What to Feed Rabbits to Trim Teeth

Owning a happy and healthy house bunny means keeping a close eye on its dental health. Rabbits are herbivores and keeping their fast-growing teeth in good shape is critical to maintaining their ability to graze on nutritious food throughout the day. There are a variety of foods -- and a few that should be avoided -- that will keep a rabbit's teeth trim and sharp.

  1. Problems

    • A rabbit's teeth undergo a great deal of wear from eating tough plant materials,

      Problems with pet rabbit teeth are not uncommon. In the wild rabbits require a constant source of energy so they graze continuously on plants, which involves a lot of chewing. Rabbit teeth endure constant wear, so they grow continuously throughout their lives. If pet rabbits are not fed a diet that matches the tough quality of plant fibers they would encounter in the wild their teeth will grow at different rates, resulting in teeth not lining up and meeting properly. Also called malocclusion, this can lead to eating difficulties.

    Essentials

    • Plant materials, like grass and green vegetables, are staples of a rabbit's diet that aids dental health.

      The No. 1 type of food that will help a pet rabbit keep its teeth from becoming overgrown are plant materials. Fresh grass hays (timothy, coastal, brome, oat, wheat and Bahia) and green vegetables (dark lettuces, broccoli, parsley, carrots with tops, and celery) are sufficiently fibrous, tough and nutritious. These items are usually recommended by veterinarians as staples of a pet rabbit's diet. Alfalfa hay, compressed into squares and sold at pet supply stores, is also good for trimming down a rabbit's fast-growing teeth.

    Pellets

    • While feeding a pet rabbit a diet as close to the one it would eat naturally is important, store-bought pellet food made for rabbits can also help wear down their teeth. Pellet foods are usually specially formulated to rabbits' nutritional needs and are tough enough to help keep the teeth sharp and healthy. The San Diego House Rabbit Society suggests feeding pellets that are low in protein and calcium but high in fiber, in addition to fresh foods.

    Avoid

    • A rabbit will instinctively chew on pretty much anything so it is up to the owner to make sure its food and surroundings are safe and healthy. Apple, willow and aspen branches are fine for a rabbit to chew on but fruit tree branches are poisonous unless they've been dried for a month or more. Pelleted foods that are high in calcium, use molasses as a binder (too much sugar), or have ingredients like seeds, dried fruit and corn should be avoided to prevent obesity and intestinal blockages.