Can Rabbits Eat Cranberries? The 41 Latest Answer

The Royal Veterinary College has released the latest results from its VetCompass programme, this time identifying the most common medical problems and causes of death in pet rabbits1.

The study analyzed data from 6,349 rabbits that visited 107 veterinary clinics across the UK.

The researchers found that the most common causes of death recorded by veterinarians were fly infestation (10.9% of pet rabbits), anorexia (4.9%), collapse (4.9%) and intestinal obstruction (4.3%). .

The average lifespan of pet rabbits was 4.3 years, although survival rates of up to 14.4 years have been recorded. Male rabbits tend to live longer, averaging 5.2 years, than females, averaging 3.7 years.

The most common medical problems are overgrown nails (16%), overgrown molars (7.6%), dirty butts (4.5%), overgrown front teeth (4.3%) and intestinal congestion (4.2%). Many of these problems are related to inappropriate housing or feeding. However, the researchers also point out that the fact that rabbits evolved as prey animals hasn’t helped owners and veterinarians. Evolution has meant that rabbits can disguise outward signs of illness, making them less likely to be attacked by predators, but this also makes it harder for owners to tell their rabbit is ill until it’s often too late.

Researchers hope this new study will help owners and veterinarians prioritize which signs of illness to monitor.

Other findings were:

Male rabbits are more likely to have overgrown claws, overgrown molars, overgrown incisors, and dental disease than females.

The average age of pet rabbits presented to veterinarians in this country is 3.2 years.

The average adult body weight of rabbits presented to a veterinarian is 2.1 kg.

dr Dan O’Neill, VetCompass Researcher and Senior Lecturer at the RVC, said: “For years, rabbits were considered the perfect pet for children: fluffy, cute, passive and requiring only minimal care and handling while being fed granola-like food in a hutch garden, where it was mostly kept singly.

“We now know that this level of care is totally unacceptable from an animal welfare perspective. This new paper can further improve the lives of rabbits by helping owners and veterinarians to recognize the common health problems faced by rabbits and therefore prioritize the most important management factors that will make our rabbits even healthier. Rabbits don’t show their suffering like other species, so it’s our duty to prevent and recognize their problems.”

dr Jo Hedley, VetCompass researcher and lecturer at RVC added: “This study definitely highlights some of the most common manifestations observed in pet rabbits. Unfortunately, due to the rabbit’s ability to mask disease, signs of a problem are often non-specific and detected far too late, so recorded causes of death are often only end-stage symptoms of an underlying disease. Many of the most important medical problems are still problems that we can address through proper husbandry , diet and health checks should be able to completely prevent . Better owner education is needed if we are to improve rabbit health and welfare for years to come.”

Relation

vet record. https://doi.org/vetrec-2019-105592 O’Neill DG, CRAVEN HC, BRODBELT DC, CHURCH DB & HEDLEY J 2019. Morbidity and Mortality of Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) under primary veterinary care in England.

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March 17, 2017 by Katherine Sullivan Last updated October 14, 2019. Published by

Rabbits have a specialized digestive system. Their unique ability to process fiber and nutrients makes them adaptable to many different environments, but their unique digestive system means their guardians have to be extra careful when feeding them.

A number of foods can upset rabbits’ digestion and harm their health. There are also a few foods – some of which are surprising – that are potentially toxic to them. Check out our list of 15 foods you should never feed your rabbit:

1. Yoghurt drops

According to Rabbit.org, research suggests that yogurt candy can contribute to fatal cases of enterotoxemia, “a toxic overgrowth of ‘bad’ bacteria in the intestinal tract.” If you’re looking for a healthy treat to feed your rabbit, try green peppers or Brussels sprouts.

2. Bread, pasta, cookies and crackers

These high-carb, sugary treats will really only “treat” your rabbit’s stomach problems. Avoid foods high in sugar or artificial ingredients as these — like yogurt candy — can potentially lead to enterotoxemia.

3. Avocado

When you think of ideal rabbit snacks, chances are fresh fruits and vegetables come to mind. However, avocados should never be included in your rabbit’s diet. According to Small Pet Select, this fatty fruit can be fatal if ingested by a rabbit.

© iStock.com/Zelenenka

4. Grain

Feeding your rabbit grains — such as granola, a processed food made from flaked corn, peas, pellets, grains, and seeds — can cause dental and stomach problems.

5. Iceberg lettuce

This may come as a shock, but you should avoid feeding your rabbit light-colored lettuce, including iceberg, as this may contain lactucarium, a chemical that can be harmful to your rabbit’s health if ingested. Iceberg lettuce is also mostly water and adds little to no nutrients to a diet.

6. Silver Beet

Like iceberg lettuce, silver beet — sometimes referred to as Swiss chard — is another leafy green that your rabbit should avoid. According to a veterinary center in New Zealand, the vegetables can cause your rabbit to suffer from colic and bloating and should be replaced with fibre-rich fruits, vegetables and herbs. Radishes, alfalfa, and rosemary are great options.

7. Hamster food

We get it. You may have more than one animal companion, and perhaps you were hoping to feed two birds with one hand, so to speak. But while rabbits need a special high-fiber diet — think high-quality timothy hay, fresh vegetables, and herbs — hamster food will do little to nothing for your rabbit’s diet.

8. Walnuts

Walnuts are high in fat, not fiber, which can cause uncomfortable digestive upsets in your rabbit. If you’re looking for a healthy snack to feed your rabbit, try fresh vegetables or herbs.

9. Oatmeal

While feeding rabbits oatmeal won’t do them much harm, it’s not an ideal meal. Rabbits need large amounts of timothy hay, hearty vegetables and fresh water – oatmeal does nothing to improve their nutritious diet.

10. Chocolate

Chocolate is an absolute taboo for bunnies. As with companion dogs, chocolate has no place in your rabbit’s diet. The sweet treat can be toxic to rabbits and should never be fed to them.

11. Peanut Butter

Like walnuts, peanut butter — which is also high in fat — should be avoided. The creamy snack will do nothing for rabbits except possibly give them a tummy ache.

12. Potatoes

Although potatoes do not necessarily poison rabbits, this man-loved vegetable is not ideal for them. Potatoes are high in carbohydrates and starches, both of which can cause problems for your rabbit’s digestive system.

13. Rhubarb

This common garden plant can be poisonous to animals if eaten raw. If a rabbit eats raw rhubarb, it could die, although this is rare, according to the RSPCA.

14. Meat

Some of you are probably wondering, “Seriously?” We’re just making sure we cover all our bases! Rabbits are herbivores, which means they eat plants. Wild rabbits wouldn’t eat meat, and neither should your domesticated housemate.

15. Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a vegetable, so it would make a perfect healthy snack for your bunny, right? Surprisingly no. Although vegetables are an ideal complement to the high-fiber hay required to feed rabbits, cauliflower causes rabbits to become bloated and gassy. If you want to give your rabbit fresh vegetables to nibble on, consider green peppers, beets, or radishes.

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Hungry for more rabbit facts?

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There really is a big difference between asking “Can I feed my rabbit Cheerios?” and “Can my rabbit eat Cheerios?” Rabbits can eat as many Cheerios as they can, as they have a natural tendency to gravitate toward absolutely anything chew whatever there is laid down in front of them. Especially if you have kids who like to feed their bunnies anything for breakfast, allowing your bunnies to eat Cheerios shouldn’t be a cause for panic. However, intentionally feeding rabbits Cheerios should always be a cause for concern, and frequency should be within the pet owner’s control as much as possible.

Can I give my rabbit Cheerios?

Yes, but as sparingly as possible and in small portions.

The occasional five-pack of Cheerios is fine, but serving your pet rabbit a bowl of Cheerios can have unpleasant effects. When keeping pet rabbits, it’s important to remember that their diet should always consist of hay, green leafy vegetables, and rabbit pellets. You can serve straw instead of hay to your pet rabbit, but straw contains significantly fewer nutrients than hay. You can reserve straw for your pet rabbit’s bedding and consider grass hay or legume hay as a core part of your pet rabbit’s diet. Be careful to avoid mold and spot yellowish stalks in the hay you buy as all of these can lead to sclerosis on your pet rabbit’s liver. If mold and yellowish stalks go undetected in your large haystack, it can lead to the death of your pet. Fruit should only be given in small amounts and as a reward along with Cheerios.

Your pet rabbit may not show any signs of digestive upset when you feed them Cheerios, but since Cheerios are made from processed grain products; It might not be a good idea to have Cheerios as the main treat you give your pet rabbit. Rabbits eat grain, but once grain is processed (especially when making Cheerios), grain inevitably loses its natural nutritional value. What’s the point of feeding your house rabbit a food that has absolutely no nutritional value? Plus, Cheerios aren’t just made from processed grains. In fact, it’s largely made up of sugars, complex starches, and artificial colors and food fortifiers. Sugars, complex starches and artificial strengtheners when fed in excessive amounts to rabbits can be a cause of loose stools, indigestion, diarrhea, bloating and gas formation. All of these probable causes are uncomfortable for both the pet rabbit and its owner.

Aside from feeding Cheerios as treats as sparingly as possible, you can also serve your pet rabbit other grain-based snacks like wheatberries, oatmeal, and wheat crackers. If there is an alternative to treats filled with natural grains, you can give your pet rabbit pellets. Pellets are available from pet stores and you can be sure that your pet rabbit will love to chew on them. However, an even better alternative to treats to give your pet besides Cheerios and pellets is fruit. Fruits contain fresh vitamins and minerals that your pet rabbit can benefit from. If you have a garden in your yard where you grow different types of fruit, your pet rabbit can help himself to portions of fruit as he roams the area. Examples of fruits that you can serve your pet bunny as treats include apples, blueberries, bananas, strawberries, tomatoes, peaches, and plums, just to name a few. A top of carrot, a few pieces of raisins, or a small portion of banana peel can be excellent treats to give to your pet rabbit.

Another rule when it comes to feeding treats to pet rabbits sparingly is that the amount should also be portioned out. Just as we should keep our portions small with our desserts like cake, ice cream, and potato chips, pet rabbit snack treats should also be in the smallest portion or size possible. Eventually, if you give treats with no significant nutritional value like Cheerios, you’ll miss an opportunity to feed your pet bunny something healthy that his or her little body can utilize. At the end of the day, it’s important that the general diet you strictly follow for your rabbit is a balanced distribution of hay, green leafy vegetables, and clean water, with treats making up a very small percentage of the whole.

What should pet rabbits eat? Contrary to popular belief, rabbits need more than just carrots and lettuce. They need a balanced diet of hay, fresh vegetables and fruit, and some pellets. Rabbits have very sensitive digestive tracts, so switching to hay or pellets or introducing new fruits and vegetables must be done gradually to allow the rabbit’s system to adapt.

Hay: A rabbit’s staple diet

The bottom of a rabbit food pyramid would contain long-stemmed fiber in the form of hay, which makes up 80 to 90 percent of a rabbit’s diet. As grazing animals, rabbits need an unlimited supply of fresh hay every day.

