If you plan to share your life with a rabbit or you already welcome one of these sweet animals into your home, you should know that these furry ones, in addition to being friendly and endearing, also have needs that as their guardian you will have to know and supply, as obviously your diet
In this article on our site, we explain what are the plants that rabbits can eat, since understanding how to feed your rabbit is key for your little lagomorph to live happily and he althily.
Feeding the rabbit
Rabbits are herbivorous animals, that is, their diet is based entirely on foods of plant origin. This diet varies depending on the needs you have at each stage of your life, but the main source of food is hay, which must be available unlimited, and the specific feed for rabbits based on the weight and age of your pet.
In addition, it is also advisable to supplement your rabbit's diet with fresh green leafy foods, such as vegetables, as well as other vegetables (which we will see next), in a timely manner so that your rabbit is he althy and enjoys the food you offer him.
For more information on rabbit feeding, we leave you this other article on our site on What do rabbits eat?
Plants a rabbit can eat
There is a wide variety of plants that you can offer your rabbit, either obtainable in the supermarket or wild plants, which you can grow in your garden or collect.
Within this wide range of possibilities, your rabbit will surely love some of these vegetables, while others will prefer not to taste them. In any case, despite the fact that you may like some of these plants very much, you should always avoid abusing, since, on the contrary, it could lead to he alth problems.
In addition, the introduction of new foods should be progressive and mixed with others to which you are already accustomed.
Next, we invite you to read the following guide on plants that rabbits can eat:
Estate
It's no secret that rabbits love carrots, as they have always been associated with them in popular culture.
However, it is essential to know that roots such as carrots, parsnips, turnips and beets are foods with a high sugar content, so, in addition to providing them with a lot of energy, they increase the risk of obesity problems, diseases associated with being overweight, colic and stomach swelling.
For all these reasons, although rabbits can eat certain roots, it is best to offer them in a very small portion You can even offer them as a prize. In any case, it is he althier to avoid the roots, as well as the fruit, in the rabbit's daily diet.
Stems and leaves
It is highly recommended to add stems and green leaves to your rabbit's diet on a daily basis and varied, because unlike fruits or roots that store all the sugar and must be given occasionally, these have a very low caloric intake and are high in fiber, which will benefit the digestive he alth of your furry, also providing the nutrients that the body needs for proper functioning, such as vitamins and minerals
Also, many of the vegetables you can feed your rabbit are disposable parts that would normally be thrown away, as humans don't eat them because they are too fibrous or tough. For your rabbit, on the other hand, they will be very beneficial and he will love them.
Among the plants you can offer daily, we find:
- Root leaves (carrot, radish, etc.).
- Endive.
- Arugula.
- Canon.
- Watercress.
- Lettuce (never the iceberg variety).
And the plants that you can offer occasionally (1-2 times a week), are:
- Celery.
- Broccoli.
- Endivias.
- Chard.
- Spinach.
- Cauliflower.
- Artichoke.
- Lombarda.
- Asparagus.
- Céleri.
- Chicory.
You can also offer your rabbit dehydrated food, but these should be given in small proportions mixed with fresh food. This is due to the fact that through dehydration, foods reduce the amount of water and have a greater concentration of nutrients, among which we highlight sugars. Therefore, dried fruits and vegetables contain more calories and are not recommended in excess.
Wild Herbs
The diet of a rabbit in the wild is essentially made up of herbs and weeds from fields, forests and mountains. This explains why your rabbit should eat unlimited hay, usually fescue.
Now then, a good initiative to enrich your rabbit's diet is to offer it other variants of herbs, which you can buy in stores, collect or even grow yourself if you have a garden. If you pick them from the field, try to be respectful of the environment, so you must cut the plant without uprooting it so that it can grow again, and do not destroy everything you see, because you must leave enough plants and flowers for the next year to regenerate.
You must take into account that the plants you collect are from pollution-free areas, for example from car smoke, if it is near a place with traffic or pesticides, and be washed before giving them to your rabbit, otherwise it could become intoxicated. Similarly, do not pick grass in parks and areas where other animals urinate and defecate
The plants that you can offer your rabbit are:
- Alfalfa.
- Mint.
- Peppermint.
- Rosemary.
- Sage.
- Thyme.
- Fennel.
- Dill.
- Cilantro.
- Parsley.
- Basil.
- Clover.
- Lock.
- Dandelion.
- Shepherd's purse.
- Thistle.
- Chickweed.
- Bramble Leaves.
- Forest fruit leaves (such as blackberries, strawberries, raspberries…).
- Tarragon.
- Nettle.
- Mustard.
- Mallow.
- Tusílago.
However, it is important to note that alfalfa is only recommended for rabbits under 6 months, since they contain a lot of calcium and, as adults, could cause kidney stones.
In addition to these plants, you may also be interested in this other article on Fruits and vegetables recommended for rabbits.
