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You have a bunny and want to give it a treat, what should you give it? There are so many options in the pet store, whatever should you choose? Yogurt drops? Apple branches? Rainbow logs? Hay mats? What is good and what is not so good (or even bad)? So let’s talk about yogurt drops and rabbit treats!
It was funny as I was researching what was available on-line how many articles would contradict themselves. Feed brussel sprouts, but make sure you avoid anything from the cabbage family of plants. Feed carrots and beets, but avoid anything high in sugar. It was kinda like huh? Inconsistency anyone?
So just what should you avoid from the pet store? Just what is the scoop on yogurt drops and rabbit treats?
Treats to Avoid
Foods high in sugar
- Yogurt Drops – yogurt is a milk product
- Rabbit Treat sticks – contain honey and other sweeteners
- baked pretzels – often covered with yogurt, high in sugar
- Snak Shack logs/houses – made with honey
Foods that will can make your bun sick
- Yogurt drops – can cause entertoxemia
- mini corn cobs. – rabbits don’t digest corn well
Foods not meant for bunnies
- any other small animal food. It’s just not formulated for the nutritional needs of rabbits. Good as treat, but nothing more.
Treats to Give
Treats that rabbits can use and enjoy
- wooden toys. Don’t get the painted one, just plain wood is sufficient.
- wicker. Be careful that your rabbit can’t get his/her head stuck inside.
- Hay mats, houses, toys etc.
- Apple branches, pear branches
- Mixed grains – as a treat only
- Dried vegetable treats – As long as they aren’t sweetened.
Treats I am not sure of
The following I am not highly familiar with but have seen them in a variety places on-line. With any treat make sure you read the ingredient list. Watch for honey, corn syrup, corn, avocado etc.
- Crinkle crisps –
- Farm Fresh fixins –
- Little Martin’s treats –
New treats come out all the time. Always read labels and use your common sense. Rabbits are herbivores with a sensitivity to sugars, toxins and moulds. Don’t feed anything that looks or smells off. Don’t feed milk or meat products. Dyes are unnecessary. Puffy treats in feed are basically flour and oil mixed together.
Check out the ingredients lists of these treats. What do you think?
Others in This Series
- American Fuzzy Lop.
- Baby Bunnies.
- Culling well.
- Discussing Death.
- Errors in Judgement.
- Feeding Rabbits.
- The G’s of rabbits.
- Holland Lops.
- Interesting facts about rabbits.
- The Joy of Bunnies.
- Choosing Rabbits to Keep.
- Leaping Lagomorphs.
- The Scoop on Poop.
- Not Wanted Rabbits.
- Over the Hill.
- Educating Pet Rabbit Buyers.
- Quarantine.
- Rescues and Breeders.
- Shelving Babies.
- Travelling with Rabbits.
- U asked.
- Vetting Your Rabbits.
- Wide World of Rabbits.
- Rabbit X-rays.
- Yogurt Drops and Rabbit Treats.
- Z
Letter Y Link Up
Each week we will be linking up with the hosts of Blogging Through the Alphabet. Please visit some of these other blogs to get things like book lists, vegan recipes, and wonderful places to visit, just to name the topics I can think of off the top of my head.
- Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool
- Christine @ Life’s Special Necessities
- Kimberly @ Vintage Blue Suitcase
- Dawn @ Schoolin’ Swag
- Wendy @ Life On Chickadee Lane
- Yvonne @ The Life We Build
- Jennifer @ A Peace Of Mind
- Kristen @ A Mom’s Quest To Teach
- Kirsten @ DoodleMom Homeschool
Wow! Who knew that pet shops would sell things bad for the pets? Seems odd to me. But it does makes sense that the internet is full of contradiction. Thanks for another helpful post.
it’s amazing the garbage you can buy in the pet store….. but then again…. look at what they sell for people to eat! 🙂 No difference I suppose.
Good tips…I admit to buying the occasional bag of yogurt drops for my guinea pig and mice. But my guinea pig really didn’t like anything special expect for carrots and hay. The mice…they had their favorites but never really liked fresh veggies or fruits.
If we ever got a small rodent again (been thinking about it), we would stick to more fresh foods for them.
your mice were odd! Mine love it when I give them mealworms and garden greens (grasses/weeds). The guinea pig… they take a long time to warm up to new feeds, but veggies are best for them. Once you get them well started they’ll take to most anything. and smarter than a rabbit they won’t eat something that’s not so good for them.