You will want to feed your rabbit grass hay. Good types of grass hay for rabbits include timothy, orchard, brome, and oat hay. You can feed your rabbit one type or a mix of different types of grass hay. Buy fresh hay if possible and look for mold or dust that could make your rabbit sick.

Alfalfa hay is not a good choice for an adult rabbit as it is a legume rather than grass and as such is too rich to feed daily. Alfalfa can be given to rabbits occasionally as a treat. Rabbits under one year old can be fed alfalfa hay, but as they get older they should be switched to grass hay, especially if they are also fed alfalfa pellets.

Pellets: Feed a rabbit in small amounts

Timothy hay pellets can be given to rabbits in small amounts. An average sized (6-10 pounds) adult rabbit will only need a quarter cup of pellets daily. If your rabbit weighs less than five pounds, feed only one-eighth of a cup. Rabbits larger than 10 pounds need no more than 1/4 cup, as this is not a crucial part of a bunny’s diet.

Rabbits under one year old can be fed alfalfa pellets. Be sure to feed grass hay (instead of alfalfa) when feeding your young rabbits alfalfa pellets. Look for pellets that are high in fiber – the higher the better. Also note that many foods marketed to rabbits are not actually healthy for them and can sometimes be harmful so please read the ingredients. Do not buy rabbit pellets that have dried corn, nuts, and seeds added to them as these foods can potentially be very harmful to rabbits.

Vegetables: A rabbit’s favorite food

Rabbits count vegetables and herbs among their favorite foods. Most vegetables found in a supermarket are safe for rabbits, with some caveats and exceptions. (See the list of foods to avoid below.)

Adult rabbits should not be fed more than two cups of fresh vegetables per day. Miniature breeds and rabbits under five pounds should only be fed one cup of fresh vegetables per day. A choice of two or three vegetables is ideal. Add a new vegetable at a time and watch for signs of loose stools or diarrhea as, as mentioned above, rabbits have delicate digestive systems. Certain vegetables can be given every day, while others should be fed sparingly once or twice a week.

Don’t feed your rabbit potatoes, corn, beans, seeds, or nuts. These foods are difficult for rabbits to digest and can cause serious digestive problems.

Vegetables that can be fed to a rabbit daily:

paprika

Bok choy

Cauliflower

carrot tops

cucumber

endive

escarole

fennel

Herbs: basil, coriander, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme

Lettuce: Romaine, Green Leaf, Red Leaf, Boston Bibb, Arugula, Butter

okra leaves

radicchio

radish tops

Sprouts: alfalfa, radish, clover

watercress

wheatgrass

zucchini

Vegetables and plants to give a rabbit sparingly (once or twice a week):

Broccoli (stalks and leaves only)

carrots

chard

shamrock

collards

Dandelion Green (No Pesticides)

Flowers: Calendula, Chamomile, Daylily, Dianthus, English Daisy, Hibiscus, Honeysuckle, Marigold, Nasturtium, Pansy, Rose

Kale

spinach

Fruit: Give to a bunny once or twice a week

Fruit should be given to your rabbit once or twice a week. A reasonable serving is one to two tablespoons of fruit (either one type or a mix) for every five pounds of body weight. Like vegetables, fruit should be introduced slowly and one at a time.

Fruit to feed your rabbit (once or twice a week):

apple (without seeds)

banana

Berries: blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries

Cherries (without pits)

Grapes

melon

nectarine

orange

papaya

peach

pear

pineapple

plum

watermelon

Treats: Feed rabbits sparingly

Like many people, many rabbits have a sweet tooth. As with humans, treats are at the top of the food pyramid for rabbits and should therefore be fed sparingly. Healthy treats for your rabbit include small pieces of fresh or freeze-dried fruit (the permitted fruits listed above); natural, unprocessed mixtures containing hay and dried flowers (the permitted flowers listed above); and Oxbow brand rabbit treats.

Always read the ingredient list of store-bought treats, as not all are safe for bunnies. Avoid treats that contain added sugar, preservatives, and artificial colors, and never give your rabbit human treats.

Foods to Avoid Giving a Rabbit

Some foods are definitely not good for rabbits as they can make rabbits extremely sick. Here are foods you should avoid giving your rabbit entirely:

All human goodies

beans

beet greens

cabbage

cauliflower

Muesli

chocolate

Treats made from corn or corn on the cob

cracker

iceberg lettuce

legumes

mustard green

nuts

pasta

Peas

potatoes

rhubarb

seed

sugar

Kohlrabi

yogurt

Freshwater: Unlimited supply for a rabbit

Finally, rabbits need to stay hydrated, so they should have an unlimited supply of fresh water that should be changed daily. The water tank should be cleaned with soap and water every few days. Water bottles are not easy to clean and can be difficult for rabbits to use, so bowls are better. A heavy ceramic bowl is ideal as it won’t tip over easily.

Additional rabbit information and resources

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One thing all rabbit owners should understand is that they tend to have sensitive tummies and you really need to watch their diet. We’re going to dig a little deeper into what a rabbit can and can’t eat, but now you need to know: Can rabbits eat pineapples?

Adult rabbits can eat pineapple, but only moderation is recommended as pineapples are high in natural sugars and can cause painful and trapped gas or bloating. It’s best to feed your rabbit pineapple as a sweet surprise, because it’s packed with nutrients but also tastes like a special treat!

To learn a little more about how fruit, and pineapple in particular, can affect your rabbit’s digestion and what to ensure in their daily diet for a happy and healthy rabbit, read on! We have all the information you need.

How often ; How Much Can Rabbits Eat Pineapple?

Research has shown that there is a schedule that you should stick to when feeding your rabbit pineapple, as well as how much is actually good for them and not harmful.

We recommend the following:

Baby rabbits should never be fed pineapples as their stomachs are too sensitive.

Only feed your adult rabbit 1 teaspoon of pineapple, especially when introducing it into their diet.

You should only use pineapple once or twice a week as a special treat.

You can increase the amount of pineapple up to 1 tablespoon if you’re sure it won’t cause gas or diarrhea.

It is important to note that these instructions are for a healthy rabbit. If you want to know how to tell if the pineapple is affecting the rabbit negatively, read on!

How can you tell if pineapple is upsetting your rabbit’s stomach?

If you think about where a rabbit is common in nature, the habitat usually contains long grasses, not tropical fruits. It’s important to understand that while pineapples can be a healthy treat, they shouldn’t make up a large part of a rabbit’s diet.

If you decide to offer your rabbit a little pineapple every now and then, be sure to monitor their secretions for 24 hours after ingesting the fruit. If you notice diarrhea, your stomach probably cannot handle the exotic fruit.

You can also tell if your rabbit is gassy because you will hear a soft gurgle coming from their tummy after eating. As your rabbit’s caretaker, it is your responsibility to determine if the pineapple is causing him any discomfort. Rabbits aren’t quite as conscious as humans and even if it upsets their gut, rabbits will continue to eat pineapple when offered it because it tastes so sweet and delicious!

What can I give my rabbit if he’s having trouble digesting pineapple?

If you’re a good and observant rabbit owner and have found that even half a teaspoon of pineapple seems to upset their stomach, there’s no need to forego sweet treats for them! There are a variety of other fruits and vegetables you can try, but we recommend following the same protocol and starting with extremely small amounts and then paying attention to their gases and secretions to make sure they’re not causing any discomfort.

Here are some popular product options that are safe to feed your rabbit:

apples

bananas

celery

cucumber

carrots

Leafy vegetables

pumpkin

blueberries

cabbage

Again, these should be used as a special treat and not as the main part of your rabbit’s diet. As you most likely know, their diet will consist primarily of pellets, grass and hay.

It’s also important to know the fruits and vegetables that can be extremely harmful to your rabbit! These include: stone fruit such as plums, peaches and avocados as well as potatoes, beans and mushrooms.

What Food Should You Feed a Rabbit With an Upset Stomach?

You may find that your rabbit has gas or diarrhea from time to time, even if you are extremely careful about their diet. If your rabbit seems unwell or their poop is abnormal, there are a few things you can feed them to help combat the problem, but pineapple is not one of them.

As we’ve learned, the sugar in pineapple can make a rabbit’s stomach aggravate it, so it’s not recommended as a remedy for digestive problems. However, you can feed your rabbit leafy greens, carrot tops, dandelion greens, and herbs like parsley, cilantro, or basil to help.

Final Thoughts

Rabbits, like most humans, love a little sugar! If you put a plate of fruit in front of them, they will most likely eat it all, but shortly thereafter, they will likely experience extreme physical discomfort.

You are the conscious adult in this relationship and it is important that you are aware of what fruits and vegetables your rabbit can and should eat, and at what frequency and in what amounts is healthy.

Let’s reiterate what we learned here today: adult rabbits can eat pineapples, but baby rabbits can’t! It should be served in extremely small amounts (½ to 1 teaspoon) to begin with and gradually increased to a maximum of 1 tablespoon if you do not notice any diarrhea or gurgling sounds of gas coming from your rabbit’s abdomen. Although your rabbit doesn’t seem to have any problem with pineapple, it should only be given once or twice a week as a special treat and never on the same day as other sugary snacks.

You are now an expert when it comes to feeding your rabbit pineapples! And hopefully you also understand a little more about which fruits and vegetables are good for them, how often they are rewarded with fresh produce, and how to use them as medicine for their upset stomach!

Blood in the urine is also known as hematuria.

True hematuria can occur anywhere in the genitourinary system due to disease. An unneutered female rabbit may have a bloody discharge from her vulva or drips of blood after urinating, which could be mistaken for urine; Both could be a sign of uterine cancer. An unneutered male rabbit could have genital cancer or trauma that could cause blood to appear in his urine, either way you should take your rabbit to your vet immediately.

Other causes or hematuria can be caused by limestone or sludge anywhere in the urinary tract system (kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra), cystitis, polyps, or even abortion. All of these conditions require urgent veterinary attention as most are painful and life-threatening to the rabbit if veterinary attention is not sought promptly.

When we see red urine, most of us worry about a bladder or urinary tract infection. However, actual blood in the urine is usually difficult to see with the naked eye. With kidney disease, there may be no effort to urinate, but exertion is the most common sign of bladder disease.

A rabbit struggling to urinate adopts an unusual posture, that is, it sits on the tips of its hind paws for an unusually long time, with its tail very high in the air. If you notice your rabbit straining, you should change the litter box immediately so you can determine whether or not it is producing urine.

Cloudy/white urine

Rabbits metabolize calcium very differently than other mammals such as dogs and cats. While dogs and cats only absorb the amount of calcium from their diet that their bodies need, rabbits absorb all of the calcium from their diet and excrete the excess through the urinary tract. Because of this, rabbit urine is often observed to be cloudy or white in color.

Passing cloudy urine may be normal in rabbits fed a calcium-rich diet or in rabbits that are mildly dehydrated. However, rabbits fed a high-calcium diet are much more likely to develop stones or sludge buildup in their urinary system, which often requires corrective surgery and may be impossible to fix.

