We all require a gentle animal companion that can mould to our way of living, bring a touch of harmony to our routine, and give us the love and affection we seek out from time to time. But not everyone in Australia can afford a conventional pet such as a cat or a dog and/or live in a dwelling with lax animal policies. 73% of all Australian households own at least one pet, but small mammals, such as Guinea Pigs or rabbits, account for only 315,000 of them.

This is perhaps understandable when considering the affectionate nature of cats and dogs. However, rabbits have a lot going for them and they are surprisingly practical little animals that can work perfectly for individuals stuck in tight living spaces. The ownership costs associated with rabbits and guinea pigs are lower than they are for dogs and cats, and a rabbit will not require the same level of commitment from you and your partner.

A Great Companion for People Living in Restrictive Dwellings

Rabbits don’t need to go for daily walks; their skittish nature makes them unlikely to ever exhibit territorial or aggressive behavioural traits; they are exceptionally quiet and they have the intelligence required to form genuine bonds with their handlers. Moreover, rabbits have a longer lifespan (https://www.petmd.com/rabbit/care/evr_rb_how-long-do-rabbits-live) than other small mammals, and they are generally a better choice for animal lovers who suffer from allergies.

With that being said, the overall physical development of your rabbit will be closely tied to its nutritional intake. Do you want to keep your fluffy ball of joy close by for as many years as possible? Then, a good idea would be to invest in Oxbow timothy hay. Rabbits are fantastic long-term companions that can act as perfect introductory pets for families with small children. But their diet is relatively strict, and if you don’t take their nutritional intake seriously, their overall physical evolution could be affected.

What Are Rabbit’s Nutritional Needs?

The best way to keep your rabbit healthy and happy is by investing in its nutrition. Even though they like to chew on pretty much anything (https://rabbit.org/behavior/chewing/), rabbits’ diets are in reality surprisingly specialised. They are hindgut fermenters, with an organ called a caecum located in their digestive tract, and they spend around six to eight hours per day eating. In fact, this is their primary activity.

Rabbits need a constant supply of high-fibre foods in order to keep their digestive system running and their teeth worn down. Without short but frequent grazing sessions, rabbits are predisposed to gastrointestinal stasis, which, in some cases, can cause dysbiosis. Rabbits are grass feeders, and because of this, around 80% of their total diet should consist of timothy hay.

Since it’s high in fibre but relatively low in calcium and calories, Oxbow timothy hay is perfect for keeping your fluffball’s intestinal system moving as it should, and it’s also a cheap way to keep future vet bills at bay.

Sure, 80% is a lot, but besides an ample supply of hay, your rabbit will also need:

• An occasional fresh vegetable
• A couple of pellets, mostly for vitamin and mineral supplementation
• A treat or two, such as an apple or some pears

Plus, rabbits are quite predisposed to bladder stones, kidney issues, and dehydration. They should, therefore, have access to an unlimited supply of water.

Why Invest in Oxbow Timothy Hay?

Honestly, choosing one product or another often comes down to personal preference, but Oxbow is one of the most recognised small mammal nutrition brands found in Australian pet shops. Oxbow rabbit food can be a fantastic choice (https://www.petshopdirect.com.au/shop/category/oxbow-rabbit-guinea-pig-food) for your young fluffball, as it's rich in low-calcium timothy hay, and it can provide a complete nutritional package that covers your pet’s dietary needs from A to Z.

Oxbow timothy hay:

• Can supply your rabbit with an optimum amount of high-quality proteins
• Is recommended by veterinarians
• It provides a balanced ratio between calcium and phosphorus
• It’s supplemented with Vitamin E or B12 supplements

Oxbow rabbit food should be fed in addition to an unlimited supply of grass hay, and for rabbits under 2kg, a good recommendation would be to incorporate it into their diet at a rate of 1/8 cup per day.

Oxbow rabbit food pellets have a moisture level that’s under 10%, their crude fibre max comes at 29%, and their fibre min and protein min are 25% and 14% respectively. Pellets cannot replace the bulk of your rabbit’s diet, which should always consist of grass hay. But they are a nice addition to their diet and together with fresh greens, they can be a complementary part of the day’s food.

A Personal Anecdote

My very first animal companion was a rabbit. I won a raffle at school, and therefore, one evening in 2006, I surprised my mom with a C in Physics and a small rabbit for good measure. Was she pleased? No, not exactly. But she did her best to provide him with a good living environment and went the extra mile when it came to nutrition. That rabbit, since the day I got him, was only fed high-quality Oxbow timothy hay and Oxbow rabbit food pellets.

So, while I’m sure that genetics also played a part, I think it’s no wonder that it managed to live to the venerable age of fourteen. High-quality nutrition, just like it’s the case for us, plays a huge role in longevity and proper physical development. For as long as I had him, General Bugs never had a major health scare that required a vet visit. Nor did he experience any gastrointestinal issues that could be linked to deficiencies in his diet. No, he was healthy, energetic and surprisingly well-behaved.

Products like Oxbow rabbit food pellets are not the only elements that can impact the overall physical development of your bunny. But they do make a huge difference, and overall, they can be a good way to ensure that your pet ownership costs remain down while your fluffball’s energy levels keep themselves high.