What Not to Feed Rabbits
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Rabbits are herbivores, but does that mean that all plants are safe and healthy for them to eat? The surprising answer is no! There are plenty of things that you should not be feeding your rabbit that might seem perfectly healthy. • The most important part of a rabbit’s diet is fiber. They absolutely need cellulose (plant cell walls and vegetable fibers) in order to survive. Fiber is such an integral part of their diet that they have a special organ called the cecum, whose sole purpose is to help process all that fiber. In the cecum, the fiber is exposed to healthy bacteria yeasts which helps break down ferment the materials. • A number of foods can disrupt bunnies’ digestion and be harmful to their health. There are also a few foods—some of them surprising—that are potentially poisonous to them. Check out our list of 15 foods that you should never feed your rabbit: • Avocado, Cereal, and 13 Other Foods You Should Never Feed Your Rabbit. • 1. Yogurt Drops. • According to Rabbit.org, research suggests that yogurt drops may contribute to lethal cases of enterotoxemia, “a toxic overgrowth of ‘bad’ bacteria in the intestinal tract.” If you’re looking for a healthy treat to feed your bunny, try green peppers or Brussels sprouts. • 2. Bread, Pasta, Cookies, and Crackers. • These high-carb sugary treats will really only “treat” your bunny to stomach issues. Avoid foods high in sugar or artificial ingredients, as—like yogurt drops—they could potentially lead to enterotoxemia. • 3. Avocado. • When you think of ideal rabbit snacks, fresh fruits and veggies probably come to mind. Avocados, however, should never be included in your bunny’s diet. According to Small Pet Select, this fatty fruit can be deadly if ingested by a rabbit. • 4. Cereal. • Feeding your rabbit cereal—like muesli, a processed food made up of flaked maize, peas, pellets, grains, and seeds—can lead to tooth and tummy problems. • 5. Iceberg Lettuce. • This may come as a shock, but you should avoid feeding your rabbit light-colored lettuce, including iceberg, as it can contain lactucarium, a chemical that can be harmful to your bunny’s health if ingested. Iceberg lettuce also contains mostly water and will add little to no nutrition to a diet. • 6. Silverbeet. • Like iceberg lettuce, silverbeet—sometimes referred to as chard—is another leafy green that your rabbit should avoid. According to a veterinary center in New Zealand, the vegetable can cause your bunny to suffer from colic and bloating and should be replaced with high-fiber fruits, veggies, and herbs. Radishes, alfalfa, and rosemary are all 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 require a special high-fiber diet—think high-quality Timothy hay, fresh vegetables, and herbs—hamster food will do little to nothing for your bunny’s nutrition. • 8. Walnuts. • Walnuts are high in fat, not fiber, which can cause your rabbit uncomfortable indigestion. If you’re looking for a healthy snack to feed your bunny, try fresh veggies or herbs. • 9. Oatmeal. • Although feeding rabbits oatmeal won’t cause them major harm, it’s not an ideal meal. Rabbits need large amounts of Timothy hay, hearty greens, and fresh water—oatmeal does nothing to boost their nutritious diet. • 10. Chocolate. • Chocolate is an absolute no-no for bunnies. As with companion dogs, chocolate has no place in your rabbit’s diet. The sweet treat can be poisonous 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 won’t necessarily poison rabbits, this human-favorite vegetable isn’t ideal for them. Potatoes are high in carbohydrates and starch, both of which can cause issues for your bunny’s digestive system. • 13. Rhubarb. • This common garden plant can be poisonous to animals if eaten raw. If a rabbit were to ingest raw rhubarb, he or she could die, although—according to the RSPCA—this happens rarely. • 14. Meat. • Some of you are probably asking, “Seriously?” We’re just ensuring that we’re covering all our bases! Rabbits are herbivores, meaning that they eat plants. Wild bunnies would not eat meat, and neither should your domesticated roommate. • • ------------------------------------ • This presentation contains images that were used under a Creative Commons License. Click here to see the full list of images and attributions: • https://link.attribute.to/cc/2247593
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