Homemade Rabbit Treats

Most rabbit treats found in pet supermarkets are filled with sugar and are basically bunny junk food. Keep your rabbit happy and healthy by making your own nutritious treats at home. It might take a little more work, but your fur-baby is worth it--and she will thank you with unconditional love and joyous hops.

  1. Keep it simple

    • Use ingredients that you know your rabbit already likes. Not all bunnies like carrots--shocking, but true; I used to live with one. The dry base is a mix of rolled oats and rabbit pellets (Timothy pellets are preferred for adult rabbits) that are finely ground by using a coffee grinder or small food processor. The wet ingredients can include greens of choice, honey, banana and water (as needed).

    Treats for tricks

    • Thanks to Amy Sedaris, a fellow rabbit lover, my bunnies have a new favorite snack. These cookies are simple to make and a healthy snack for loving lagomorphs.

      Katie's Smack Snacks for Rabbits
      1 c. rolled oats, finely ground (coffee grinder works best)
      1/4 c. rabbit pellets, finely ground
      2 medium-sized bunches of parsley
      1/2 of a carrot
      1/2 of a banana
      1/4 c. + 1 tbsp. water

      Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a baking sheet or stone with parchment paper. Grind pellets and oats into a powder and set aside. Puree parsley, carrot, banana and water until liquefied, add more water as needed. Mix puree and dry ingredients in a large bowl. Knead until a stiff dough is formed (it will be somewhat sticky). Place ball of dough between 2 sheets of wax paper and roll to about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch thick. Cut into small squares and place on baking sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes. Do not let them get too brown. Turn off the heat and let them sit in the warm oven for about an hour.

    Considerations

    • Buy organic ingredients when you can. Use rolled oats, not quick oats.Try different flavors by using cilantro or dandelion greens instead of parsley. Apples or pears can be used in place of carrots. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the greens to remove any dirt or residue before pureeing. A baking stone works best, but parchment paper lined cookie sheets are fine, too. Store the treats in an air-tight container. Do not give bunnies more than one treat per day.