Rabbits survive in the wild all around the world while successfully consuming a vast majority of veggies and fruits. There are several different types of fresh plants with leaves and grass that comprise the significant portion of what rabbits consume.
Did you know that rabbits also love to eat the bark on trees, sprouts, small twig, seeds, and other healthy, nutritious foods? Foods such as these are a good choice as long as it is in moderation. That is vital to know while trying to decide what to feed your domestic bunny. To have a healthy indoors rabbit, feeding the proper foods is the most important detail.
Regardless of all you have heard about rabbits being carrot lovers and is happy with just carrots, and carrots alone, that is not exactly the truth. What domestic rabbits eat will impact their quality of life in a huge way. If you want a happy, healthy bunny, ensuring she has the best foods available on the menu is necessary.
See Also:
- Can Rabbits Eat Tomatoes and Be Safe? What About Baby Bunnies?
- Can Rabbits Eat Oranges? Are Oranges Okay For a Rabbit to Eat?
- Can Rabbits Eat Watermelon? Bad vs. Good in Watermelon Feeding
Are you confused on what foods, especially fruits, you can feed your bunny? Preparing a healthy snack or meal for a rabbit is easier than you think. In this article, you will learn what fruits a rabbit can eat while remaining healthy. Also, there will be a list of fruits that are unsafe for all rabbits.
A domestic rabbit, should stick to a diet that consists of hay, especially Timothy Hay.
While it is true that domestic bunnies need hay to be their primary food, snacks made with fruit and veggies are also a welcomed treat they will love. The reason hay is the best food is due to how loaded with vitamins it is which they need to remain healthy.
Consuming hay promotes a healthy gastrointestinal tract and healthy teeth. Both are areas you want to remain healthy. How can a rabbit eat fruits with no front teeth? For that reason, keep the hay flowing. Mixing various types of hay is also an excellent option.
Beware, Alfalfa hay is one to avoid. That type is rough on rabbits gastrointestinal tract, making it another one to keep away from your rabbit’s diet.
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Rabbits Love Fruit. However, is it Healthy?
Feeding your rabbit an unhealthy diet will lead to indigestion, weight issues, significant illnesses, and even death. When asking a vet about what is the leading cause of rabbits needing emergency care, most claim it is due to poor dietary practices.
Rabbits can have treats as long as it is in moderation. As far as fruit is concerned, feeding fruits to your rabbit should only be once or twice per week. The key to this is knowing what fruits to stay away from and which are ok. Certain fruits and even veggies can be poisonous to your bunnies digestive system.
Let’s discuss more about what fruits you can feed your rabbit that is healthy and delicious.
The right amount of non-leafy green foods to feed your bunny is about one tablespoon per two pounds of body weight daily with a meal or divided into various meals.
While the majority of people want chocolate, most rabbits see fruits as a gift from nature. Nothing excites a bunny more than feeding it a piece of banana or apple. Fruit has tons of sugar which is why it should only be a treat or snack and not a complete meal.
It is vital that you wash all fruits to remove the stems and seeds before offering it to your pet. Fruits fed in small doses is fine. If the rabbit were in the wild, such high-calorie foods would be a treat that is only available at certain times of the year. [1]
What about Dried Fruits, are They Safe?
Fruits are useful for training purposes such as litter box training. Just like other indoor pet, providing something yummy is an excellent way to get it to do as you command. You may opt to hand-feed the fruit in portions of her diet. That allows her something good to eat, and the owner gets quality time to develop a close bond.
Also, it is important that your rabbit has a proper appetite each day. It is an excellent way to monitor her to make sure she takes her treat each morning. If there is ever a time when the bunny refuses to eat fruit, its time to call the vet.
Keep in mind that dried foods are around three times as concentrated as fresh fruits. Because of this, only allow her to have these small doses and in moderation. Dried fruits such as these from Vitakraft are top sellers that rabbits love.
Other top sellers that are safe and delicious are these Instinct Freeze Dried Raw Boost Mixers. The leader in products for rabbits is this Kaytee Fiesta Healthy Toppings Mixed Fruit Treat for Small Animals. Kaytee is a leader in all things about rabbits. Snacks such as these are easy to proportion during the day for treats.
Amazon is always a great place to order items at lower prices. Those products are great and guarantee to make your bunny happy. Beings rabbits, like most small animals, naturally descend towards food that is high in calories, monitoring is crucial. Rabbits always seem to be aware of the foods they are eating and eat like it is their last meal.
That type of behavior lingered from when they were in the wild. Rabbits have to rely on their senses to pick and choose which fruits were safe and which to avoid. They use their ability to eat fast and a lot because they never know when they are going to get their next meal.
If you do add dried fruits to your bunnies’ diet, be sure it is in small amounts and do not get your rabbit accustomed to it each day. Also, the dried fruits found in grocery stores have added sugar for preservation and additional flavor purposes. [2]
All Things are Good in Moderation
Fruits should not be on a rabbit’s diet if they are less than three months old. The healthy choices are these:
- Banana-(sparingly)
- Apple
- Apricot
- Peach
- Mango
- Plum
- Cherries
- Pineapple
- Papaya
- Berries
Be sure you do not feed rabbits fruit pits or seeds because they are highly toxic to small animals. Do not fall for foods referred to as “treats or gourmet” mixes that have an abundance of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits.
These types of foods are not safe or appropriate for bunnies. Bunnies are very strict herbivores meaning the high amount of fats, carbs, and sugar could damage your rabbits liver. If that happens, your bunny could begin having severe intestinal disorders.
Limit fruits to one or two pieces that are quarter sizes in moderation. Some say give fruit daily, while others swear by weekly feedings. Be sure not to feed a rabbit with a soft stool or on a specialized diet any fruits.
Fruits mentioned that are exceptionally high in sugar content should is only ok in smaller portions and not as often.
Rabbits Have Fruits in the Wild-Why is That Okay?
When plants produce fruit, it is only for a short time. The tricky part is, all the animals around had to share, and most times rabbits were the last to make it the food. That means the bunny cannot limit themselves to eat only a small amount of food that is available.
Overeating fruits will cause a rabbit to gain too much weight or mess their GI tract up permanently. Therefore, it is your job as the owner to limit the consumption of the fruit your rabbit eats.
When food, whether it is veggies, meat, or in this case, fruits dries, it causes the decrease of water content along with other vital nutrients. When that happens, dried fruit then has more concentrated sugars, making it a bit unhealthy. That means more weight gain will occur due to the fruits containing more calories.
Who knew fruits, whether dried fruit or fresh fruit, would be unhealthy for even rabbits?
FAQs:
Q: Is it safe to let my rabbit roam freely inside around our dog?
A: Dogs and rabbits in the same environment may or may not work. It will depend on the type of dog you have and how well behaved it is around pets and people. It is always necessary to keep a close eye on free roaming rabbits.
Q: Do rabbits spray to mark their territory?
A: Yes! It is vital that you have your rabbit spayed or neutered to prevent spraying as well as restricting breeding.
Conclusion
Rabbits have a bad rap when it comes to eating sugary items. Like humans, being able to consume sweet food makes a belly happy. It is strictly in your hands to be aware of how much or what your bunny eats. If given a chance, a rabbit will completely devour sugar treats leaving the healthy food alone.
Rabbits could care less about eating healthy. They like their sweets as much as humans do and they will eat it until it is all gone if allowed. You are in charge of deciding what is available for your little furball to eat. Remember, all things are fine if done in moderation. Bunny rabbits need that type of structure.
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