Rabbit feeding is an essential and vital part of its care, because without good nutrition it will not be able to have good he alth. Therefore, to explain how to take care of your rabbit's nutritional he alth, the first thing is to know what foods you can and cannot give them.
In general, a wide variety of vegetables can be included, with different vegetables and fruits, while others should be avoided because they are harmful or do not provide relevant nutrients. Specifically, in this article on our site we will talk about celery. Do you know if it is good for a rabbit to eat celery? Can celery be bad for rabbits? Can a rabbit eat any part of celery? Discover these and other answers in this article on " Can rabbits eat celery?".
Is celery good for rabbits?
Celery is one of the vegetables suitable for feeding rabbits. It is good for them, being a safe food and providing a series of nutritional benefits. Later we will see in detail what are the substances that celery provides for rabbits, as they are very interesting and promote their he alth, provided that it is taken with the corresponding moderation.
Before giving your rabbit celery, you should know that when including a new food in its diet, it is very important to give it in isolation and in small amounts, because that way you can know if you feel bad. If stools appear more liquid or softer than normal, it is recommended to avoid the food in question.
How much celery can I give my rabbit?
In the case of celery, it is recommended to provide it frequently, but not daily, limiting its consumption to 1-2 times a week. Its consumption must be regulated because in excess it has strong laxative effects, which causes diarrhea and dehydration.
This means that it must not be included in the daily ration of vegetables that must be provided to the rabbits. Other vegetables are included in this ration, such as Swiss chard or lamb's lettuce, as explained in the article Recommended fruits and vegetables for rabbits.
Can I give my rabbit any part of the celery?
Any part of celery is suitable to be consumed by a rabbit, however, keep in mind that the most fibrous part, that of the stem, can be a little more problematic. No, it is not that it contains any harmful substance, but its structure, made up of long fibers, can be dangerous, as the harder fibers can cause problems if they remain between the rabbit's teeth, or if they are swallowed whole, which can cause suffocation.
To avoid these dangers, it is best to cut the celery into small pieces, thus breaking the fibers and eliminating any risk. In the case of the leaves, there is no problem, as they are much more tender and we do not have to cut them in any way, since the rabbit can gnaw them as it wishes.
Properties and benefits of celery for rabbits
In people, it has been shown that celery has great properties, providing a large amount of nutrients that even help prevent diseases such as cancer or to regulate blood pressure. It is also good for intestinal transit due to its high fiber content.
In rabbits, these benefits are not the same, but they are just as important. Celery contains many vitamins, featuring:
- High doses of vitamin C.
- Vitamin A, E and group B: B1, B2 and B6.
- Heavy doses of fiber.
- Prevents constipation.
- Match.
- Potassium.
- Zinc.
- Calcium.
To have a he althy and happy rabbit, we also advise you to take a look at this other article on Rabbit care.
What happens if I give my rabbit too much celery?
As we have already said, celery in large quantities has important laxative effects. But in addition, it can cause different disorders, or aggravate them if they are already present. This is due to its apiol content, which in certain doses has harmful effects on the kidneys and liver. Thus, the side effects of too much celery in rabbits would be:
- Diarrhea.
- Hepatonephritis.
- Jaundice.
- Blood in the urine.
- Oliguria.
- In the most serious cases, death.
For all these reasons, although celery is good for rabbits (in moderate amounts), it is good to find out about the Forbidden Foods for Rabbits before giving your pet a new food.
Other doubts about rabbit feeding
Now that you know that rabbits can eat celery in moderation, you may be interested in one of these other articles:
- Can rabbits eat bread?
- Can rabbits eat tomato?
- Can rabbits eat banana?
- Can rabbits eat grapes?
- Toxic plants for rabbits.