Where To Buy Oxbow Rabbit Food
There are a lot of different brands of rabbit food out there. It can be challenging to figure out which blend is best. They all seem to claim that they have a fortified and optimally nutritious blend, but how do they compare to each other. I analyzed 10 common rabbit food brands that you can find here in the U.S. and compared them to find which is actually the best for rabbits.
where to buy oxbow rabbit food
Oxbow Garden Select Rabbit Food is the healthiest for rabbits. This blend follows the nutrition recommendations for protein, fat, fiber, calcium, vitamin, and sugar content in rabbit food. In addition, rabbits enjoy eating this brand of food since it contains a variety of natural flavors.
In analyzing the different brands of rabbit food, I am using the percentages and amounts recommended for rabbit nutrition (see sources below). Every rabbit has individual needs that need to be taken into account, so your veterinarian may recommend other brands that better meet the nutritional needs of your specific rabbit.
The labels on rabbit food are required to give us a minimum and maximum amount of fiber in the food blend. This is because manufacturing the rabbit food formulas can be slightly off depending on the specific ingredients included in that processing round. Since there is no maximum amount of fiber recommended, I always look at the minimum number first to make sure the rabbit will always get at least 20% fiber from the pellets.
This does not include the dried pieces of peas and corn that you might find in a couple of these rabbit food blends. On their own, these types of food are difficult for rabbits to digest, but the process of creating pellets uses high heat and pressure. This subtly changes the composition of the foods, making them more digestible to rabbits.
Many rabbit foods will market the many vitamins included in their blend. In most cases, these are not actually a necessary part of the pelleted rabbit food. They get many of their essential vitamins by producing them within their body or by eating their cecotropes.
While vitamin deficiency can cause severe problems in rabbits, excess vitamins can also be toxic. So you also want to avoid blends that contain too much. As a special note for Vitamin E, while I was able to find an ideal recommendation for rabbit foods, there was also data to suggest that rabbits have a high tolerance for this vitamin since they do not experience adverse effects in higher doses.
While price is not the most important criterion in choosing a rabbit food brand, it is something to consider. The cost will add up over time, so if you can get a healthy brand that is a little cheaper than another equally beneficial brand, then you may as well purchase the more affordable option.
Based on my analysis, the rabbit food I recommend is Oxbow Garden Select Rabbit Food. The only category that they were not within recommended limits was calcium content, where the minimum percentage was a little on the low side. No other rabbit food blend fully met the recommendations for more than two categories.
Some rabbits will have different tastes than other. My rabbits absolutely love the Oxbow Garden Select Pellets, however your rabbit might not be a fan. In this case, other blends of rabbit food that did well in all categories include Oxbow Adult Rabbit Food, Small Pet Select Rabbit Food, and Mazuri Timothy-Based Rabbit Diet. If your rabbit does not like the garden select pellets, these are the brands I would try next.
This analysis was done of rabbit food brands that are available in the United States. While many of these brands are also available in other countries, you may need to perform your own analysis of the brands you can purchase near you. I hope the explanations for each of the criteria in this article will help you make the healthiest decision for your rabbit.
Oxbows Essentials - Adult Rabbit Food is formulated to meet the specific nutritional needs of adult rabbits and help them thrive. Uniform rabbit pellets prevent unhealthy selecting eating tendencies commonly found with mix-based diets. This complete and balanced adult rabbit food contains Timothy hay for healthy digestion and all the wholesome ingredients and vital nutrients needed to support daily function and performance. FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS: Mature Rabbits (over 1 year) 1-4 lbs = 1/8 cup daily 4-8 lbs = 1/4-1/3 cup daily 8-10 lbs = 1/3-1/2 cup daily 10 lbs+ = 3/4 cup daily Feed in addition to unlimited grass hay. Oxbow Essentials - Adult Rabbit Food is not intended for growing, gestating or lactating animals. Feed Oxbow Essentials - Young Rabbit Food to rabbits requiring a higher level of nutrition. Please note that these are guidelines. At Oxbow Animal Health, our purpose is to help people and pets live happy, healthy lives. For more than 30 years, weve partnered with leading veterinarians and nutritionists to develop nutrition and care products that meet the specific species and life stage needs of rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, gerbils, rats, and mice. From farm-fresh hays and nourishing fortified foods to wholesome treats, beneficial supplements, enrichment and care, Oxbow products are used and recommended by leading veterinary professionals and passionate pet parents worldwide.
At Oxbow Animal Health, our purpose is to help people and pets live happy, healthy lives. For more than 30 years, weve partnered with leading veterinarians and nutritionists to develop nutrition and care products that meet the specific species and life stage needs of rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, gerbils, rats, and mice. From farm-fresh hays and nourishing fortified foods to wholesome treats, beneficial supplements, enrichment and care, Oxbow products are used and recommended by leading veterinary professionals and passionate pet parents worldwide.
As rabbits and guinea pigs reach an advanced age, they are more likely to experience oxidative stress and other age-related symptoms. Our Essentials Senior foods contain a variety of high-quality antioxidant ingredients (including ginger root, turmeric, chamomile and whole grains including oats and barley) to help mitigate these symptoms.
Oxbow Essentials Adult Rabbit food was formulated with the guidance of reputable veterinarians and pet nutritionists and comes highly recommended by veterinarians worldwide. Buy the best rabbit food online or over the phone at Vet Shop Australia today for a great price. You can have it delivered straight to your home as early as tomorrow by selecting our express shipping option at checkout.
Oxbow Essentials Young Rabbit Food is thoughtfully designed especially for the specific dietary needs of young or active rabbits. Rabbits are strict herbivores and a diet high in fiber is essential for maintaining good health. Alfalfa hay is used to provide an optimized balanced protein source, containing the amino acids required for the growth and health of your rabbit. This diet can also be fed to older rabbits having problems maintaining weight due to age or illness. When supplemented with free-choice grass hay, this food may also be fed to pregnant or nursing rabbits.
Thanks for the feedback. To be honest after talking to the vet I was really set on rehoming her because I thought it was in her best interest. But talking to the rescue totally changed my mind and made me think it was in her best interest to keep her ? maybe I should have called more than one rescue. Sadly where I am.now I do not think its at all possible to rehome her. I have no transportation and no way to leave home , and no one I know lives near by. The nearest rabbit rescue has got to be a few hours from here. I will.have family visit me next year and maybe at that.time.it.could be possible. She seems happy enough, especially now that we have moved to somewhere larger. I will do my best to manage her diet the best I can for now. When family comes next year, if things have not improved, I will try again at rehoming her. The rescue really stressed that she is bonded to me and would be very depressed if I gave her up. I also mentioned to them that hopefully this situation is temporary which might have been why they gave advice to keep her. 041b061a72