Therefore, it is recommended that rabbits are not given calcium supplements unless specifically directed to do so by a veterinarian, and that they are not fed excessive amounts of alfalfa hay or calcium-rich vegetables; Carrot tops, spinach, watercress, kale or black cabbage, etc.

Everyone pee! And that includes rabbits. And just like humans, rabbit urine can vary in color and consistency depending on diet and fluid balance. But what about red urine? Or white pee? This can not be normal, right?

Normal rabbit urine can range from a yellow color to a golden orange. Red, brown, or white urine is worth checking with and discussing with your vet, but again, these can be completely normal for your rabbit. The real danger comes when you see any small sand-like particles or blood in your urine, as this can be an indication of larger health problems.

You’re probably reading this because you’re concerned that something is wrong with your rabbit’s urine. So let’s go through all the characteristics of normal peeing and when it’s time to visit the rabbit doctor.

Did you know? Rabbit droppings also tell you a lot about their overall health.

Find out everything you need to know about rabbit poop.

color of rabbit urine

Rabbit pee can be many different colors and still be healthy. Usually, rabbits pee between 2 and 8 times a day and it is golden yellow or amber-orange in color.

The color will be slightly darker and more concentrated when your rabbit is dehydrated. And it frequently changes color based on a rabbit’s diet. For example, if your rabbit has a lot of carrots one day, his urine might be a brighter orange than usual.

Normal rabbit urine is usually a little cloudy and not entirely clear. Rabbits excrete excess calcium along with their urine. But if the urine looks excessively cloudy or cloudy, that’s a sign of a more serious bladder condition.

Golden, amber, red, and clear urine are all possible colors of your rabbit’s urine. Brown or dark urine usually means your rabbit is a little dehydrated. White “urine” is just calcium deposits and nothing to worry about. Bladder sludge is when you see sediment or sand-like particles in your rabbit’s urine and this is a cause for concern. Blood in the urine is extremely rare, but you’ll know it’s present when it’s patchy rather than uniformly red.

Rabbit Urine Color Chart

Yellow This is normal urine. Orange This is normal urine, but your rabbit may be slightly dehydrated. Try to encourage them to drink more water. Red Usually nothing to worry about. This is likely caused by the food in your rabbit’s diet. The color usually returns to normal within a week. Brown Possibly dehydrated, encourage your rabbit to drink more water. Transparent This is normal pee. If your rabbit’s urine isn’t usually clear, see if their drinking habits have changed. Excessive drinking can be a sign of kidney problems in rabbits. Red Spots This could be a sign of blood in your rabbit’s urine. However, it could also come from your rabbits’ food. Check with your veterinarian to see if there are any health issues that need treatment. White Occasional white discharge is normal in rabbits. This is how your rabbit releases excess calcium from its food. If this is a frequent occurrence, consult your veterinarian to make sure there aren’t any underlying conditions to be concerned about. Cloudy If your rabbit has cloudy or chalky urine, it’s a sign of bladder stones or a urinary tract infection. It is best to take your rabbit to the vet as soon as possible.

Red urine – when is it bad?

In most cases, if your rabbit has red urine, there is nothing to worry about. While not necessarily a “normal” rabbit urine color, this is rarely a sign of health concerns.

If the rabbit pee is an even, consistent red color (light or dark red), it is almost certain that the coloring is not from blood. It is rare for rabbit urine to contain blood, but when it does, the blood appears in patches rather than uniformly throughout the urine.

What are the main causes of red rabbit urine?

Antibiotics: Sometimes rabbit urine changes color when they are given antibiotic treatment.

Sometimes rabbit urine changes color when given antibiotic treatment. Cold Weather: When the temperature first starts to drop in the fall, some rabbits will inexplicably have red urine for a few days.

When the temperature first starts to drop in the fall, some rabbits will inexplicably have red urine for a few days. Diet: If a rabbit’s diet is high in beta-carotene (carrots, spinach, etc.) or red berries (strawberries, raspberries, etc.), their urine may turn red in color.

Hydrogen Peroxide Test

If you’re still concerned that there might be blood in your rabbit’s urine, or the color hasn’t returned to a gold or amber color after a few weeks, you can perform a hydrogen peroxide test to determine if there’s blood in your rabbit’s urine.

Get a sample of your rabbit’s urine and pour a little hydrogen peroxide on it. Hydrogen peroxide shouldn’t react to plain urine, but if blood is present, the mixture will start to foam.

Orange or brown urine

Orange or brown urine is usually nothing to worry about. This could be a perfectly normal urine color for your rabbit, but it could also mean that your rabbit is a little dehydrated.

In general, a darker, more concentrated urine color is a sign that your rabbit is not drinking as much. But if your rabbit isn’t showing any signs of stress, then this isn’t an emergency. However, it is probably beneficial to encourage your rabbit to drink more water

Here are some ideas to help your rabbit stay hydrated:

Switch to a water bowl instead of a water bottle. It’s easier for a rabbit to drink from a bowl, so they’ll usually drink more if you give them their water like this.

. It’s easier for a rabbit to drink from a bowl, so they’ll usually drink more if you give them their water like this. Give your rabbit fresh leafy greens. Leafy greens contain a lot of water in their composition, so eating fresh greens helps with hydration. To encourage your rabbit to drink even more water, leave a few extra drops of water on the green after washing it.

. Leafy greens contain a lot of water in their composition, so eating fresh greens helps with hydration. To encourage your rabbit to drink even more water, leave a few extra drops of water on the green after washing it. Fill your rabbit’s bowl with cool water a few times a day. Refreshing your rabbit’s bowl with fresh, cool water can renew your rabbit’s interest in it. So if you’re concerned that your rabbit is dehydrated, try refreshing the water a few times a day.

Refreshing your rabbit’s bowl with fresh, cool water can renew your rabbit’s interest in it. So if you’re concerned that your rabbit is dehydrated, try refreshing the water a few times a day. Use a fountain with running water. You can buy a pet water fountain that will keep the water flowing constantly. This can be more interesting for rabbits and helps the water taste fresher.

You can buy a pet water fountain that will keep the water flowing constantly. This can be more interesting for rabbits and helps the water taste fresher. Add a few drops of aroma to the water. You can try adding a little unsweetened apple or carrot juice to their water bowl. This can sweeten the taste a bit so your rabbit will like it better.

White or milky urine

Rabbits sometimes pass a white, milky substance in their urine. This is just excess calcium that your rabbit doesn’t need. It dries to a chalky white substance.

Rabbits are very efficient in the way they absorb calcium from their food. In fact, they typically have much higher blood calcium levels than most other animals that we keep as pets. They absorb as much calcium as they can from their food and then excrete the excess through their kidneys and urine.

So it’s perfectly normal to occasionally find a white spot in your rabbit’s litter box. However, if you find this to be a very common occurrence, it may be time to take a look at your rabbit’s diet and cut back on some of the calcium-rich foods.

If you are feeding your adult rabbit alfalfa hay or pellets, consider switching to timothy-based alternatives. Alfalfa is very high in calcium, making it ideal for young, growing rabbits. But it’s a little too nutritious for healthy adult rabbits.

If your rabbit is excreting calcium frequently, you should also speak to your vet to see if they would like to do any tests to make sure your rabbit is not developing any health problems.

Bladder sludge and bladder stones

Two of the most common urinary tract diseases in rabbits are bladder stones and the associated bladder sludge. Bladder stones occur when clumps of excess calcium harden and form stones in the kidney and ureters. Bladder sludge is similar, but consists of thickened calcium that never quite forms into stones.

Both conditions can be painful for a rabbit. If left unchecked, these can lead to much more dangerous conditions. Bladder stones or sludge can also be a sign of a bladder or kidney infection. If you notice these signs, it’s important to get your rabbit to the vet as soon as possible. Your vet can run some tests and determine the best treatment approach for your rabbit.

Signs of bladder sludge and bladder stones

When a rabbit starts to develop bladder sludge, the signs are very few and it is difficult to spot. But as the condition progresses, you may notice a combination of these signs:

Peeing more often than usual. Your rabbit may be peeing more than usual, but it seems like it’s only going a little at a time. A healthy rabbit will pee between 2-8 times a day, so it’s best to compare this to your own rabbit’s urinating habits.

Your rabbit may be peeing more than usual, but it seems like it’s only going a little at a time. A healthy rabbit will pee between 2-8 times a day, so it’s best to compare this to your own rabbit’s urinating habits. Urinating outside of the litter box. If the rabbit is litter box trained, peeing outside the crate could be a sign of bladder problems. Rabbits that have not been neutered may spray other areas in the house, but if your rabbit is normally good potty trained, this could be a cause for concern.

If the rabbit is litter box trained, peeing outside the crate could be a sign of bladder problems. Rabbits that have not been neutered may spray other areas in the house, but if your rabbit is normally good potty trained, this could be a cause for concern. Dripping piss. If you see your rabbit dribbling urine or seeming unable to control their bladder, this is a sign of bladder sludge or stones.

If you see your rabbit dribbling urine or seeming unable to control their bladder, this is a sign of bladder sludge or stones. Having trouble peeing or not peeing at all. If your rabbit holds up its tail and sits in a position where it tries to pee but only manages a little, this is a big indication of bladder sludge or stones. They may look like they are constipated when this happens, but more often it is due to difficulty peeing than pooping. If your rabbit cannot pee at all, you should treat it as an emergency. It’s possible that a bladder stone has completely blocked your urethra.

If your rabbit holds up its tail and sits in a position where it tries to pee but only manages a little, this is a big indication of bladder sludge or stones. They may look like they are constipated when this happens, but more often it is due to difficulty peeing than pooping. If your rabbit cannot pee at all, you should treat it as an emergency. It’s possible that a bladder stone has completely blocked your urethra. mud in the urine. Mud makes the urine look cloudy and cloudy. After drying, it leaves a rough, grey, chalky residue and can even have the consistency of sand. The mud often leaves marks on the rabbit fur around the hindquarters.

Mud makes the urine look cloudy and cloudy. After drying, it leaves a rough, grey, chalky residue and can even have the consistency of sand. The mud often leaves marks on the rabbit fur around the hindquarters. scalding in the urine. Urine scald is a rash that occurs with prolonged contact with urine. A rabbit with bladder problems may urinate excessively, causing its hindquarters and hind legs to get wet with urine. Over time, the skin becomes irritated and a urine-caused rash occurs.

causes

Although doctors are unsure of the exact cause of bladder stones, there is a link to these risk factors that may be why a rabbit develops this condition.

Genetics. Sometimes rabbits just have bad genes, making them more likely to produce bladder stones or sludge.

Sometimes rabbits just have bad genes, making them more likely to produce bladder stones or sludge. Not drinking enough water. Staying hydrated keeps the urine less concentrated and makes it easier to flush out the excess calcium in the rabbit’s body. If your rabbit doesn’t drink enough water, it can lead to a buildup of calcium in the kidneys, making it difficult for it to pass through the kidneys.

