Mazuri Rabbit Diet

Rabbits are the third most popular pet in North America, after the dog and cat. But only in recent years has rabbit health care and veterinary medicine caught up with the fact that more rabbits are living inside the home as cherished pets, less out in hutches as farm animals. With proper care and diet, a rabbit can live upwards of 10 years. Mazuri is a company that designs "complete" foods for zoo and laboratory animals and is often used by commercial breeders. The Mazuri Rabbit Diet may be right for some rabbits in a home situation as well.

  1. Pellets as Rabbit Food

    • In the past, rabbit pellets were designed simply to put weight on a rabbit quickly and cheaply. Generally, this was accomplished by free-feeding alfalfa-based pellets along with other foods that really aren't healthy for rabbits, such as corn and seeds.

      But for real heath and longevity in rabbits, the ideal diet consists of a small amount of a quality rabbit pellets coupled with unlimited grass hay and assorted leafy vegetables. Mazuri Rabbit Diet is a quality, high-fiber pellet which is a far healthier food for a rabbit than the "party-mixes" found in pet stores. These often include things like nuts, seeds, corn and dried fruit, which are not good for rabbits.

    Some Rabbits May Benefit From Mazuri Rabbit Diet

    • Certain pet rabbits may benefit from Mazuri Rabbit Diet's high-calcium, alfalfa-based pellets, either in small amounts or free-fed. Rabbits who are pregnant or nursing, young rabbits who are still growing, and elderly or sickly rabbits who have difficulty keeping on weight can use the extra calcium and calories from an alfalfa-based pellet. However, for a healthy pet rabbit fed a variety of vegetables, an alfalfa-based pellet may prove to be too caloric and have more calcium than is necessary, resulting in obesity, loose stools and kidney problems caused by flushing out the excess calcium. For the average bunny, a Timothy-hay based pellet is a better option.

    How to Feed Mazuri Rabbit Diet

    • Though the company itself suggests free-feeding Mazuri Rabbit Diet and nothing else, this is not ideal for the average pet rabbit. Rabbits on pellet-only diets often run into tooth issues without long, fibrous grass and leafy greens to chew. Free-feeding alfalfa-based pellets also puts a rabbit at risk for obesity, urinary tract issues and kidney problems. A better option is a small amount of Mazuri Rabbit Diet--an average-sized bunny will only need about 1/4 of a cup of rabbit pellets daily--along with unlimited grass hay and assorted fresh veggies.