pantothenic acid is a key component of coenzyme A, one of the most important molecules in your rabbit's metabolism. It helps break down carbohydrates, fats, …
Biotin is particularly important for maintaining your rabbit's dense, healthy fur coat and strong nails. It plays a key role in metabolizing fatty acids and …
Folate is essential for cell division and DNA synthesis, making it particularly critical during periods of rapid growth and reproduction. For pregnant does, adequate folate …
Chloride works alongside sodium and potassium to maintain proper fluid balance and electrolyte equilibrium throughout your rabbit's body. It is a key component of hydrochloric …
Your rabbit's cecum is home to a vast and delicate community of beneficial bacteria and other microorganisms that are absolutely essential for survival. These organisms …
Prebiotics are non-digestible compounds — primarily certain types of fiber and plant carbohydrates — that selectively feed the beneficial bacteria in your rabbit's cecum. Think …
Simple sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose) are rapidly absorbed in the small intestine, bypassing the cecal fermentation system entirely. While this provides quick energy, it also …
Chromium is a trace mineral that enhances the action of insulin, helping cells take up glucose from the bloodstream. While chromium is well-studied in diabetic-prone …
Molybdenum serves as a cofactor for several enzymes involved in metabolizing sulfur-containing amino acids and breaking down purines. It is needed in extremely small amounts, …
Cobalt is a trace mineral that your rabbit's cecal bacteria use to synthesize vitamin B12 (cobalamin). Since rabbits obtain virtually all their B12 from cecotropes, …
Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and bone mineral density in many species, but its relevance for rabbits is minimal. Unlike humans, rabbits have continuously growing (elodont) …
Oxalates are one of the most important nutritional concerns for rabbit owners to understand, because they interact directly with the rabbit's unique calcium metabolism in …
Phytic acid (phytate) binds to minerals like zinc, iron, calcium, and magnesium in the gut, reducing their absorption. It is concentrated in seeds, grains, and …
Tannins are polyphenolic compounds found in certain berries, bark, and some plants that bind to proteins and reduce their digestibility. In moderate amounts, tannins also …
Goitrogens are naturally occurring compounds found in cruciferous vegetables (kale, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, cabbage) that can interfere with the thyroid gland's ability to absorb …
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is produced naturally in your rabbit's body and plays a role in mitochondrial energy production and antioxidant defense. It supports cardiovascular health …
Flavonoids are a large family of plant-produced antioxidant compounds that provide anti-inflammatory, immune-supporting, and cellular-protective benefits. They are what give many fruits and vegetables their …
Omega-6 fatty acids (primarily linoleic acid) support skin barrier function, coat health, and cellular growth. Most diets naturally provide adequate omega-6 without any effort, as …