Staying hydrated keeps the urine less concentrated and makes it easier to flush out the excess calcium in the rabbit’s body. If your rabbit doesn’t drink enough water, it can lead to a buildup of calcium in the kidneys, making it difficult for it to pass through the kidneys. lack of exercise. When a rabbit sits still all day, calcium crystals are more likely to form. Inactivity also causes a rabbit to drink and pee less often, giving the calcium more time to form crystals in the urinary tract.

When a rabbit sits still all day, calcium crystals are more likely to form. Inactivity also causes a rabbit to drink and pee less often, giving the calcium more time to form crystals in the urinary tract. unsuitable habitat. A rabbit cage that is too small can result in a rabbit being less active. If their enclosure is not cleaned frequently, some rabbits will be reluctant to use the toilet because they want to keep the area clean. You will urinate less often and cause calcium crystals to form.

A rabbit cage that is too small can result in a rabbit being less active. If their enclosure is not cleaned frequently, some rabbits will be reluctant to use the toilet because they want to keep the area clean. You will urinate less often and cause calcium crystals to form. kidney disease. Sometimes bladder stones and sludge are a symptom of a more serious kidney disease.

Sometimes bladder stones and sludge are a symptom of a more serious kidney disease. bladder disease. Bladder stones and sludge can also be caused by infection, tumors, or inflammation in the bladder.

Bladder stones and sludge can also be caused by infection, tumors, or inflammation in the bladder. Diet rich in calcium. A calcium-rich diet can sometimes contribute to the formation of bladder stones and sludge, but is usually not the sole cause.

prevention

Some rabbits will develop bladder stones no matter what we do to prevent them. But there are still steps we can take to make this condition less likely for our rabbits at home:

Encourage your rabbit to drink more water. Drinking water keeps urine flowing and prevents it from becoming too concentrated. So do what you can to make sure your rabbit stays hydrated.

Drinking water keeps urine flowing and prevents it from becoming too concentrated. So do what you can to make sure your rabbit stays hydrated. Removing alfalfa-based foods from the diet. Alfalfa-based foods are high in calcium and are generally not recommended for a healthy adult rabbit (although young rabbits are fine). Check the ingredients in your rabbit’s pellets and switch to a timothy-based mix instead.

Alfalfa-based foods are high in calcium and are generally not recommended for a healthy adult rabbit (although young rabbits are fine). Check the ingredients in your rabbit’s pellets and switch to a timothy-based mix instead. Feed plenty of fresh leafy greens. Fresh leafy greens are good for keeping a rabbit healthy and hydrated.

Fresh leafy greens are good for keeping a rabbit healthy and hydrated. promote movement. Being active keeps a rabbit’s body moving and the juices flowing. It also encourages your rabbit to drink more water.

Being active keeps a rabbit’s body moving and the juices flowing. It also encourages your rabbit to drink more water. Clean your rabbit’s litter box daily. A clean litter box will encourage your rabbit to continue using it regularly.

A clean litter box will encourage your rabbit to continue using it regularly. Annual veterinary check-ups. Taking your rabbit to the vet for a check-up once a year can help you catch signs of illness early.

Urinary Tract Infections in Rabbits

The other common urinary tract problem in rabbits is urinary tract infection (UTI), also known as cystitis. A UTI is when the bladder becomes inflamed due to a bacterial infection. Urinating becomes uncomfortable or even painful for the rabbit.

If you think your rabbit has a UTI, take them to the vet. Your doctor may run some tests to determine the cause of your rabbit’s symptoms and prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.

Signs of urinary tract infection in rabbits

The symptoms of a urinary tract infection appear to be very similar to the symptoms of bladder sludge in rabbits. In fact, the two can often occur at the same time, as the accumulation of bladder sludge is sometimes the main cause of a bladder infection.

Symptoms to look out for include:

Pee more often, but only a little at a time.

Constipation when trying to urinate.

Thick mud in pee.

scalding in the urine

Grunts when trying to pee

Lose weight.

Hesitation to move.

blood in the urine.

causes

UTIs are caused by a buildup of bacteria that inflame or block the bladder and urinary tract. The cause of the infection can usually be traced to one of two origins. The first and most common is when bladder stones or sludge in the ureters become blocked or clot, causing everything to back up and bacteria to build up. The second and much rarer cause is when the ureters are injured, usually by a cancerous growth.

prevention

Luckily, the steps to prevent UTIs are pretty much the same as the steps you should take to prevent bladder sludge build-up:

Make sure your rabbit has fresh, clean water.

Feed your rabbit fresh leafy greens.

Make sure your rabbit gets exercise.

Clean your rabbit’s litter box daily.

A rabbit that is litter box trained may pee outside the litter box if it sprays to claim its territory or protests an unclean litter box.

Pee outside the litter box

Even if your rabbit is litter box trained, you can still see them pee outside. Sometimes this is for medical reasons, especially if you notice that your rabbit is just peeing and drooling a little here and there. But peeing outside the litter box isn’t always indicative of a medical emergency.

spray

Unneutered rabbits are notorious for spraying urine around the home to claim their territory. This behavior is more common in male rabbits but is also seen in female rabbits. Rabbits try to spray on vertical surfaces more often than on flat surfaces, but this is not always the case. It just depends on your rabbit’s personality.

The only way to really stop your rabbit from spraying the whole house is to have it fixed. Having your rabbit spayed or spayed can fix a number of behavioral problems and is better for their overall health.

Pee on your bed

There are many stories of rabbits hopping onto their owner’s bed and scampering across the sheets even when they’ve been fixed. Not all rabbits do this, but it’s surprisingly common. I believe rabbits do this because your bed is covered in your scent. When the rabbit hops onto the bed, its territorial instinct kicks in and it has to pee to claim the bed.

I haven’t found a good way to prevent this behavior. So if your rabbit likes to pee on the bed, you might want to consider banning them from the bed entirely. Otherwise, you will very often clean up sheets stained with urine.

Protest against a dirty litter box

The other time I’ve noticed rabbits tend to pee outside of their litter box was when the litter box needs cleaning. In these cases, the rabbit will usually pee right next to the litter box. Your rabbit likes to be clean, so they will try to limit the soiled area of ​​their cage to just one spot. But if the litter box is too messy, they will be forced to do their business outside of it.

The obvious solution to this is to make sure you clean your rabbit’s litter box daily. This will improve their litter box habits and is a preventive measure against UTIs and urinary scalds.

Read more: How to remove rabbit urine stains

Is rabbit pee supposed to smell bad?

Unfortunately, rabbit urine has a very distinctive smell. Rabbit urine is relatively high in ammonia, so it smells like diluted ammonia. This is generally the only strong odor a house rabbit will have. So once you’ve learned how to deal with rabbit urine, you no longer have to worry about the smell in your house.

A few steps to prevent your house from smelling like rabbit pee:

Have your rabbit spayed or neutered. A restrained rabbit’s urine smells a little less.

Clean your rabbit litter box every day. This will prevent the urine odor from building up.

Use a HEPA air filter.

Is rabbit urine harmful to humans?

For most people, there is no reason to be afraid of rabbit urine. Practicing basic personal hygiene by washing your hands after handling rabbit urine is all you really need to do.

However, some rabbit pee contain a microorganism fungus called E. cuniculi. Many rabbits are carriers of it and shed spores in their urine. Although technically possible, infections are extremely rare in people with healthy immune systems. However, E. cuniculi could pose a risk to people with AIDS or otherwise compromised immune systems.

Sources:

Ackermann, Sandi; Deeb, Barbara, DVM. “Red urine: blood or plant pigment?” House Rabbit Society, rabbit.org/journal/3-1/red-urine.html. Braun, Susan, DVM. “Bladder Stones and Bladder Sludge in Rabbits.” House Rabbit Society, Sept. 2006, rabbit.org/health/urolith.html. Krempels, Dana, Ph.D. “Urine Scalding: A Symptom of a Greater Problem.” University of Miami Biology Department, House Rabbit Society of Miami, www.bio.miami.edu/hare/urinary.html. “Rabbit Bladder Problems.” Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund, rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-health/rabbit-bladder-problems.

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In an ideal world, rabbit pee will always be yellow. But there is no such thing as a healthy color for rabbit urine. Rabbit pee is constantly changing color. Factors like diet, hydration, and stress levels affect the appearance and texture of Rabbit Wee.

As long as rabbit pee is clear, your rabbit is healthy. Cloudy or chalky urine of any color is a sign that your rabbit has too much calcium in their blood. Red rabbit urine is rarely related to blood, but dilute pink urine and/or red spots can be a sign of hematuria.

Your rabbit’s urine should not change regularly. Additionally, focus more on the consistency of the urine than the color. The most important thing is that the urine is clear and easy to pass.

What is a healthy rabbit pink color?

Cloudy urine is an early warning sign of too much calcium in your rabbit’s diet. Changing your rabbit’s diet at this stage will not harm them. If you ignore cloudy urine, it will eventually become muddy and chalky.

You rarely have to worry if your rabbit’s urine is red. While it’s normal to assume it’s blood, that may not be the case. It’s more likely to be pigmentation from your rabbit’s bladder.

Don’t ignore odd urine colors in your rabbit’s litter box. If their urine is an odd color over a long period of time, take your rabbit to the vet. If it changes regularly, it is natural.

Rabbit Urine Color Chart

Rabbit urine comes in a wide range of colors, as explained by Greendale Veterinary Diagnostics. Don’t be surprised if your rabbit urinates in different colors throughout the day. The table below summarizes the meaning of the different pee colors:

Light Yellow Light yellow urine means your pet is healthy. It is eating and drinking well and does not appear to have any health concerns. Milky yellow rabbit urine that has a milky yellow tint is the first warning of calciuria. Your rabbit’s urine may also appear milky white in this case. Change your rabbit’s diet. If it eats alfalfa hay, switch to timothy or meadow hay. Red Red urine is the result of pigment in your rabbit’s bladder. Certain foods and plants can cause this, as can antibiotics. Even cold weather, if it comes on suddenly, can cause red urine. If his urine stays red for several days, this is unusual. Pink Pink urine indicates that your rabbit may have traces of blood in its urine. The blood diluted by urine causes this pink hue. There is a chance that this is caused by something your rabbit has eaten, e.g. E.g. strawberries or cranberries. Excess dietary calcium could be to blame. Brown bladder pigment usually causes brown urine. If the shade of brown is deep and rusty, see the red urine section. Double check that your rabbit is not constipated. When they have an intestinal blockage, fecal matter backs up in their system. Rabbits can’t vomit, so it won’t be eliminated that way. Orange If your rabbit’s urine looks orange, it may be dehydrated. Check if your pet is drinking enough water. When your rabbit is dehydrated, their urine becomes much more concentrated. Pigments that color your pet’s urine can also cause this hue. White If your rabbit’s urine is clear, it’s likely he just drank a lot of water. Excessive water consumption can be a sign of kidney problems in rabbits.

The best way to check your rabbit’s urine is to use a white litter. In this way, the urine will visibly stain the litter. It is much easier to determine the color of urine from it than hay.

My rabbit’s urine comes out as sludge

Urine sludge often means your pet has calciuria. This is a health condition caused by the excessive consumption of calcium. Left untreated, calciuria can become dangerous for rabbits.

