Treats: Why It's Best to Wait

Wait! Put down that carrot! Before you feed your young bunny any treats, it is important to know how much damage they can do to his digestive tract if he's not ready for them yet.

So why can't I feed my baby bunny a treat?
A rabbit's digestive tract is a very delicate system that must be kept in balance. Too many treats, too little hay, poor quality food, lack of water, too much ingested fur, parasites, all of these things can lead to an upset bunny tummy and lead to expensive vet bills or even death.

A very young rabbit is still developing the good bacteria in its gut. The good bacteria helps digest the food properly, absorb nutrients, and make the most of the bunny's diet. When this system is not properly established before introducing treats, it often means disaster and diarrhea for them. Fruits, vegetables, and other produce can introduce parasites including coccidiosis to the bunny's digestive system. Parasites are awful little creatures that absorb all of the nutrients from the food, leaving very little for the bunny. The bunny grows thin, listless, and can die if it isn't treated early. Even if he is treated, the damage is often already done, The bunny's coat can be permanently left dry, brittle, and dull. She may not thrive and her growth may be stunted, leaving her small and frail. It's better to wait until they are stronger, healthier, and better able to tolerate the treatment for parasites, before risking your bunny's health and well-being.

But wild rabbits live on the very things that you are saying my pet bunny shouldn't eat. What's up with that?
Wild bunnies are generally parasite-laden and don't live very long. Trust me, you want a better life for your pet bunny.

OK, how about some packaged treats from the pet supply store?
These treats may not carry parasites, but they often contain sugars, seeds, additives, and preservatives which can be harmful to rabbits of all ages. Giving a young rabbit sugary treats is another surefire way of upsetting the balance in the bunny's intestinal tract.

You keep talking about "young bunnies." Are the rules different for older bunnies?
Yep. Bunnies under six months of age are called juniors. Bunnies six months and over are called seniors. Once he hits six months of age, you can start to give your pet tiny amounts of bunny-safe fruits and veggies. By tiny, I mean tiny. Like a tablespoon or less, no more. Give treats no more than twice a week. Introduce only one new treat at a time and stick with it for about three weeks before trying something else. Watch your bunny carefully for signs of tummy upset, like diarrhea, lack of appetite, or change in energy levels. If you see any signs of something amiss with your bunny, stop giving that particular treat, wait a couple of weeks, and then try something new.

Ok, that seems reasonable, but is there any treat I can give my baby bunny now?
Yes, there is! You can feed him raw, old-fashioned rolled oats. Not the quick cooking kind. We prefer to give our bunnies organic rolled oats. We like to hand feed a few little flakes to each bunny when they are really little and then sprinkle a bit over the top of their food pellets when they are able to nibble from a bowl. Just a pinch, mind you. There's no reason to go overboard because too many oats can put too much weight on a bunny. Fat bunnies are not healthy bunnies. A little goes a long way.

Plain old raw oats may not seem very exciting, but all of our bunnies love them. When our doe Plum Bun was pregnant, our youngest daughter left the container of oats sitting on the floor of her room while she was tidying up Plummy's cage. Plummy jumped out of her cage and absolutely LUNGED for those oats, inhaling as many as she possibly could before her oats eating ecstasy came to a screeching halt. Literally. That child could screech the paint off the walls if she tried. Poor Plummy. She was carrying quite a litter, and deserved an extra serving of oats for all those babies she was growing. :)