Prescription diets for rabbits

Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2014 Sep;17(3):485-502. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2014.05.009. Epub 2014 Jul 11.

Abstract

Dietary management can be used with drug therapy for the successful treatment of many diseases. Therapeutic nutrition is well-recognized in dogs and cats and is beginning to increase among other pet species, including rabbits. The nutritional component of some rabbit diseases (eg, urolithiasis) is not completely understood, and the clinician should evaluate the use of prescription diets based on the scientific literature and individual needs. Long-term feeding trials are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of prescription diets in rabbits. Prescription diets are available for selected diseases in rabbits, including diets for immediate-term, short-term, and long-term management.

Keywords: Prescription diets; Rabbit dietary management; Rabbit nutrition; Rabbit nutritional disorders.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animal Husbandry / methods*
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Dietary Fiber / metabolism
  • Nutrition Disorders / diet therapy*
  • Nutrition Disorders / veterinary*
  • Pets / physiology*
  • Prescriptions / veterinary*
  • Rabbits / physiology*