[Kimmy1000]

I live in Trinidad and we do not produce hay here. I have a rabbit and the pet shop sells rabbit pellets and they told me that that alone with fruits and vegetable will provide everything that the rabbit needs; the complete balance diet. I don't know what to do. Can anybody tell me what will happen if I give her the pellets alone? If I can't please tell me what is a substitute of hay that I can give my rabbit. Thankz much

[Wondergirl]

Our bunny expert (Altenweg) will be on the site later today. Please check back. She'll give you very helpful information.

[Kimmy1000]

Thankz much

[lilpoppa]

Your rabbit will be fine eating feed pellets alone, most brands of rabbit pellets are just compressed alfalfa. I have raised rabbits in the past and fed them only pellets at the times of year when alfalfa hay is hard to come by.

[Kimmy1000]

Thank you soooo much. I feel so relieved now thankz a lot

[Alty]

lilpoppa is almost right. Most pellets have timothy hay in it, not alfalfa. Alfalfa is actually only good for your rabbit when it's young. At 6 months it's no longer beneficial. Timothy hay is the thing rabbits need once they're older.

Check your pellets. It should list the ingredients. If there's timothy hay in the pellets then your rabbits should be fine.

[Kimmy1000]

The ingredients in the food are Grain products, Plant Protein Product, Processed Grain By Products, Fish By Products, Limestone, Dicalcium, Phosphate, Salt, Trace Minerals and Vitamin Products. These are what is on the label... I don't know if they are good or not... :/

[Alty]

The ingredients in the food are Grain products, Plant Protein Product, Processed Grain By Products, Fish By Products, Limestone, Dicalcium, Phosphate, Salt, Trace Minerals and Vitamin Products. These are what is on the label... I don't know if they are good or not... :/

Unfotunately there's no timothy hay in your pellets, or so it seems.

Do you have apple tree twigs? Apple tree twigs will provide roughage, which is what timothy hay is. The reason rabbits need timothy hay is to help with hairballs and other blockages that could occur. You see, rabbits can't vomit, they don't have a gag reflex. That's why the right diet is so important. The timothy hay helps clear things out. Apple tree twigs will help. They're not as good a timothy hay, but they're not a bad substitute.

[Kimmy1000]

No we don't have apple tree twigs here either :/

[Alty]

How about grass? Grass, and dandelions will help some. Again, they're not as good as timothy hay, but if you can't get hay, grass will have to do.

Make sure the grass isn't treated with anything. No fertilizer, sprays, pesticides, etc. and only a handful a day, otherwise he will likely get diarrhea.

The next time you go to the pet store look for pellets that have hay in them.

I'm actually surprised that they even have rabbits in a place that doesn't have hay. Obviously they're not native to Trinidad.

[Kimmy1000]

Thanks a lot. No they are not,we usually grow them on pellets, fruits and vegies, well so I was told but the lady in the pet store. But I did biology and I learnt that rabbits are herbivores eating hay so I was really uneasy just giving her pellets alone. The grass that she actually eats is rear to find which is water grass and she doesn't eat the rest so I don't know but thankz a million... can't say thank you enough... =D

[Alty]

No problem. I hope it all works out okay. I myself have 4 rabbits, and they're wonderful pets. I love them a lot.

[Kimmy1000]

Yes they are... the most loving animals ever... thanks again