I'm the first to admit that too often we spend most if not all of the week talking about dogs and cats exclusively. Occasionally we will discuss those issues facing pet owners of a different variety, but for the most part our stories do center on the two most popular pets. This is something we want to change and are making an effort to include posts on all pets not just the main two. After all Petsource is your one stop spot on the web for the latest tips, stories, and info on your pets, not those that just bark and meow. With this in mind, I thought today we'd talk about all those little bunnies everyone will be receiving this Spring and just what they need to have on their menu.

Most people think that rabbits only eat carrots and lettuce, but in fact there are tons of foods that are great for a bunnies diet. According to the San Diego Chapter of the House Rabbit Society rabbits can be feed:

Vegetables:

Alfalfa, radish & clover sprouts
Basil
Beet greens (tops)*
Bok Choy
Broccoli (mostly leaves/stems)*
Brussels sprouts
Carrot & carrot tops*
Celery
Cilantro
Clover
Collard greens*
Dandelion greens and flowers (available in produce aisle)*
Endive*
Escarole
Green peppers
Kale *
Mint
Mustard greens*
Parsley*
Pea pods (the flat edible kind)*
Peppermint leaves
Radicchio
Radish tops
Raspberry leaves
Red or Green Leaf lettuce
Romaine lettuce (no iceberg lettuce)*
Spinach *
Watercress*
Wheat grass

Fruits:

Apple
Blueberries
Melon
Orange (be sure to remove the peel as it can harbor pesticides)
Papaya
Peach
Pear
Pineapple
Plums
Raspberries
Strawberries

The most important thing to remember when deciding what to feed your pet rabbit though is that everything must be given in moderation. In terms of leafy vegetables i.e. lettuce, parsley, kale your new rabbit needs to have 1 cup for every 4lbs they weight everyday of the week. These types of foods provide Vitamin A, which is essential to their diets. However like with all foods on the list when attempting to feed them something new, make sure you give it to them in small amounts so that you can monitor how they will react to the new addition to their diet. Fruits can be given a couple times a week and only in tiny portions and never give your rabbit chocolate. Chocolate and other "human treats" can be very deadly for your bunny.

With a bit of moderation and some close attention to what best works with their personalities, in no time you will have your bunny eating a healthy variety of foods in no time.