When your rabbit eats calcium, it is filtered by the kidneys. Anything that counts as excess is excreted as urine. Rabbits need calcium for strong teeth and bones, but only in small amounts.

Too much calcium will thicken up in your rabbit’s body. That’s why her piss is so thick. The first warning sign is cloudiness or traces of lime residue.

If your rabbit has this problem, you can treat it at home. These are mainly dietary changes:

Stop feeding your rabbit pellets. These are made from alfalfa, which is high in calcium and low in fiber.

If your rabbit eats alfalfa hay, remove it from their hutch. Adult rabbits do not need this hay. Your pet can eat unlimited timothy or meadow hay, use this instead.

Look for calcium-rich fruits and vegetables. Lettuce, spinach, kale, and soybeans should be fed sparingly. Never combine two or more of these ingredients in the same serving.

, spinach, kale and soybeans should be fed sparingly. Never combine two or more of these ingredients in the same serving. Encourage your rabbit to get more exercise. This gives your kidneys a kick start and helps them filter out excess calcium effectively. This minimizes the risk of internal damage.

If you follow these steps, your rabbit’s urine should return to normal. However, this depends on how severe the calciuria is. In some cases, your rabbit’s urine may have hardened in the urinary tract. This causes bladder infections and bladder stones.

These health conditions are painful for rabbits. Bladder stones can cause a blockage. A vet will prescribe a course of antibiotics that will quickly eliminate the problem.

Another explanation for muddy urine is dehydration. If your rabbit hasn’t had enough water, their body will have trouble getting rid of it. Encourage your rabbit to drink more. Dehydration can be life-threatening in small animals.

Does my rabbit have a urinary tract infection?

If your rabbit’s urinary habits seem a bit unusual, they may have a UTI (urinary tract infection). These become more common as a rabbit reaches middle age. This is usually between 3 and 5 years. A UTI is usually the result of a bacterial infection. They can be caused by:

obesity . Sedentary lifestyle can also lead to UTIs, especially if your pet rarely leaves their coop.

. Sedentary lifestyle can also lead to UTIs, especially if your pet rarely leaves their coop. Low-fiber diet. A rabbit that eats more pellets than hay is always at risk of urinary tract infection.

. A rabbit that eats more pellets than hay is always at risk of urinary tract infection. Emphasize . This may be due to a change in routine or being placed in a stall that is too small.

. This may be due to a change in routine or being placed in a stall that is too small. Excess calcium or other vitamins. Be aware of any supplements you feed your rabbit. Mix up food and treats to ensure it has plenty of variety.

. Be aware of any supplements you feed your rabbit. Mix up food and treats to ensure it has plenty of variety. Unhygienic living conditions. If you don’t clean your pet’s hutch regularly, they will wallow in their waste. That attracts bacteria.

. If you don’t clean your pet’s hutch regularly, they will wallow in their waste. That attracts bacteria. An inability to urinate. This could be a blockage in the urinary tract, such as bladder stones.

A UTI can be painful for your pet. The most common symptoms are:

Thick, muddy urine.

traces of blood in the urine.

Incontinence, especially outside of the litter box.

Small droplets of urine, seemingly constantly.

Scalding urine around legs and tail.

around the legs and tail. Regular attempts to urinate with no success.

If your rabbit has a urinary tract infection, it can be treated with antibiotics. However, make sure that the infection is not caused by a more serious condition. Sometimes a urinary tract infection is a symptom of another disease.

What does blood in rabbit urine mean?

If your pet’s urine is bright red, it’s unlikely to be blood. It’s minor traces of blood in the clear urine that are worrying.

Blood in the urine is called hematuria. This term refers to whole, intact red blood cells that leave the body through urine. To save time, try bringing a urine sample with you to your vet appointment.

Blood in a rabbit’s urine has several explanations. The most common reasons for bloody urine are:

Kidney stones or an injury/disease to the kidneys.

Bladder stones, cystitis, or crystals of urine in the bladder.

Excessive calcium intake.

trauma to the genitals.

blood clot.

Problems with the reproductive organs. This is common in middle-aged unneutered female rabbits.

diabetes

Cancer

You may also notice physical symptoms in your rabbit before it needs to urinate. Look for a bloated abdomen, an oversized blister, or bruising around the blister. These are all warning signs of bladder stones.

Treatment for this problem depends on the underlying cause. If it is an infection, antibiotics are usually sufficient. A more serious health problem may require surgery. If your rabbit has lost a lot of blood through urination, they may need a transfusion. This is rare, but it does happen.

Why does rabbit urine smell so bad?

When rabbit urine is allowed to fester, ammonia is formed. If your pet inhales this, it could damage its nasal passages and develop a runny nose.

Foul-smelling urine is not a sign of ill health in rabbits. You can control the strong smell of your rabbit’s urine by following the steps below:

Spay or neuter your rabbit. It is believed that restrained rabbits have weaker smelling urine. Teach your bunny to bedding and use absorbent, rabbit-safe bedding in his tray. Avoid scented litter. She will not urinate anywhere that smells bad to her. Line your rabbit’s litter box with hay. Rabbits like to eat while they go to the toilet. This way, your pet is more likely to confine their waste to one place. Clean and change your rabbit’s litter box at least once a day. You don’t have to clean the whole barn as often. However, watch out for urine-stained hay and remove it. Also check for urine under or around the litter box. Rabbits don’t always pee exactly. Use white vinegar when cleaning the litter box. This removes scent traces and limescale residues. Wash any vinegar from the tray before returning it to the stable.

Is rabbit urine harmful to humans?

Rabbit urine smells unpleasant, but not harmful. This indicates that rabbit urine can be handled safely. However, rabbit urine contains a potentially dangerous flaw.

This is known as Encephalitozoon cuniculi, or E. cuniculi for short. This bug is active in most rabbits. This will not necessarily bother your pet. Many rabbits live with this bug without harm. Your immune system fights it and excretes it through your urine.

A healthy adult is not normally infested with E. cuniculi. However, it will be children, the elderly or people with an existing medical condition. Anyone with compromised immunity should not handle rabbit urine.

Pet Care Veterinary Hospital explains what to do if you suspect your rabbit has E. cuniculi. When treatment is needed, it usually takes the form of antibiotics. Just be careful when cleaning your pet’s coop until this issue is resolved.

If your rabbit’s urine is clear and runny, it can be considered normal. The color is less important. Always be vigilant when treating cloudy or chalky urine. If ignored, it becomes painful.

Popcorn is a health hazard for rabbits. The same goes for fresh corn and corn kernels. There are many risks that make popcorn a food for rabbits to avoid. If you let your rabbit eat popcorn, you can give them empty calories that can lead to life-threatening conditions.

Not only is popcorn unsafe for rabbits, but all types of corn are bad for rabbits. Popcorn can pose a choking hazard in smaller rabbits, as well as health problems in rabbits of all sizes. Because it is indigestible for rabbits, popcorn can cause constipation and gastrointestinal stasis. Being high in carbohydrates, popcorn can also lead to weight gain.

All these health issues can lead to secondary problems. Severe cases of congestion can be fatal. If your rabbit found a few pieces on the ground and ate them, you don’t need to go to the vet. As long as it doesn’t choke, there’s a good chance your rabbit will pass the popcorn without a problem. Introduce extra grass hay and water into his diet to keep the digestive tract working.

Can rabbits eat popped popcorn?

A rabbit will eat popped popcorn when presented with some tempting morsels. However, a rabbit should not be fed popcorn. Owners should not allow their rabbits access to food, even accidentally.

Popcorn in any form is harmful to rabbits. It doesn’t matter if it’s popped, unpopped, seasoned, unseasoned, etc. Fresh corn, cooked or raw, is just as dangerous to rabbits.

As such, it should not be a treat or additive to your rabbit’s food. Even if they rarely chew seeds, that doesn’t protect them from the ill effects. Because popcorn is:

Full of empty calories

The shells of the kernels cannot be digested

Flavored popcorn is high in sugar and salt

Rabbits do not benefit from eating popcorn. It’s junk food. However, unlike human junk food, it can have an immediate impact on your rabbit’s health.

Of course, this depends on the individual case. If your rabbit eats a stray piece of popcorn off the floor, don’t panic. The core can easily pass through the rabbit’s digestive system. Just keep an eye on the rabbit and monitor for symptoms.

Is popcorn dangerous for rabbits?

Popcorn – and corn in general – is not toxic to rabbits. Besides that, it is dangerous for your rabbit to eat. It doesn’t matter how the popcorn is flavored or prepared.

This is mainly because rabbits cannot vomit. If a rabbit eats something it shouldn’t, it has no choice but to let the item pass through its system. This scenario is best avoided. Popcorn may not pass, which will lead to many other health issues.

Why is popcorn bad for rabbits?

Rabbits have a specific diet, 80% of which is grass hay. Rabbits have evolved digestive systems to deal with very specific foods. These foods may also contain certain herbs and vegetables. Corn on the cob or raw corn is classified as a vegetable. However, it is not a vegetable that rabbits can eat.

This is because a kernel of corn is a kernel. Rabbits shouldn’t be fed grain because their digestive acids aren’t strong enough to break down the tough exterior. The sharp shells of the seeds can even damage the stomach and intestines.

There are rumors that not only can rabbits digest grain, but it helps rabbits grow faster. A study in the Journal of Animal Science refutes such a claim. Many reputable sources of information also state explicitly that corn and popcorn should never be fed to rabbits. Corn, popcorn, or corn on the kernel are bad for rabbits for the following reasons.

gastrointestinal stasis

As noted in the Vet Record, gastrointestinal stasis is common in pet rabbits. This disorder occurs when the food substance stops or moves more slowly through the gastrointestinal tract. It is not usually caused by an obstruction but by a change in the delicate gut flora that inhabits the rabbit’s digestive tract. It can also be caused by an obstruction, when nutrients stagnate and break down in the gut.

Corn in any form, including popcorn, can be both the hindrance and the cause of bacterial disorders. Because rabbits have a hard time digesting this food, blockages can form in the intestines or cecum (the part of the intestine that makes cecotrope). Constipation or not, if the popcorn is regularly included in the rabbit’s diet, there may also be an imbalance in the gut bacteria.

This disorder has a snowball effect if left untreated. Rabbits stop eating when they are in stasis. This makes congestion worse by not ingesting fiber to get things going again. While corn does have some fiber, a rabbit cannot efficiently digest corn to extract the fiber.

