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, and proteins into usable energy, and is involved in producing hormones and maintaining healthy skin. Like other B vitamins in rabbits, a significant portion comes from cecal bacterial synthesis and is absorbed through cecotrope consumption. Dietary sources from greens and hay supplement this internal production.
A small floret of broccoli (about 20g, offered occasionally) provides roughly 0.1mg of pantothenic acid — your adult rabbit needs approximately 8 to 20mg of pantothenic acid per kilogram of diet, with cecotropes providing the bulk of this requirement alongside hay and fresh greens.
0.0% of daily nutrient intake
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) makes up 0.0% of your domestic rabbit's total daily nutritional requirements by weight. That's a tiny amount — but it matters.
Poor growth, rough coat, skin irritation, reduced appetite, and general malaise. True deficiency is rare in rabbits with normal cecotrope consumption and a varied diet of hay and greens.
Pantothenic acid is water-soluble and excess is readily excreted in urine. Toxicity from dietary sources is not a practical concern.
| Life Stage | Size | Min | Max | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | — | 0.8 | 2 | mg | Per kilogram of diet. Cecotropes and dietary sources combined meet this need. |
Source: NRC 1977, general veterinary consensus
