Feeding the house rabbit: twigs and branches
Camilla
Bergstrøm
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Rabbit teeth grow constantly
throughout their lives (approx. 2 mm per week). Even though a diet consisting
of hay, vegetables and pellets normally is enough to keep the teeth nice and
short, it is advisable to give the rabbit fresh twigs and branches to chew on
once in a while. Twigs not only help wear the teeth down – they need to chew
them slowly, which triggers proper salivation of the ingesta.
They provide fibers that contribute to the good activity of the digestive
system, are nutritious, and fun as well. Mostly, branches and leaves rich in tannin
(willow, hazelnut, oak, ash, fruit trees, eventually pines) are excellent in
preventing coccidiosis. Before a rabbit is given a
twig to chew, it is important to check that it’s picked from a tree that is
not toxic to rabbits. Furthermore, the tree must not have been exposed to
chemicals or pollution from busy roads. During the winter season, the
branches can be given without leaves too. Trees carrying drupes –
single-seeded fruits (including plum, cherry, apricot and peach) are toxic to
rabbits. Safe trees: willow, spruce, ash, birch, maple,
juniper, poplar, apple, pear, hazel and hawthorn.
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