DIETARY FACT SHEET
 
RABBITS
 

At Peters Pure Animal Foods, we care about pet rabbits. This feeding advice sheet has been prepared to help you keep your rabbit happy and healthy.

Rabbits are herbivores and eat only grasses, grain, fruit and vegetables. For a balanced diet, rabbits need dry feed, fresh fruit and vegetables, hay and water.

1. DRY FEEDING –Peters Rabbit & Guinea Pig Foods
 
Peters rabbit and guinea pig foods are specially formulated to provide rabbits with the essential vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain health and vitality. There are 3 tasty varieties to choose from to make mealtime fun for your pet.
 
MultiGrain Mixture is 13% protein made from wholesome and delicious grains and seeds blended with sweet molasses. It is suitable as a maintenance diet for adult rabbits. Contains crunchy whole grains for rabbits to chew to wear down their constantly growing front teeth and to help satisfy the chewing urge.
 
Lucerne Pellets are 17% protein, specially suited to young and breeding animals as the extra protein helps promote growth. Old, frail or convalescing pets may also benefit as it helps maintain weight. Your pet will enjoy the delicious flavour of fresh lucerne and the crunchy texture of the pellets.
 
Alfalfa & Fruit Meal is a 14% protein blend of fresh, leafy lucerne, tasty seeds and grains and juicy dried fruits. A special mealtime treat for your pet! It is suitable as a maintenance diet for adult rabbits.
 
Store dry foods in an airtight, waterproof container out of direct sun as moulds and fungi that grow in incorrectly stored foods can be fatal to pets.

2. HAY – Peters Pasture Hay (Pet Bedding & Food)
 
Hay is very important for maintaining your pet’s health. It provides essential roughage that aids digestion and reduces the risk of hairballs and other internal blockages. It also helps to satisfy the chewing urge. Feed Peters Pasture Hay daily in generous amounts.
 
Peters Pasture Hay is ideal as bedding and your rabbit will enjoy burrowing into a generous nest of hay for warmth and comfort. Always ensure your pet’s bedding is clean and fresh by replacing it regularly.
 
You can find a selection of Peters products from Coles and Bi Lo supermarkets, Big W stores, Woolworths, Safeway (Vic) and Action supermarkets (Qld).

3. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
 
IIt is important to supplement your rabbit’s diet with a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables each day. Your pet may enjoy the following selection;  Apples, broccoli, beans, carrots, celery, cucumber, green and red peppers, parsley, peas, pears, silver beet, spinach, sweet potatoes, turnips.

Too much lettuce and cabbage can cause diarrhoea so feed sparingly.
Ensure the food is fresh and washed clean. Place the roughly chopped food in a heavy ceramic bowl that can’t be tipped over. Introduce new foods slowly and in small amounts to avoid stomach upsets. This will also help you to identify your pet’s favorites. 
Rhubarb is toxic to rabbits as are a number of plants so beware of feeding plants or shrubs from the garden. Do not feed any mouldy or spoiled food.

4. WATER
 
Ensure your rabbit has plenty of fresh water. We recommend a gravity flow plastic bottle with a metal tube (sipper tube) as this keeps water clean. Replace daily.

TREATS – Peters Fruit Crunchy Bar
 
Peters Fruit Crunchy Bar will help satisfy your pet rabbit’s “sweet tooth”. Made from crunchy grains and seeds and juicy dried fruits, it can be hung in the cage to add variety and interest to your pet’s diet. Rabbits also enjoy raisins, sultanas, apples, and bananas, which are suitable for an occasional treat.
 
You can find a selection of Peters products at Coles and Bi Lo supermarkets, Big W stores, Woolworths, Safeway (Vic) and Action supermarkets (Qld).

RABBIT CALICIVIRUS - Don’t forget to annually vaccinate your pet rabbit against the calicivirus disease. Consult your local veterinarian for more advice.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
 
This fact sheet is intended to provide an introduction to dietary guidelines for your rabbit. You can obtain more information by consulting reference books available in your local library or contact the Associations listed below;
 
NSW: The Rabbit Breeders Association of NSW Inc;
Leonie Kelly Ph. (02) 9820 2516
VIC: The Rabbit Breeders Assoc. of Victoria Inc;
Sonja Gardien Ph. (03) 59 97 5107
ACT: The Canberra Rabbit Club Inc;
Sue Sowden Ph. (02) 6258 2218
TAS: Rabbit Breeders Association of Tasmania Inc;
Joan Eastley Ph. (03) 6362 2340
SA: The South Australian Rabbit Association Inc;
Sally Turner (08) 8369 2970

 
These quality products are endorsed by:

and the NSW, ACT, TAS & SA Rabbit Clubs.

PETERS PURE ANIMAL FOODS PTY LTD (ACN 007 161 551)   49-53 Capital Link Drive CAMPBELLFIELD VICTORIA 3061 AUSTRALIA
Telephone: (03) 9357 8110    Facsimile: (03) 9357 8145    Email: peters@vicnet.net.au