To coincide with this year’s Rabbit Awareness Week, Supreme Petfoods, the UK's leading expert in small pet nutrition, has led a ‘dietary rethink’ to support the event’s theme 'Feeding Bunnies Better'.
Following new research revealing a lack of clarity about the nutritional needs of rabbits and guinea pigs, the Selective Nutrition Guide app, a new web-based tool, removes any guesswork about what to feed them and offers reassurance that their pet’s nutritional needs are being met.
Rabbits and guinea pigs are the UK’s most popular pets after cats and dogs, with nearly 2 million of them living in UK households. However, while the latest data* suggest that many rabbit owners take their guardian role very seriously,** current guidelines may not meet basic dietary needs and, at best, are confusing.
When surveyed about feeding regimens, some veterinary professionals advocated weighing out food portions, while others suggested a volume-based approach or measuring by eye. So, which is it?
Social media trends can add to that uncertainty, with rabbits and guinea pigs frequently shown eating large quantities of fruit and vegetables. Appropriately fed fresh vegetables can be a valuable part of a balanced diet, but excessive amounts can reduce hay intake and affect dental and digestive health.
To end the confusion, Supreme has stepped up and simplified its feeding guidelines, providing a definitive guide that’s easy to understand and even easier to follow.
The new Selective Nutrition Guide app is a first-of-its-kind digital tool, developed in partnership with specialist veterinary expert Molly Varga from The Exotics Animals Vets.
How Supreme’s Selective Nutrition Guide web app works:
- Body condition scoring (BCS) guidance: Step-by-step visual tools help owners accurately assess their pet's weight and body condition.
- Personalised portion calculator: Exact daily measurements for Selective nuggets, including which to feed and how much, based on the pet's individual requirements, body weight and BCS.
- Safe food database: A comprehensive guide explains which leafy greens, vegetables, and occasional fruit treats are safe to feed, how often, and in what quantities.
- Weekly menu creator: Featuring customisable options and saveable weekly menus, this planner balances individual pet preferences with nutritional variety and accessibility.
Supreme Marketing Director, Claire Hamblion-Jennings, says: "Rabbits and guinea pigs are intelligent, social, and deeply rewarding companions, and we know that most pet parents want to do the right thing. But our research has shown that what’s been missing until now is definitive, actionable feeding guidelines. Our simple, expert-led approach should finally clarify any confusion, and the new app will put precise, expert-level nutritional guidance in the palm of everyone’s hand.”
Supreme’s vet-led guidance on daily feeding:
- Unlimited fresh, dust-free, high-quality hay. High-quality, fresh hay should always be available ad libitum (freely), always. It shouldn't be measured; it should be constant.
- Measured portions by weight: Concentrated food should always be measured by weight, not ‘by eye.’
- Fresh leafy greens: A small handful of appropriate leafy greens from the app's safe food list to provide essential fibre and additional nutritional enrichment. Carefully portioned so that hay remains the primary focus of the diet.
* The vet survey was conducted in October 2025 among 177 UK veterinary professionals. For a copy of the research and any further information, contact supreme@nobullagency.co.uk
** The survey of 177 UK veterinary professionals found that 50% of all rabbit veterinary visits (47.8%) are now for proactive routine care and vaccinations
The Supreme Selective Feeding Guide App was developed in partnership with specialist veterinary expert Molly Varga and is available here.
https://app.supremepetfoods.com/
