Last Updated on June 8, 2023 by Georgie Smith
Maintaining your rabbit’s good health requires a lot of commitment and hard work. Included in your list of responsibilities is guaranteeing that she eats a nutritionally balanced diet. All rabbits need hay-lots of hay. However, what about other foods, do rabbits need other foods?
Yes, rabbits need pelleted food, a few veggies, and some fruit. What about apples, can rabbits eat apple and not get sick? Yes, apples are good for bunnies but only in moderation. Also, you must be sure to remove all the seeds and her never getting one by accident.
In this article, you will find information on maintaining your rabbit’s basic healthy diet as well as helpful information about rabbits and apples. Does an apple a day keep the vet away?
Maintaining a Basic Healthy Rabbit Diet
The key ingredient in a balanced, healthy domestic rabbits’ diet should always be hay, such as Timothy Hay, Alfalfa Hay, and Oat Hay. Every Veterinarian will agree that all rabbits need a constant supply of hay. Fiber-rich, fresh rabbit pellets are key to her having a well-rounded daily diet as well.
Are Fresh Fruits Safe?
All rabbits love fresh fruit for an occasional treat. Apples are harmless and safe as a fruit choice for your bunny. You need to monitor the amount of fruit you feed her due to the sugar content being high in most fruits.
Other fruits are healthy as long as it is in moderation, these are:
- Blackberries
- Cherries
- Mangoes
- Bananas
- Plums
- Apricots
- Peaches
- Pineapple
- Strawberries
- Pears
It is essential that you cut all fruit into tiny pieces and keep small portions, such as a teaspoon or two per day for each rabbit. If your bunny has an issue with her weight, avoid feeding her all fruit, which includes apples. It is also vital that you keep a close eye out for diarrhea when adding new food, especially fruit such as apples to her diet.
Rabbits love having a slice of apple to munch on during the day. However, you must monitor the amount and the frequency you feed the fruit to her. Rabbits can eat apples as well as the skin, so there is no need to peel the apple first.
Even though apples are typically a healthy food for humans, feeding an excessive amount to your rabbit (and other small animals) can be bad for her health. The reason why is that apples are one of the leaders of fruit that have a vast abundance of sugar. Sugar is not an ingredient that rabbits need to consume on a regular basis or in large amounts in one sitting.
What About the Seeds, Stem, and Core of the Apple, Is That Safe?
Always take the extra time to remove the seeds and core. These small parts of an apple if digested by your bunny can harm her. If the amount eaten is too much, your rabbit can even die. The following is vital information every bunny owner should understand about apple seeds and the core:
The best thing to do is do your best to prevent her from eating any of these three parts of the apple at any time. The seeds of an apple are poisonous to many small animals. Therefore, never allow her to consume the seeds, stem, or core.
There is substantial evidence that these parts of the apple are not healthy in any way for rabbits, not even in small portions. Also, even though they have no pesticides in the seed or core, the apple itself may contain enough to cause health concerns.
The safest way to incorporate apples into your bunny’s diet is to be sure to cut the pieces up diligently and offer her small pieces. Slicing pieces this way will help you ensure there are no stems, core, or seeds in her part.
Apples have cyanogenic glycosides which are a highly poisonous compound that triggers many varieties of hazardous symptoms in animals. Even though the core and seeds do not contain these substances, it is still necessary to prevent consumption altogether.
These symptoms include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Upset Stomach
- Convulsions
- Respiratory Congestion
In extreme cases, If your small pet consumes stems or seeds, it can be fatal. Be sure that everyone in your household knows and understands never to let the family bunny eat these parts of the apple. To make sure, post a note on her cage that reminds each person of how dangerous these parts of the apple are.
Apple Twigs, Branches, and Leaves of the Apple Tree, Can Rabbits Eat These?
Besides the great taste of apples, the apple tree offers a little fun to your bunny. Can bunnies safely consume with no restrictions the leaves and branches of an apple tree? Not only are the branches and leaves healthy, but they are also loads of fun for your pet.
Therefore, you can provide your bunny with the leaves off the tree during the summer, then have the branches and twigs for the winter season. Domestic bunnies have a blast chewing on these while wearing her teeth down.
It is vital that you wash the fruit thoroughly (and all other fruits and veggies) before letting her handle the pieces. Also, keep a close, attentive eye out for fertilizers, pesticides, and other various chemicals people tend to spray on apple soil or trees.
FAQs:
Q: Does it matter what type of apple to feed a rabbit?
A: No. However, always remove the core, seed, and stim before feeding your bunny.
Q: Are Crabapples safe?
A: You must be extra cautious of crabapple because the tart apple contains a massive amount of the dangerous Cyanogenic glycosides which can make a rabbit deathly ill and in severe cases, can cause death.
Conclusion and Recap
The following is a recap of the information provided along with a few extra tips.
- Most apples have pesticides with other chemicals on the skin. It is vital that you buy fresh fruit that is organic and pesticide-free.
- Wash the apple thoroughly before feeding your rabbit. Unwashed apples can be unhealthy and cause severe illnesses.
- When you feed her an apple, be sure the pieces are small and only allow one or two small pieces. Make the maximum amount around two tablespoons. Small portions of this size are fine once a week for a perfectly balanced diet.
- Never feed her cooked apples in any form
- Green Granny Smith apples are an excellent choice.
It is always essential that you consult your veterinarian before adding food of any type to your bunny’s diet. Some foods are lethal to rabbits. Washing, cleaning, and slicing pieces of apple is the best way to offer her the right amount. However, the inside part may be dangerous as well. Ask your vet for a list of foods that are deadly that you need to keep away from your pet rabbit.
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