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21 Nov 2020

Why Rabbit Muesli Diets Are Harmful To Rabbits?

Posted By : Guest

Filed Under : Nutrition | Rabbits | Bunny Nature

Muesli diets lead to health problems in rabbits and should be avoided. For many years muesli mixes have been popular as rabbit food but the health risks associated with feeding them have been recognised.

In 1996 a paper was published that highlighted the problems of selective feeding from these mixtures. More recent research in 2013 confirmed that selective feeding is a problem and that obesity and inactivity can be induced by feeding muesli mixes as well as dental disease.

What are muesli mixes?

Muesli mixes are a mixture of cereals, legumes, pellets, extrusions and, in some cases, other ingredients such as locust beans or alfalfa. The mixtures are cheap to produce, easy to store and heavily marketed by the food manufacturers.

Cereals are the staple ingredients of these mixes and they are high in starch and low in fibre, so they are fattening, which is acceptable for short-lived rabbits that are reared for meat, but unacceptable for pet rabbits that can live for up to 15 years. Some of the ingredients of muesli mixes are more palatable than others and selecting out favourite ingredients from the mixtures is a big problem. Although the overall nutritional analysis of the mixture may be acceptable, there is considerable variation in the analysis of each ingredient.

The manufacturers know this and overcome any deficiency in one ingredient by adding that is rich in the deficient nutrient or they rely on a vitamin and mineral supplement. The vitamin and mineral supplement comes in powder form, so it is usually incorporated into the compressed grass based pellets, otherwise it would fall to the bottom of the bag of food.

The pellets are the least palatable ingredient of muesli mixes so most rabbits do not eat them and they are left in the bottom of their food bowl only to be discarded by the owner, along with the vitamin and mineral supplement they contain. Although it is possible for the vitamin and mineral supplement to be added into a more palatable extruded biscuit, this is more expensive for the food manufacturer as some of vitamins are destroyed in the cooking process, so more supplement is needed, which adds to the cost of production.

Why do muesli mixes lead to dental disease?

The ingredients of muesli mixes are not sufficiently tough and fibrous to wear the teeth correctly and to keep the guts working properly. They are also fattening and can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Laboratory studies have shown that a dietary calcium level of 0.6-1% is required for optimum bone calcification yet most of the ingredients of muesli mixes contain nowhere near this amount.

For example, two of the favourite ingredients that rabbits pick out of the mixes are the yellow flakes of maize and the green flakes of peas. Maize contains 0.04% calcium, which is approximately one sixteenth of the amount that is required. Peas have slightly more calcium in them (0.12%) but the rabbit still requires five times this amount so if a rabbit picks out these ingredients, in time, it will develop weak bones and teeth.

Feeding muesli mixes to groups of rabbits

The problem of selective feeding is even worse if rabbits are fed on muesli mixes when they are weaned from their mother at a few weeks of age. At this stage of their life, they need a lot of calcium because they are growing. Litters of rabbits are weaned as a group and some of the babies are more likely to develop problems than others.

Offering a mixture of food to a group of animals means that the dominant individuals will eat the most palatable ingredients (i.e. calcium deficient maize and peas) and the subordinate ones will be left with the supplemented pellets. The dominant ones are more likely to go on to develop dental disease.

If young rabbits do not get enough calcium, the bone surrounding the teeth is weakened so that the roots of the teeth press on the nerve supply to the teeth when the baby rabbit tries to eat hard food, such as hay. These rabbits never eat hard food so the owners think their rabbit 'doesn't like hay' even though they give it to them.

Most pet owners know that hay is good for rabbits and will often buy lots of different types of hay or dried grass to tempt their pet. They feel guilty when the rabbit doesn’t eat it, especially when the rabbit goes on to develop dental problems. It is hard for these owners to realise that if their rabbit had not been weaned on to a muesli mix, it would have been able to eat plenty of hay and enjoy all the health benefits that go with it.

What about vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a vitamin and a hormone with a range of physiological effects. It can be obtained from the diet or produced within in the body in response to exposure to ultraviolet light. The vitamin D content of plants is also enhanced by exposure to sunlight so dried vegetation, such as sundried hay will contain vitamin D whereas grass does not.

In muesli mixes, vitamin D is usually in the supplement that is incorporated in the pellets. The main function of vitamin D is to regulate calcium homeostasis by its effects on the intestine and bone. It increases calcium absorption from the intestine and stimulates mineralisation of bones and teeth. Rabbits that are exposed to sunshine do not need vitamin D as they manufacture their own.

Rabbits that are kept indoors and are fed on muesli mix can be vitamin D deficient if they don’t eat the pellets with the vitamin and mineral supplement. These rabbits will have real problems absorbing sufficient calcium to mineralise the teeth and bones if they pick out the calcium deficient ingredients from the muesli mix.

Why do muesli mixes lead to obesity?

Most of the ingredients of muesli mixes are high in carbohydrate and low in fibre. Although some high fibre components, such as grain husks, locust bean pods or alfalfa strands may be added to the mixture to increase the fibre analysis of the mixture as a whole, many rabbits do not eat them.

The mixtures contain very little moisture and are a concentrated source of fattening food that a rabbit can eat quickly. If the rabbits is also kept in a hutch or small run, with little opportunity to exercise, it will become obese on a diet of muesli mix.

Many health conditions, such as arthritis, sludgy urine and a dirty bottom are linked with obesity. Fat rabbits cannot reach their perineum to eat their caecotrophs, which become entangled in the fur. This is unpleasant for both the owner and the rabbit.

A day in the life of a wild rabbit

Consider a day in the life of a wild rabbit. He would spend 70% of his time above ground searching out or 'foraging' for food while keeping a beady eye out for predators, to make sure he wasn't going to end up as someone else's dinner!