Toxic plants for rabbits
Rabbits are very delicate animals for which some plants are very harmful. It is for this reason that you should never give your rabbit any plant which you are 100% sure is not going to harm it, since on a day-to-day basis you can find it in parks, gardens and even in your own kitchen., all kinds of plants toxic to your rabbitAmong the best known, we find:
- Avocado or avocado: this fruit is deadly for rabbits, as it contains a component called persin, which is found in higher concentration in the shell and bone. If your rabbit has even the slightest contact with this component, it can cause respiratory problems with fatal consequences.
- Iceberg lettuce: as we have mentioned, lettuce is a food that you can give your rabbit without worry, always avoiding excess. However, there is a variety of this vegetable, the iceberg, which contains a very toxic component for rabbits, the lactucarium.
- Rhubarb: this is a vegetable similar to Swiss chard, as they have a similar shape, but it stands out for its striking red colour, the which we can predict as a danger signal, since this is also poisonous to your rabbit.
- Potato and sweet potato (including leaves): potato and sweet potato (sweet potato) are toxic tubers for your furry because it contains solanine. This, in addition, is very indigestible raw due to its high concentration of carbohydrates. For these reasons, there is absolutely no need to give a rabbit potatoes if we want to avoid problems.
- Onion and leek: these two vegetables (and similar ones) are very indigestible for rabbits, so it is advisable to avoid them at all coast, including leaves. In the case of onion, its prolonged consumption causes anemia because it decreases the concentration of red blood cells in the blood.
- Ajo: it is not especially recommended for your rabbit, because apart from the bad smell, which will make it reject it, it is very indigestible and prolonged consumption can cause serious digestive problems. It should be noted that sometimes it has been recommended as a dewormer, but it goes without saying that there are other less harmful ways to deworm your rabbit, which you can always consult with your veterinarian.
- Legumes: We are highlighting these because they can also pose a he alth risk to your rabbit and often cause confusion among owners. Legumes, such as beans, peas, etc. they have very little digestion and are not at all advisable for your pet.
- Seeds and grains: although the vast majority are not toxic to rabbits, it should be noted that their diet consists mainly of vegetables such as leaves and stems. The grain, seeds and nuts, despite being of plant origin, are not suitable in large quantities, as they are foods that provide a lot of energy. Therefore, do not give your rabbit these foods, apart from the cereals that its feed may contain (but always giving it the specified amount).
Next, there are many plants that may be within your reach in parks and gardens, as they are either used ornamentally or grow naturally, and can be harmful to your rabbit:
- Neguilla.
- Squash.
- Onion.
- Garlic.
- Chive.
- Bear's Garlic.
- Pink lily.
- Scarlet Pimpernel.
- Columbines.
- Milkweed.
- Belladonna.
- Devil's pickle.
- Tuberous begonia.
- Angel Trumpets.
- Rattan.
- Hemp.
- Zorrillo epazote.
- Water hemlock.
- Wild saffron.
- Larkspur.
- Lily of the valley.
- Wig Tree.
- Cyclamen.
- Black broom.
- Dahlia.
- Stramonium.
- Hollies.
- Bird from paradise.
- Azalea.
- Sweet potato.
- Eggplant.
- Buxaceae.
- Creek.
- Jerusalem Cherry.
- Carnation.
- Virginia Creeper.
- Asparagus.
- Eucalyptus.
- Geranium.
- Glycines.
- Morning Glory.
- Sweet Pea.
- Ivy.
- Poison Ivy.
- Iris.
- Hyacinth.
- Lantana.
- Privet.
- Lupine.
- Daisy flower.
- Mustard.
- Mistletoe.
- Daffodil.
- Good night.
- Elephant ear.
- Orchid.
- Peony.
- Licorice.
- Robinia.
- Rhododendrons.
- Rhubarb.
- Tobacco.
- Tansy.
- Yew.
- Tulip.
- Bloodroot.
- Elder.
- Solanaceae.
For more information, you can consult this other article of Forbidden foods in rabbits.
Symptoms of an intoxicated rabbit
A rabbit with food poisoning is never good news, so you should take it to the nearest vet, if not could die.
If your rabbit has ingested a toxic food, you will easily notice, as it will show one or more of these symptoms:
- Diarrhea or, conversely, absence of urine and stool in 12 hours.
- Apathy, little or no physical activity.
- Hasn't had any food or water in 12 hours (especially if he hasn't eaten hay).
- Sores or wounds in the mouth.
- Twitching, tremors, or convulsions.
- Paralysis.
- Respiratory difficulties and/or runny nose.
- Tearing.
- Bleeding or bruising.
- Sore.
- Skin irritations or rashes.
To know if your rabbit has extremely serious symptoms of intoxication, we leave you this video about the Symptoms that a rabbit is going to die. However, on our site we recommend never waiting for our bunny to show such alarming symptoms before going to the vet, since, as we can see, sometimes the consequences can be fatal.