Why Hay is the Way to a Healthy, Happy Bunny
Rabbits are one of the cutest animals around, so it's no mystery why they're such popular pets. Behind cats and dogs, bunnies are one of the most common animals that people share their homes with, yet the knowledge many have of how best to care for them is less than perfect.
As with many pet animals, proper feeding is key to keeping your furry friend healthy, but with rabbits, the results of getting it wrong can be particularly serious. A rabbit's diet should consist mainly of hay, with other foods being provided just as a supplement. Here are the reasons hay is so important for bunnies, and how it keeps them healthy.
Digestion
Rabbits' digestive systems are fairly unusual, especially for animals kept as pets. As grazing herbivores, they need to eat frequently throughout the day, mainly on a food source that supplies them with long fibres. It just so happens that grass is a great way for bunnies to get their fibre, but hay is a much more convenient way to provide it at home.
Without a steady supply of hay, a rabbit's digestive system can quickly slow down, resulting in a condition called gastrointestinal (or GI) stasis. When this happens, emergency veterinary care is needed to save the rabbit's life, so make sure there's always good quality hay available.
Teeth
A rabbit's teeth don't stop growing, so they need to be worn down or they can cause a lot of pain. Alongside the prominent front teeth, rabbits also have rear molars that are difficult to see, but which can also become overgrown. Wooden toys and other things to gnaw on can help a bit, but hay is the best way to keep your bunny's teeth healthy.
Although it might not seem like it would do much to wear down teeth, it's the constant munching and chewing that does the trick. Hay is particularly useful when it comes to the back teeth.
Emotional health
Hay doesn't seem very entertaining to humans, but it's a different story for bunnies. In the wild, rabbits spend their time foraging for food and eating throughout the day. At home, having access to hay simulates this for your bunny.
A rabbit that's snuffling through their hay and picking tasty strands to eat is completely happy. When there's no hay about, it's much easier for boredom to set in, particularly if you have a single bunny on its own.