What is the best method to prevent hairballs in rabbits?

The best method to prevent hairballs in rabbits is by ensuring they have adequate dietary fiber. Dietary fiber plays a crucial role in a rabbit's digestive system. It helps to keep the gastrointestinal tract functioning properly and facilitates the passage of fur that rabbits inevitably ingest while grooming themselves. A high-fiber diet, primarily consisting of hay and fresh greens, promotes normal gut motility, helping to prevent hair from accumulating into hairballs.

While increased water intake and regular grooming can be supportive measures in managing hairballs, they do not address the primary underlying issue of proper digestion and hair passage in the intestinal tract. Providing pellets only is not advisable as a sole dietary practice, as pellets often lack adequate fiber. Therefore, ensuring a diet rich in fiber is fundamental to maintaining optimal digestive health and preventing hairball issues in rabbits.