Gastrointestinal stasis can be fatal. Relief from stasis includes medication to stimulate the digestive system, fluid injections, medication, and proper diet. Signs of gastrointestinal stasis are:

loss of appetite

Malformed or small fecal pellets

teeth grinding (a sign of pain)

(a sign of pain) No fecal pellets

Visible bloating

Crouched posture (keep stomach off the floor)

lethargy

Whether or not your rabbit ate popcorn, if you notice any of these symptoms, take your rabbit to the vet as soon as possible.

gas

A symptom of gastrointestinal stasis is bloating. Rabbits cannot vomit or even burp. So when matter blocks the intestinal passage, the gases build up. These gases are:

Those normally obtained as by-products of fermentation and digestion

Harmful bacterial colonies that are out of control and producing excess gas

Depending on the severity of the stasis or blockage, these gases literally cannot pass through the rabbit’s body. They will build to the point of severe pain and will not resolve until the stasis is released.

impaction

Popcorn, corn, and corn on the cob can all cause an impaction. Rabbits have a unique digestive system that allows them to digest a meal twice. Part of it is called the appendix, which creates cecotropes. This is what the rabbit eats to get all the nutrients from their food that they can get.

Since corn is indigestible, it causes all kinds of impact problems in the gut. This can lead to gastrointestinal stasis. Improper nutrition or eating indigestible matter are the main causes of impaction and stasis. Surgery may be required depending on the severity of the impaction.

No nutritional value

Popcorn does not offer any nutritional benefits to rabbits. Corn does contain fiber, but not nearly enough to help a rabbit. Even if it were, a rabbit’s digestive system isn’t capable of extracting the fiber anyway.

Popcorn is also relatively high in carbohydrates. A rabbit doesn’t need nearly as many calories per day as a human. If you regularly feed your rabbit popcorn, it will gain weight. This can lead to heart problems, joint problems, or obesity, which causes many problems of its own.

Even as a small treat, popcorn can cause your rabbit to gain weight. There are treat alternatives that are far better options and are perfectly healthy to offer a rabbit in moderation.

sugar, salts and oils

Aside from unseasoned air-fried varieties, popcorn is usually cooked in butter or oil and then seasoned. All of this will cause problems.

Sugar leads to weight gain and can also disrupt the intestinal flora to the point of GI stasis. A rabbit can experience both if they eat too much fruit, let alone eat pure sugary spices. Fresh corn is also quite sweet, which is due to its natural sugars.

Salts are another problem. A rabbit does not need salt licks like some other animals. With a proper diet of good quality food, a rabbit will get all the salt it needs from its diet. Salty popcorn provides your rabbit with way too much salt. If this type of popcorn is fed even semi-regularly, high sodium health problems will develop.

Oil and butter are in their own category. Rabbits cannot digest any of these foods. Therefore, stasis or other digestive problems are almost certain.

Can Rabbits Eat Popcorn Kernels?

Kernels are perhaps the riskiest of all forms of corn. The tough outer covering of the kernel, the pericarp, is part of what makes corn so difficult for rabbits to digest. Uncooked popcorn will almost certainly remain whole as it passes through the digestive tract. That is, if it passes through the tract and does not cause a blockage.

Another part of the outer shell is the tip cap. Although not always the case, this tip can easily be sharp and cause internal damage. Small rabbits can also choke on unpopped corn kernels.

Do rabbits like popcorn?

Rabbits can be very picky about food. Others like to eat whatever you put in front of them or whatever they can find. Popcorn can be one of the foods that a rabbit will eagerly devour.

Worryingly, there have been a number of instances of people feeding their rabbits popcorn. This leads unsuspecting owners to believe that rabbits can and should be fed popcorn or corn. They can’t, even if they seem to like it.

Rabbits usually like sweet foods, which is corn. Even though rabbits shouldn’t eat popcorn, you can safely assume they would enjoy it.

What to do if your rabbit eats popcorn

So, what if you accidentally fed your rabbit popcorn? What if it swiped a few bits out of your bowl on movie night? How to proceed:

Above all, prevent the problem from escalating. Remove leftover popcorn from the rabbit’s reach. Then try giving your rabbit some fresh grass hay. This should help your rabbit’s digestive tract to hurry up. Introduce extra fiber into the rabbit’s diet over the next few days. This will encourage it to pass through the popcorn.

Over the next week you should closely monitor your rabbit, its droppings and how much it eats. Any deviation below should warrant an immediate visit to the veterinarian.

How much your rabbit eats

The size and shape of his poop

The amount of poop (or lack of poop)

Uneaten cecotropes

His posture for signs of pain

gas

During this week you should also make sure that the rabbit still drinks and eats a lot of hay. This will make it easier for the popcorn to pass through. Since the pericarp is indigestible, you can even find it almost entirely between piles of feces. Remove them from the housing immediately.

Rabbits’ digestive systems are almost constantly in action. It will pass hundreds of pellets every day. A rabbit should give up any popcorn eaten relatively soon after eating. Still, it’s best to monitor the rabbit for problems between 3 days and a full week.

Does popcorn kill rabbits?

Popcorn can kill rabbits. This food comes with several dangers but no benefits, which is why it is important to avoid it.

Corn in any form (including fresh, popped, and kernel) is indigestible. It can potentially cause gastrointestinal stasis, impaction, weight gain and other health problems. Gastrointestinal stasis, if left untreated, can lead to severe bloating and organ failure.

Aside from these problems, popcorn and the kernels can pose a choking hazard in smaller rabbits. Overall, popcorn – and corn in general – should never be fed to a rabbit.

Owners find rabbits particularly adorable when they’re eating something they particularly enjoy. Rabbits love bananas for their sweet taste, but are bananas safe food for rabbits?

Rabbits should not be fed a piece of banana larger than an adult human’s thumb. That’s because bananas are high in starches and sugars, which can put a strain on a rabbit’s digestive tract. Feeding rabbits excess fruit over a long period of time can lead to life-threatening health conditions such as gastrointestinal stasis.

Bunnies have a hard time stopping eating bananas once they get going. Treating a rabbit to sweet-tasting bananas can cause them to lose their appetite for healthier, more nutritious foods like leafy greens. Your rabbit may also get into the habit of begging for treats.

Are Bananas Safe for Rabbits to Eat?

Fresh, raw bananas are safe to eat, but only in moderation. While bananas are high in water, potassium, vitamin B6, and antioxidants, they’re also packed with starches and sugars.

Too much sugar and starches in a rabbit’s diet can cause digestive problems, upset stomach, gas and diarrhea. Sugar is also known to cause painful dental problems in rabbits that require veterinary attention.

Also, excess starch and sugars are converted to fat in a rabbit’s body. This can lead to unnecessary weight gain and obesity. Obesity is associated with a variety of debilitating issues, such as: B. pododermatite, GI stasis, pregnancy toxemia and myiasis.

Avoid feeding your rabbits overripe bananas, banana chips, banana treats, banana bread, and other prepared banana foods as they are often high in sugar, starch, sodium, and fat. Prepackaged foods that contain bananas contain preservatives, chemicals, artificial flavors, and added sugars, all of which can wreak havoc on a rabbit’s sensitive gut.

Stay away from overripe bananas

A banana’s ripening process is regulated by a natural compound called ethylene gas. Ethylene gas turns bananas brown and changes their texture, color, and flavor. When a banana produces ethylene gas, it also affects its nutritional value.

Bananas are made up of 80-90% resistant starch as part of their carbohydrate content. As bananas ripen, resistant starches are converted to free sugars.

Free sugar alters the beneficial gut bacteria in the digestive tract, causing loose stools, stomach pain, and other upsetting gut issues. In addition, when in excess, they are easily converted into fat, which leads to obesity.

Green tinted bananas have less free sugar. As such, they are slightly healthier than overripe or brown bananas.

But overripe bananas are still safe for rabbits as long as there are no traces of mold. The key is not to exceed the recommended amount.

How many bananas can rabbits eat?

The general guideline for the amount of bananas you can feed your rabbit is based on their weight. Rabbits should be fed no more than 2 tablespoons of bananas for every 5 pounds of their body weight, 2-3 times per week. As a general rule, you should never feed a rabbit a piece of banana larger than the size of your thumb.

When your rabbit is trying banana for the first time, don’t offer more than 1 tablespoon in a day. This is to ensure your rabbit doesn’t react negatively to the new food and if it does, you can effectively eliminate them. Always introduce new foods into a rabbit’s diet slowly to avoid unnecessary reactions.

Avoid offering bananas to rabbits younger than 12 weeks as their digestive tract is very sensitive. The table below shows how many bananas a rabbit can eat based on breed and body weight.

Breed Average weight of banana per serving (tbsp) Lionhead Rabbit 3.75 1.5 Flemish Giant 3.5 1.4 Dutch Dwarf 3.5 1.4 Dutch Dwarf 2.5 1 Continental Giant 18 7.2 Dutch Rabbit 4 1.6 Mini Rex 4.5 1.8 French rabbit 14 5.6 Polish rabbit 2+ 0.8 American rabbit 10 + 4 Californian rabbit 10+ 4 Beveren rabbit 12 4.8 English Lop 12 4.8

Health benefits of bananas for rabbits

Your rabbit’s diet should consist of hay, water, good quality pellets, and leafy greens. Anything beyond that, including fruits like bananas, is enjoyable and should only be given in small amounts.

If your rabbit can tolerate it, 2 tablespoons of fruit per 5 pounds of body weight can add more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to your pet’s diet.

Bananas are a rich source of nutrients that rabbits need for their growth and development. Some of them include:

potassium . Potassium is an excellent muscle relaxant for rabbits, helping to reduce stress and improve sleep. It’s also good for the heart.

. Potassium is an excellent muscle relaxant for rabbits, helping to reduce stress and improve sleep. It’s also good for the heart. Water . Bananas are 75% water, which is needed for the proper functioning of the digestive tract in preventing dehydration.

. Bananas are 75% water, which is needed for the proper functioning of the digestive tract in preventing dehydration. Vitamin B6. The Journal of Applied Animal Science suggests that vitamin B6 improves immune system functions in a rabbit’s body.

This suggests that vitamin B6 improves the functions of the immune system in a rabbit’s body. manganese . It helps in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

. It helps in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. folate . Boosts red blood cell production and immunity.

. Boosts red blood cell production and immunity. Phosphorus. Required for bone development, along with calcium.

nutrients in bananas

Nutrients in Bananas, Raw Serving Size (1 small, 6-7 inches long, 100g) Energy 89.9 calories Total Carbohydrates 23.1g Starch 5.4g Sugars 12.4g Fiber 2.6g Fat 0.3g Protein 1.1 g vitamin A 64.6 mcg riboflavin (B2) 0.1 mg niacin (B3) 0.7 mg pantothenic acid (B5) 0.3 mg vitamin B6 0.061 mg folic acid (B9) 20.2 µg vitamin C 8 .8 mg vitamin E 0.1 mg vitamin K 0.5 µg calcium 5.1 mg iron 0.3 mg magnesium 12 mg manganese 27.3 mg phosphorus 22.2 mg potassium 362 mg zinc 0.2 mg

Banana feeding rules for rabbits

Keep the following rules in mind when adding bananas to your rabbit’s diet:

Do not feed bananas (or fruit or vegetables) to rabbits under 3 months old.

Add leafy greens to a growing rabbit’s diet before fruits.

Add fruit to your rabbit gradually and don’t introduce bananas with other fruits like pumpkin meat.

. Offer moderation as bananas are high in sugar and starch.

Let your pet get used to bananas for 24 hours before offering them again.

Increase the amount of bananas to the recommended amount.

