Tokis-Phoenix
^_^
"Pet owners are being warned that not feeding their rabbits enough grass and hay could prove fatal.
Edinburgh University said research suggests 80% of rabbits are not fed enough hay and grass and, as a result, their teeth can grow too long.
When left untreated, teeth can grow backwards into the jaw and may eventually pierce through the skull";
[URL="http
/news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinbu...ast/7195702.stm"]http/news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinbu...ast/7195702.stm[/URL]
Just thought that this is something that all the rabbit owners out there should be aware of, never take for granted the importance of hay and fresh grass in a bunnies diet. I guess a lack of grass and hay in rabbits diets is probably more common with rabbits which are kept in cages or pens which do not have everyday access to fresh grass etc. Hay is essentially dried grass although i expect fresh grass is probably better than hay given the choice, although i am sure rabbits in the wild are used to living off primarily hay during certain seasons (winter in cold countries when the grass isn't growing, and summer in hot countries where this is also the case etc).
Also make sure you don't give your rabbit too many sugary foods particularly if your rabbit isn't getting enough roughage in its diet as too much sugar could cause the rabbits teeth to painfully rot (because rabbits teeth constantly grow, usually rabbits get enough roughage in their diets to prevent serious tooth decay, but if the rabbit isn't getting enough roughage but is getting a lot of sugary foods then that could cause tooth decay to take a bad foothold in the rabbits teeth etc) or even cause it problems like diabetes etc.
Edinburgh University said research suggests 80% of rabbits are not fed enough hay and grass and, as a result, their teeth can grow too long.
When left untreated, teeth can grow backwards into the jaw and may eventually pierce through the skull";
[URL="http
/news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinbu...ast/7195702.stm"]http/news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinbu...ast/7195702.stm[/URL]Just thought that this is something that all the rabbit owners out there should be aware of, never take for granted the importance of hay and fresh grass in a bunnies diet. I guess a lack of grass and hay in rabbits diets is probably more common with rabbits which are kept in cages or pens which do not have everyday access to fresh grass etc. Hay is essentially dried grass although i expect fresh grass is probably better than hay given the choice, although i am sure rabbits in the wild are used to living off primarily hay during certain seasons (winter in cold countries when the grass isn't growing, and summer in hot countries where this is also the case etc).
Also make sure you don't give your rabbit too many sugary foods particularly if your rabbit isn't getting enough roughage in its diet as too much sugar could cause the rabbits teeth to painfully rot (because rabbits teeth constantly grow, usually rabbits get enough roughage in their diets to prevent serious tooth decay, but if the rabbit isn't getting enough roughage but is getting a lot of sugary foods then that could cause tooth decay to take a bad foothold in the rabbits teeth etc) or even cause it problems like diabetes etc.
