Can Rabbits Eat Apples

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can rabbits eat apples

Everyone loves apples! They are crunchy, taste great and make excellent snacks due to being low in calories and having no salt or cholesterol. Research has shown that apples contain antioxidants that help in preventing Alzheimer’s disease, decrease asthma and make our lungs stronger. Apples also have the soluble fiber, pectin, which helps in reducing fat levels in blood and bad cholesterol. Additionally, apples help digestion, decrease constipation, make the skin healthy and make bones stronger. While all these benefits are for people, can rabbits eat apples?

can rabbits eat apples

Can rabbits eat apples?

Yes, rabbits can eat apples. However, there are a few things you must be careful about while feeding your rabbit apples. Offer only very small portions very rarely, preferably as a treat instead of as a meal. While apples are often good for people’s health, they are not good for pet rabbits in excessive amounts. This is because of the high sugar content found in apples which can be bad for your pet rabbit’s health.

Can rabbits eat apple seeds and stems?

No, rabbits shouldn’t eat apple seeds and stems. Before feeding apple to your rabbit, you must remove the seeds and core, and cut it into tiny bits. This is because apple seeds can be very harmful for rabbits and may cause severe illness or death.

Apple stems and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides. These are poisonous compounds which may trigger symptoms such as upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, respiratory congestion, and reduced heart rate. In severe cases, consuming stems or apple seeds can be lethal to pets. It’s best to keep your rabbit safe and keep him away from these foods.

Baby rabbits

Baby rabbits shouldn’t be fed apples at all as their digestive systems are not sufficiently developed to digest them. Not just apples, any foods with high protein or starch content may cause problems for baby rabbits.

If your pet rabbit is an adult and consumes a healthy and balanced diet, you can give it a small apple slice once every few days.

Adult rabbits have different nutritional needs in comparison to baby bunnies. Adult rabbits need high fiber and low energy meals to prevent them from becoming fat and ensuring that they live long and healthy lives.

Baby rabbits should start out with greens first and these should be introduced very gradually and in small amounts at the age of about two months. Add only one item at a time. Observe your pet carefully after feeding him new foods. If you don’t see any intestinal upset, you can add another. Recommended starter foods are romaine lettuce, kale, and carrots.

Wash the apples

Because fruits often have chemical or pesticide residue on them, you must ensure that you wash your apples thoroughly after you purchase them from your local supermarket. If you omit doing this, there is a possibility that your pet rabbit may fall ill due to the chemical and may even die.

The main diet

Rabbits are purely herbivorous; therefore, it is very important that they eat mostly grass, fresh greens or hay. You must never feed them meat or meat products because they do not have the ability to digest them at all.

One very important element that will ensure your rabbit’s health is high quality pellets. You must always make certain that the pellets are fresh and be a good brand. Don’t buy them in very large quantities as they can go stale if stored for long. Before you choose a particular brand, you should read the label carefully. There should be a minimum of 18% fiber and low protein content, approximately 15%.

Fresh hay

Rabbits love munching throughout the day and hay is the perfect food for it to munch! Hay is also an extremely essential component of your rabbit’s meals. You must make sure that it has an ongoing supply of fresh hay at all times. It keeps your rabbit’s digestive system in order by providing roughage and helping to decrease the risk of blockages.

You can place a few treats in its hay for it to find as it picks through it. You can also stuff a bit of the hay in the toys that it likes to play with.

Snacks and treats

While getting good and healthy food and regular meals is what your rabbit really needs, giving it a few treats and snacks is okay too. After all, you want to indulge and pamper it sometimes and it deserves a bit of variety once in a while. But you must avoid giving it unhealthy sugary snacks.

All treats should be fiber rich and made from natural ingredients such as herbs, grass, dried apple or dandelion. However, you should regulate and control the frequency and quantity of the snacks as too much too often will affect your rabbit’s regular meals.

Lots of water

Rabbits also need to drink a lot of water. You will need to make sure that your rabbit has clean, fresh water available to it at all times. If it does not drink enough water, it may develop severe health issues, such as stones in the bladder.

Conclusion

Keeping a pet rabbit and taking care of it is a challenging job, but it surely carries its rewards! You need to provide loving care with commitment. You will have to ensure that it has a nutritious and well-balanced diet, comprising hay, some fruit and vegetables, and pellets. To return to the original question, the answer is surely yes, rabbits can eat apples. Just in small quantities and not too frequently. Also, wash the foods thoroughly before feeding it to your fluffy buddy. You should also wash organic produce to remove any harmful bacteria like E. coli.

Additionally, when introducing new foods to your rabbit, including apples, start out slow and in small quantities. Observe your pet afterwards for any unusual behavior. If your rabbit doesn’t show any discomfort or loose stool, you can continue feeding him more apples. Moreover, it’s best to get your pet’s veterinarian’s approval before adding new foods to your bunny’s diet, whether apples or anything else. Many food items that pose no harm to you may be serious hazards to your pet. Always feed your pet fresh fruits or vegetables. Bunnies are even more susceptible to spoiled foods than humans.

You can serve the fruits or vegetables wet, since this will help increase your bunny’s intake of liquid. It also helps to keep his intestinal contents moving better and keep the bunny healthy. Keeping your cute little furry friend safe and healthy for as long as possible is your priority, after all.

 

References:

https://www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/rabbits/diet

http://rabbits.life/apples/

http://animals.mom.me/giving-apples-rabbits-1618.html

https://www.saveafluff.co.uk/rabbit-info/safe-foods-for-rabbits

http://rabbit.org/suggested-vegetables-and-fruits-for-a-rabbit-diet/

http://smallpetselect.com/nutrition-questions/rabbits-nutrition-questions/can-bunnies-eat-apples

 

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