Make sure hay still makes up around 80-90% of your rabbit’s diet.

If your rabbit shows signs of indigestion, stop feeding them bananas and call your vet for help.

Do rabbits like bananas?

Rabbits love bananas for their sweet taste. A rabbit will keep asking for more because sugar is very addictive.

If you offer too many bananas, your rabbit may lose interest in other, more nutritious foods like leafy greens. Some rabbits may even beg for bananas and refuse to eat anything else.

So make sure bananas aren’t your rabbit’s only treats. Offer it in moderation and mix your rabbit’s treats with other healthy fruits like blueberries and apples.

If this is your rabbit’s first time trying banana, don’t add more than 1 tbsp. for 24 hours. This will give you plenty of time to notice changes in your rabbit’s digestion or feces, and eliminate bananas from their diet if any negative symptoms appear.

You also don’t want to give a growing rabbit sweet treats like bananas before leafy greens. Your rabbit may develop a liking for the sweet taste of bananas and refuse to eat nutrient- and fiber-rich vegetables. Rewiring a rabbit back to a more natural, hay and leafy greens-based diet can be challenging, so portion control is essential.

Can rabbits eat banana peels?

Banana peels are safe for rabbits to eat, but like bananas, they’re also high in sugar and starch. Therefore, they should only be offered in small quantities as a treat.

If you also feed your rabbit banana peels, it’s best to stick to organic bananas only. Traditional banana peels are riddled with pesticides and chemical fertilizers that can be harmful to a rabbit’s health.

If you don’t have organic bananas, it’s best to discard the skin and only feed your rabbit the pulp.

Can Rabbits Eat Banana Leaves?

Your rabbit may enjoy nibbling on banana leaves. Banana leaves are safe for rabbits and can be introduced as part of a balanced diet. They are an excellent addition to the leafy green portion of a rabbit’s complete diet.

Just make sure the leaves are from an organic farm. When banana leaves are laced with pesticides and chemical fertilizers, they can cause life-threatening complications in rabbits over the long term.

Talk to your veterinarian before adding bananas, banana peels, and banana leaves to your rabbit. Your vet may advise against including these in your rabbit’s diet if they have dental problems, a sensitive digestive tract, or weight issues. Bananas are also not recommended for rabbits under 3 months of age or rabbits who react negatively to fruits high in sugar.

If you are concerned about feeding your rabbit tomatoes, it is a wise concern as tomatoes have a certain reputation. They belong to the nightshade family along with peppers, potatoes, tobacco and eggplant. These plants contain the chemical solanine, which can be toxic to some animals. Nightshades are also known to have inflammatory properties for humans.

Tomatoes can be fed to your rabbit – in small amounts

The good news is that tomatoes are fine to feed your rabbit in small amounts. A healthy rabbit will eat a mix of hay, vegetables, and pellets, with fruit added a few times a week. Tomatoes make a great occasional snack or treat for your rabbit.

They’re a quick, easy treat your rabbit will love, and they provide your pet with a healthy dose of nutrients. Fresh tomatoes are a great source of vitamins A and C, as well as other vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. However, you need to watch their quantities.

Fruits are the best treats for your pet rabbit. Whether you think of tomatoes as a fruit or a vegetable, your rabbit doesn’t care: tomatoes should not be considered a regular part of the diet. It’s best to rotate the type of fruit you offer to ensure your rabbit is getting a variety of nutrients each week.

While the cliché that bunnies love garden vegetables is somewhat rooted in truth, their diet should consist primarily of hay. Fruit should be used as a special treat and offered in small portions only a few times per week. Rabbits get most of the vitamins and minerals they need from hay, pellets, and leafy greens.

Feed your rabbit tomatoes

Feeding your rabbit fruits and vegetables is easy. Most bunny owners simply offer their fluffy companion some plant-based morsels from their own fridge. This saves time and is significantly cheaper. However, before you toss your bunny a slice of tomato while making your own salad, there are a few important things to keep in mind. While most of the fruits and vegetables you eat yourself are healthy elements of a rabbit’s diet, there are a few precautions you need to take with tomatoes.

Wash your tomato carefully. Fruit, especially whole fruit, is often covered in pesticides. These can be harmful or even toxic to your pet. Even if you feed your rabbit fruit from your own garden, it’s still wise to wash it carefully.

Remove the stem and leaves from your tomato. You should not feed your rabbit the stems and leaves of a tomato plant. The concentration of toxic chemicals is particularly high in these parts of the tomato, making your rabbit likely to get sick. In fact, wild rabbits instinctively avoid tomato plants and only nibble on the fruit.

Cut the tomato into an appropriate size. If using a large tomato, slice it. For cherry or plum tomatoes, cutting them in half will suffice. Remove the seeded part of the tomato. Seeded fruits are not usually recommended for rabbits. The seeds can cause gastrointestinal distress and are often poisonous.

how much is ok

Remember that your rabbit has an incredibly small stomach. A rabbit’s diet should contain no more than 5% treats, so moderation is key. Just the flesh of a cherry tomato is enough to satisfy their need for treats. If you have plum tomatoes on hand, a quarter would work best. A sandwich-sized slice of a tomato is a perfect portion.

Feeding your rabbit too many tomatoes can mean that they are not hungry enough to consume other foods that provide most of their nutrition. Rabbits love treats, but too many can lead to malnutrition and a host of dangerous, expensive health problems. Rabbits need to have enough appetite to chew fibrous hay to keep their teeth from growing too long.

Proper use of treats is one of the most important parts of caring for your pet. Follow these recommended tomato guidelines to keep your rabbit as happy and healthy as possible.

Read relatives:

Featured image: Josephine Baran on Unsplash

Proper nutrition is one of the most important factors for a healthy rabbit. Rabbits should be fed the type of food to which they are adapted. In the wild, rabbits eat mostly grass. They can graze up to 6-8 hours a day. Your entire digestive tract from the teeth to the end of the gastrointestinal tract is adapted to this diet and eating habits.

Providing grass or grass hay for pet rabbits is vital to maintaining their health. Eating grass/grass hay encourages prolonged chewing, which is necessary to wear down continuously growing teeth, thereby preventing dental disease (a common health problem in pet rabbits).

The high fiber content of grass and grass hay is crucial for normal digestion. A diet that is too low in fiber can lead to fatal digestive problems – another common problem in pet rabbits. Gathering and chewing grass or grass hay also helps increase activity levels and prevent boredom and behavior problems [1].

To ensure your rabbits are getting a healthy, balanced diet, you should:

Provide a constant supply of good quality fresh grass and grass hay (this should make up around 80% of the total ration) – e.g. Timothy, oat, wheat, pasture, paddock, meadow or rye grass hay. Rabbits should not be fed lucerne (alfalfa) or clover hay as they contain too much protein and calcium which could lead to the formation of urinary stones [2].

Provide plenty of fresh leafy greens and greens (10-20% of total diet). As a guide, feed about two cups of leafy greens per kg of body weight per day. Some examples are vegetables like broccoli, celery, endive, beet/carrot tops, Brussels sprouts, spinach leaves, bok choy, other Asian vegetables, dark leaf lettuce, and herbs like parsley, dandelion, cilantro, basil, dill, and mint.

Treats may be offered in small amounts (1-2 tablespoons per rabbit per day). Examples include most fruits, root vegetables (like carrots and sweet potatoes), and peppers. Note that carrots should not be fed in large quantities.

Provide approximately 1 tablespoon/kg of pellets with at least >18% crude fiber (indigestible fiber content >12.5%) (no more than 5% of total diet) and ensure the pellets are for pet rabbits and not commercial rabbits agricultural purposes are formulated [3]. Rabbits can do without pellets as long as they are fed hay and fresh green vegetables daily.

Avoid grain/cereal mixes (e.g. rabbit mix muesli) as they can promote selective feeding, dietary imbalance and obesity [1,4].

It’s also a good idea to provide other items to chew on. Examples are wooden chewing blocks or old phone books.

Try to keep food and eating habits consistent. Any dietary change needs to be done gradually (over a period of 2-3 weeks) to minimize digestive upset.

Always have unlimited fresh, clean water available. Rabbits prefer open bowls (bowls) to bottle drinkers because licking from a bowl is more natural and encourages greater water intake [5].

DO NOT feed: Grains, grains, nuts, seeds, corn, beans, peas, bread, crackers, candy, sugar, breakfast cereal, chocolate or other garden plants poisonous to rabbits (see links below).

More information

For more information, see the following useful links:

Is your rabbit insured? Get £2,000 Vet Coverage Quote | Insure up to 3 pets per policy | We have been insuring exotic pets since 1996 | Check out our customer reviews on Feefo.

Do you own a cat or a dog? Take pet insurance with ManyPets to cover up to £15,000 a year in veterinary expenses, including dental care in the event of illness and accidents.

Content: How Much Hay Should I Feed My Rabbit? | What is the best hay for my rabbit? | Why is hay so important for rabbits? | Can rabbits eat pellets? | What vegetables can rabbits eat? | What plants can rabbits eat? | What fruit can rabbits eat? | What foods are toxic to rabbits? | How much water does a rabbit need?

Keeping rabbits as pets is very popular in the UK. In fact, around 2% of UK households own one, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA). And why don’t you want one? With their soft fur, big black eyes and long ears.

However, it is very important that you feed your rabbit the right food.

We’ve listed what vegetables, fruits and herbs you can feed your rabbit and we’ll discuss the importance of hay. This way you are fully informed about the right diet for your four-legged friend. Read on for more information.

We can insure rabbits for veterinary costs up to £2,000. Coverage can be per rabbit (up to three pets) or per policy. Why not get an offer?

How Much Hay Should I Feed My Rabbit?

Hay or grass should make up the majority of your rabbit’s diet at around 80-90%, it should be clean and fresh and always available.

According to the RSPCA, you should expect your furry friend to chew hay for about six to eight hours a day.

What is the best hay for my rabbit?

Alfalfa hay is the best variety for young rabbits up to seven months old. This is because it is high in calcium and protein, which aid in growth.

However, you should not feed your rabbit alfalfa hay as it gets older, as the higher calcium content can lead to kidney and urinary problems.

Switch to a grass hay like Timothy Hay or oat hay when it’s about seven months old. These are high in fiber, which is an essential part of your furry friend’s diet.

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Rabbits should primarily eat hay or grass

Why is hay so important for rabbits?

Hay is so important because it contains fiber that helps wear down your rabbit’s teeth, which are continuously growing at a rate of 2mm to 3mm per week.

Allowing your rabbit’s teeth to overgrow can lead to malocclusions (misaligned teeth). Dental problems like these can result in mouth ulcers, difficulty eating, and a very sad rabbit.

(You’ll need to see a vet in a situation like this – see how ExoticDirect rabbit insurance can help with that).

Eating hay and grass is better than eating kibble because rabbits have to grind the hay or grass between their molars.

In contrast, rabbits only need to crush dry food such as pellets between their teeth, which prevents teeth grinding.

Hay is also important for your rabbit’s intestines to function properly. The hay contains roughage that the intestines have to digest with difficulty.

