Rabbits needs to have hay in their diet every single day because it helps to keep them regular and has essential nutrients that rabbits need everyday. Hay is high in fiber and is necessary for making digestion easier for your rabbit. Rabbits are able to process the nutrients in hay by eating it first and excreting it in their droppings called cecotrope. Cecotropes are made in the cecum. Rabbits will then eat the cecotrope droppings to absorb all of the nutrients in the hay. If your rabbit’s diet does not contain enough fiber and too many carbohydrates, then the cecum will make soft cecotropes that are difficult for your rabbit to eat. Regardless of diet, if your rabbit is making soft cecotropes, it is best to have your rabbit checked out by a vetrinarian to make sure that low fiber is the cause of the problem.
To keep your rabbit feeling and looking healthy, here are some hay products that will help to keep your rabbit’s digestion running smoothly:
- For rabbits that are over 6 months old, first-cut Timothy hay is the best kind of hay for your rabbit. Timothy hay is high in fiber and ideal for keeping your rabbit healthy. First-cut hay is courser than second-cut hay, but if your rabbit is picky, he may not eat first-cut hay. Regardless of the type of Timothy hay, it is very important that your rabbit eat hay everyday.
- Give your rabbit loose hay if possible for your rabbit to munch on. If you give your rabbit loose hay, it is a good idea put loose in a hay rack for your rabbit to nibble on as he pleases.
- You can also offer your rabbit Timothy hay cubes, but they don’t offer as much fiber for your rabbit’s daily diet. If your rabbit prefers hay cubes, give your rabbit a pellet food that is high in fiber to help supplement his diet.