As a ground feeder, his diet would be mainly made up of grasses, hay, herbs and bark - all high fibre foods! He couldn't climb trees to get fruit, and he wouldn't actually go around digging up carrots either. His territory would be the equivalent of around 30 tennis courts meaning he'd get a lot of exercise every day searching out food across that area. The rabbit's whole existence has evolved around this high fibre diet.

Indigestible fibre
Firstly the rabbit's digestive system needs to be kept moving. This is one reason why the rabbit constantly nibbles on grass, hay and bark; the larger stalkier bits known as 'indigestible' fibre help to keep the gut moving along nicely (the same way bran flakes would do for you and I). If the rabbit doesn't get enough 'indigestible' fibre he becomes constipated (the same as we do without enough fibre), but unfortunately in a rabbit the consequences of constipation are fatal. Secondly, fibre helps the rabbit to maintain the right balance of 'friendly' bacteria in his digestive system.

Digestible fibre
The smaller, juicier fibre particles from grass and hay known as 'digestible' fibre are sent to the rabbit's caecum (the appendix to you and me). In this giant appendix are bacteria, which break the 'digestible fibre' down into volatile fatty acids, more bacteria and vitamins. This is a process known as fermentation.

At certain times of day the caecum expels this mucus covered fermented soup as clumps of tiny sticky droppings called caecotrophs (which now contain lots of lovely nutrients - rather like the 'yakult' of the rabbit world) that the rabbit eats straight from his bottom. (You might have seen your rabbit doing this but thought he was just cleaning himself).

Once in the stomach, acid dissolves the mucus around these caecotrophs, and then kills the bacteria, so that the rabbit can digest all the remaining products and nutrients. This whole cycle is perfectly balanced and dependent on the rabbit getting all the 'digestible' fibre that it needs. Without all that 'digestible' fibre the cycle is upset and the consequences can lead to bloating and even anorexia, which are all just as dangerous as constipation.

Why are muesli mixes so popular?

Muesli mixes are convenient, palatable and easy to store. They are cheap and widely available. Bags of muesli mix are available from agricultural merchants, pet shops, supermarkets, garages, garden centres, on the Internet and from pet food retailers. Muesli mixes are a favourite with rabbit breeders with large numbers of animals to feed. The breeders may not recognise the dental problems that these diets can cause because their rabbits do not live long enough.

Manufacturers attitudes

Rabbits are very popular pets so, from the food manufacturers point of view, the market for rabbit food is big and profitable and therefore attractive. Money comes before the health of the rabbit. The market is also competitive so each brand is heavily marketed.

The advertising blurb on the side of the packets of muesli mixes is often inaccurate and misleading. It encourages rabbit owners to believe that their brand of muesli mix is good for rabbits despite the all the veterinary literature to the contrary.

Without any evidence to prove their statements, manufacturers use phrases like ‘stimulates a rabbit’s appetite and foraging instincts, with a selection of ingredients ideally suited to keep it healthy and satisfied’ or ‘ it’s special formulation will keep your rabbit fit, inside and out’ to describe their foods. Some companies even suggest that their muesli mixes are ‘good for rabbit’s teeth and bones’. This is not true.

The experimental study in which a group of rabbits were only given muesli mix to eat confirmed that, predictably, they developed dental disease and put on weight. This was sad for those rabbits but it did prove a point and the food manufacturers are changing tactics and encouraging rabbit owners to feed nuggets and hay instead. Today close to 90% of pet retailers in UK no longer sell muesli diets for rabbit and guinea pigs compared to 5 years ago.

What is correct diet for rabbits?

Around 85-90% of a rabbit’s diet should be high quality feeding hay and grass – that’s equal to their own body size in hay every day. Feeding hay is an excellent source of fibre, helps to maintain a healthy gut, reduces the risk of your rabbits getting tubby and serves to grind down their continuously growing teeth, helping prevent dental disease.”

The Rabbit Welfare Association, advise that the ideal bunny diet should consist of: 80% (at least) unlimited grass or high-quality feeding hay – not bedding hay, which may have poor nutritional value. 15% should be a variety of rabbit-safe leafy greens, vegetables and herbs such as carrot tops, cauliflower leaves, kale, mint, romaine lettuce, dandelion leaves, and leaves from hazel, willow or apple trees. 5% of pelleted rabbit food – which is about one egg cup a day. This ensures they get all the vitamins and minerals they need.

What is best pellets to feed rabbits?

Bunny Nature is a family owned business in Germany that is founded with love for animals. Their goal, which they continue to pursue to this day, is to produce optimal and healthy food for small animals, which is perfectly tailored to their original natural habitat and needs. This company works closely with leading veterinarians specialized in rabbits and integrates scientific research into the production of rabbit food and accessories.

The CEO of Bunny Nature says: "When developing and producing animal-friendly food, we always put the animals first. We look at where they come from, what they eat there, what their social behavior and eating behavior look like. It is not only important to provide that information and understand their nutritional needs, but it is also essential to apply this knowledge consistently when choosing the right food. That makes all the difference."

Bunny Nature rabbit pellets offers the following benefits:

Biological diversity: contains 42 - 63 different plants from natural meadows
Balanced recipe for long healthy life: minimum of 75 important ingredients that are correctly dosed
3 fibre mix: 3 different fibre lengths for tooth abrasion and healthy intestinal flora
Optimal protein & energy content: perfect supply for entire body
Optimal crude fibre to starch ratio: protects against fattening
Organic, non-GMO ingredients
No preservatives, flavour enhancers, added sugars or colourings