When the gut doesn’t have enough fiber, it can’t function properly, leading to blockages such as B. intestinal stasis, can lead.

This is an uncomfortable condition for rabbits when the digestive tract slows down or stops working. Bacteria then build up and cause gas and bloating, further reducing your rabbit’s appetite.

Not only is it very uncomfortable, it can also be deadly. So keep feeding the hay!

Do you also own guinea pigs? Check out what can guinea pigs eat?

Can rabbits eat pellets?

Pellets are useful for younger rabbits when they need a diet that contains a concentration of nutrients to support growth. Make sure the pellets you buy are also high in fiber, which should be around 18%. However, the bulk of your rabbit’s diet should still be hay.

vegetables

After about three months, you can start introducing a wide range of vegetables. Introducing them individually will help you determine which are easier to digest and which are not.

You should feed your rabbit three different types of fresh vegetables every day.

What vegetables can rabbits eat?

Rabbits can eat the following vegetables:

basil

broccoli

Beetroot Greens

Dark Green Cabbage

Carrot tops and roots

cauliflower and leaves

celery

celery

coriander

Kale

zucchini

dill

fennel

mint

mark

Parsely

parsnip

Peppers – green

pumpkin

Radish greens and roots

rocket

Lettuce and lettuce (not too many) and no iceberg lettuce

spinach

spring green

sprouts

Pumpkin (any kind)

Sweet Potatoes (as a treat)

Tomatoes in small quantities

watercress

With thanks to the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF); The Rabbit House; Peta.org.

Rabbits like carrots, but feed them sparingly as they contain sugar.

What plants can rabbits eat?

Rabbits can eat the following plants:

agrimony

Avens

apple leaves and branches

blackberry leaves

burdock

marigold

Cleaver (Goosegrass or Sticky Weed)

cornflower

common mallow

dandelion

Echinacea

goats rough

Golden Staff

hawthorn

hazel

lemon balm

Melitot

mulberry

Nasturtium

pansies

raspberry leaves

Rosebay Willowherb (Fireweed)

roses (leaves and flowers)

shepherd’s bag

strawberry green

willow leaves

yarrow

Black currant leaves

chamomile

lady balm

marigold

melilote

mulberry

Plantain (broad leaf and ribwort)

raspberry leaves

sunflowers

List taken from RWAF website

Do rabbits eat geraniums?

There is confusion as to whether rabbits should eat geraniums, with some sources saying they can and others saying they can’t. If in doubt, do not feed them to your rabbit.

What fruit can rabbits eat?

Rabbits can eat the following fruits:

apples

bananas

blackberries

blueberries

cranberries

Grapes

tangerines

mango

nectarines

orange

papaya

pears

peach

plums

pineapple

raspberries

raisins

strawberries

watermelon

You must remove all seeds from the fruit, especially apples, where the pits are poisonous.

Only feed small amounts occasionally as fruit is high in sugar. Too much can lead to dental problems and obesity.

Some fruits, like oranges, are also high in acid, which can cause stomach problems and mouth ulcers.

How often should I give my rabbit fruit?

Rabbits should only be given fruit occasionally, as it contains so much sugar that it can lead to obesity or dental problems. Small portions, once or twice or weekly should suffice.

Don’t give in when you see your rabbit eating a delicious piece of apple. Like us and other food types, it may taste fantastic, but it’s not that good for us. Remember that moderation is key.

Can rabbits eat pumpkin seeds and other seeds?

Many seeds are not toxic to rabbits, but they are high in fat, which can lead to obesity in your rabbit.

Find out which seeds and kernels to avoid when feeding your rabbit.

What herbs can rabbits eat?

Rabbits can eat the following herbs:

basil

coriander

dill

mint

Parsely

oregano

rosemary

sage

thyme

Echinacea

What can rabbits not eat?

These foods are toxic to your rabbit and can make them sick:

Potatoes, daffodils, tulips, rhubarb, lilies, mushrooms, avocado, broad beans, vetches, buttercups, kidney beans, jasmine, foxgloves and iceberg lettuce.

Iceberg lettuce can be toxic in large quantities because it contains lactucarium, a substance that can be harmful to your rabbit. In addition, light-colored lettuce contains mostly water and offers little nutritional value.

Do not feed your rabbit apple or pear pits as they contain cyanide and can be harmful to your rabbit.

Do not feed your rabbit the pits of apricots, peaches and plums as these also contain cyanide.

Why can’t you feed your rabbit grass clippings?

When grass is cut with a lawn mower, it passes near the mower’s hot engine. This heat triggers a fermentation process that can be harmful to your rabbit’s stomach.

How much water does a rabbit need?

A rabbit drinks about 10% of its body weight in water every day.

You should ensure that the water is clean, fresh and supplied in either a bowl or bottle.

If she doesn’t get enough water in her diet, she could start to suffer from dehydration and digestive problems.

Your rabbit will also get water from the vegetables it eats. So if he eats a lot of it, don’t be alarmed if he doesn’t drink a lot of water as well.

Make mealtime fun – and get moving

If you want to combine feeding time with stimulation, try hiding your rabbit’s food under toys and in empty toilet paper rolls.

Finally

Hay should make up the bulk of your rabbit’s diet – around 80-90%.

Vegetables should also be an important part of your rabbit’s diet – you should give them around three servings a day. Pellets can also be used to supplement their diet.

Fruit should only be given occasionally – once or twice a week.

Water is an essential part of your rabbit’s diet – it helps prevent dehydration and keeps their bowels moving. You should provide a constant supply of clean, fresh water that is changed daily.

Also, getting plenty of exercise should help keep your rabbit happy and healthy for many years to come.

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Alternatively you can call us on 0345 982 5505

What should pet rabbits eat? Contrary to popular belief, rabbits need more than just carrots and lettuce. They need a balanced diet of hay, fresh vegetables and fruit, and some pellets. Rabbits have very sensitive digestive tracts, so switching to hay or pellets or introducing new fruits and vegetables must be done gradually to allow the rabbit’s system to adapt.

Hay: A rabbit’s staple diet

The bottom of a rabbit food pyramid would contain long-stemmed fiber in the form of hay, which makes up 80 to 90 percent of a rabbit’s diet. As grazing animals, rabbits need an unlimited supply of fresh hay every day.

You will want to feed your rabbit grass hay. Good types of grass hay for rabbits include timothy, orchard, brome, and oat hay. You can feed your rabbit one type or a mix of different types of grass hay. Buy fresh hay if possible and look for mold or dust that could make your rabbit sick.

Alfalfa hay is not a good choice for an adult rabbit as it is a legume rather than grass and as such is too rich to feed daily. Alfalfa can be given to rabbits occasionally as a treat. Rabbits under one year old can be fed alfalfa hay, but as they get older they should be switched to grass hay, especially if they are also fed alfalfa pellets.

Pellets: Feed a rabbit in small amounts

Timothy hay pellets can be given to rabbits in small amounts. An average sized (6-10 pounds) adult rabbit will only need a quarter cup of pellets daily. If your rabbit weighs less than five pounds, feed only one-eighth of a cup. Rabbits larger than 10 pounds need no more than 1/4 cup, as this is not a crucial part of a bunny’s diet.

Rabbits under one year old can be fed alfalfa pellets. Be sure to feed grass hay (instead of alfalfa) when feeding your young rabbits alfalfa pellets. Look for pellets that are high in fiber – the higher the better. Also note that many foods marketed to rabbits are not actually healthy for them and can sometimes be harmful so please read the ingredients. Do not buy rabbit pellets that have dried corn, nuts, and seeds added to them as these foods can potentially be very harmful to rabbits.

Vegetables: A rabbit’s favorite food

Rabbits count vegetables and herbs among their favorite foods. Most vegetables found in a supermarket are safe for rabbits, with some caveats and exceptions. (See the list of foods to avoid below.)

Adult rabbits should not be fed more than two cups of fresh vegetables per day. Miniature breeds and rabbits under five pounds should only be fed one cup of fresh vegetables per day. A choice of two or three vegetables is ideal. Add a new vegetable at a time and watch for signs of loose stools or diarrhea as, as mentioned above, rabbits have delicate digestive systems. Certain vegetables can be given every day, while others should be fed sparingly once or twice a week.

Don’t feed your rabbit potatoes, corn, beans, seeds, or nuts. These foods are difficult for rabbits to digest and can cause serious digestive problems.

Vegetables that can be fed to a rabbit daily:

paprika

Bok choy

Cauliflower

carrot tops

cucumber

endive

escarole

fennel

Herbs: basil, coriander, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme

Lettuce: Romaine, Green Leaf, Red Leaf, Boston Bibb, Arugula, Butter

okra leaves

radicchio

radish tops

Sprouts: alfalfa, radish, clover

watercress

wheatgrass

zucchini

Vegetables and plants to give a rabbit sparingly (once or twice a week):

Broccoli (stalks and leaves only)

carrots

chard

shamrock

collards

Dandelion Green (No Pesticides)

Flowers: Calendula, Chamomile, Daylily, Dianthus, English Daisy, Hibiscus, Honeysuckle, Marigold, Nasturtium, Pansy, Rose

Kale

spinach

Fruit: Give to a bunny once or twice a week

Fruit should be given to your rabbit once or twice a week. A reasonable serving is one to two tablespoons of fruit (either one type or a mix) for every five pounds of body weight. Like vegetables, fruit should be introduced slowly and one at a time.

Fruit to feed your rabbit (once or twice a week):

apple (without seeds)

banana

Berries: blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries

Cherries (without pits)

Grapes

melon

nectarine

orange

papaya

peach

pear

pineapple

plum

watermelon

Treats: Feed rabbits sparingly

Like many people, many rabbits have a sweet tooth. As with humans, treats are at the top of the food pyramid for rabbits and should therefore be fed sparingly. Healthy treats for your rabbit include small pieces of fresh or freeze-dried fruit (the permitted fruits listed above); natural, unprocessed mixtures containing hay and dried flowers (the permitted flowers listed above); and Oxbow brand rabbit treats.

Always read the ingredient list of store-bought treats, as not all are safe for bunnies. Avoid treats that contain added sugar, preservatives, and artificial colors, and never give your rabbit human treats.

Foods to Avoid Giving a Rabbit

Some foods are definitely not good for rabbits as they can make rabbits extremely sick. Here are foods you should avoid giving your rabbit entirely:

All human goodies

beans

beet greens

cabbage

cauliflower

Muesli

chocolate

Treats made from corn or corn on the cob

cracker

iceberg lettuce

legumes

mustard green

nuts

pasta

Peas

potatoes

rhubarb

seed

sugar

Kohlrabi

yogurt

Freshwater: Unlimited supply for a rabbit

Finally, rabbits need to stay hydrated, so they should have an unlimited supply of fresh water that should be changed daily. The water tank should be cleaned with soap and water every few days. Water bottles are not easy to clean and can be difficult for rabbits to use, so bowls are better. A heavy ceramic bowl is ideal as it won’t tip over easily.

Additional rabbit information and resources

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