What Not to Feed Your Bunny

What Not to Feed Rabbits

You'd think that feeding rabbits would be easy—just chuck any old plant matter into the cage and be done with it, right? Wrong. This feeding methodology is an excellent way to kill your bunny (or make them very sick). Knowing what to feed your rabbit, and especially what not to feed it, is a very important part of rabbit care because some of the foods that might seem great are, in fact, incredibly dangerous.

Rabbits have specific dietary needs due to their complex digestive systems that process food quickly. They are also considered grazers, meaning they eat pretty much constantly.

Most Lettuces

As a general rule, you shouldn't feed your rabbit lettuce. Lettuce contains lactucarium which can give your rabbit diarrhea so bad that it becomes fatal. Iceberg lettuce contains laudanum which can be harmful in large quantities. Yes, some lettuces are worse than others.

Some claim that it is okay to feed them small amounts of Romaine because it contains the least amount of lactucarium of the common lettuce varieties. Some people report that their rabbits enjoy (and don't die from) eating small quantities of lettuce. If you're interested in doing this, it's best to gradually introduce it to your rabbit and only offer small amounts every so often. Your bunny's diet should never be lettuce-based.

However, leafy greens are very good for your bunny. This includes bok choy, mustard greens, broccoli greens, cilantro, carrot tops, and watercress.

Some Common Vegetables

Some common vegetables to avoid include:

• Cabbage
• Parsnips
• Swedes (rutabaga or turnip)
• Potatoes
• Tomato leaves
• Onions, leeks, and chives (these can cause blood abnormalities)

There are plenty of good and tasty foods that you can feed your rabbit, so save these for the compost or maybe your own table if you're a fan.

Certain Wild Plants and Grasses

In general, it is best to restrict your bunny to grass-only areas with no clover in them. Clover can cause gas, and rabbits have no means to expel it, which can lead to bloating and death.

If you let your rabbit roam free in your garden or home, make sure that you don't have any of the following plants growing in places that are accessible, as they can also be dangerous to your bunny.

What Should I Feed My Bunny?

• Hay: It's preferable to feed them Timothy hay, as it contains the most nutrients, and not alfalfa, as it tends to contain too much calcium. There should always be plenty of hay available for your rabbit every day.
• English and snow peas
• Kale
• Bok choy
• Brussels and other sprouts, celery
• Wheatgrass
• Watercress
• Collard greens
• Squash
• Bell peppers
• Broccoli
• Carrots (in small amounts as treats)
• Apples (in small amounts as treats)
• Bananas (in small amounts as treats)
• Reputable pellets from a pet store can be fed in small amounts, but they should not form the bulk of a rabbit's diet.

If you are introducing a new, untested ingredient to your rabbit's diet, consider starting small and gradually increasing the amount. That way, if you see any sign of an upset stomach or diarrhea, you can immediately avoid that food.

Plus, it's a good rule of thumb to ensure your bunny gets a wide variety of foods rather than a bunch of one kind, so keep this in mind, and don't get into the habit of feeding the same foods over and over.

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A little care in choosing appropriate food can make a huge difference in your rabbit's health and happiness.

Sources

• RSPCA
• House Rabbit Society
• VCA Hospitals

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Comments

giufgih on May 17, 2020:

this add poped up and was inappropriate so i do not recomend for children to see

Caressa buumy name Julie on February 10, 2020:

My buunt eats every thing

Lindsey Richardson on January 09, 2020:

Help my bunny had a bacon frazzle crisp that i was unaware had been dropped on the sofa. Will he be ok x

kirsten willis on October 11, 2019:

clover is good for the rabbit but not very much of it

lita ashley on July 17, 2019:

Hi there, do you know if it's ok to feed vine leaves? I have two grape vines and it seems a shame not to feed some if it's safe.

Thanks in advance.

Derik on July 07, 2019:

Hi all. I have 2 pet rabbits. They are free roaming around the house. They have potty boxes that they are trained.

One is 9 years old and the other is 8 and still as spunky as ever. I recently took the older one to the vet for a checkup because I heard her tummy grumbling with gas. The vet took xrays and it confirmed the gas and since it wasnt a lot the vet didnt give a prescription for anything thankfully. However what she told me after looking at the xray was that because of how I had been taking care of them they dont have any geriatric symptoms such as arthritis. Which made me feel good.

Just some information to all.... I feed nothing but greens and hay!!! I do give them a few timothy pellets a day to make sure they go in their boxes. But not much(20 pellets or so) because the pellets have alf alfa and molasses which are not good for rabbits. Rabbits eat and poop at the same time generally so it makes it easy to train them when they are young. So I feed flat leaf parsely, curly parsley, basil, and cilantro primarily. And grass hay. I never give water unless its over 90 degrees because they get moisture from their greens. I have seen a ton of questions about diet on here. I would reccomend not listening to your vet unless they are trained to handle "exotics" such as bunnies. *Most are not*. And most have no idea than what is written in some book they go in the back to read up on before they consult with you. I have been fortunate. My vet actually is an "exotic" pet vet as well as having 2 pet house rabbits himself. He told me in the beginning to never give pellets if you dont have to. Rabbits can get diabetes so keep the sugarry treats to a minimum, this includes any fruits and carrots. Also feed them when its natural for them to eat in nature. First thing in the morning. Dusk. And in the evening before you knock off for the night. And keep the same times to feed, bunnies are very habitual.

As far as some of the questions i have read here..... Why do pet food makers make foods with alf alfa? Its cheap! They dont care about your animal. They care about your money...... The person talking about lettuce.. NEVER give your rabbit lettuce OR celery or cabbage or other watery items. They are small beings and can die because of diarhea because of too much water. In small small quantities and pay attention to their droppings. Think about how your body reacts to cabbage for instance. Hm gassy? They cant sweat nor can they pass gas. ..which leads me to the calcium/oxalic acid link. A leaf of kale,spinach, etc. is ok. A bundle is not. As far as the grapes go..one is more than enough. They will get a slight bit of diarhea. Cherries do this as well. I wont say for sure but it could be a possibility that is why your animal passed. As far as granola i wouldnt. At least not more than once a week and that being a very small piece.

I hope i have been able to help at least one person. Bunnies are extremely loving creatures. They love attention and play time. If anyone wants more information i am more than happy to contribute from my experiences.

Much love and success to you all.

a random animal lover on June 12, 2019:

im planning on getting a dwarf rabbit and this really helps a lot sence im researching so much

572yryvbyfu9e on December 09, 2018:

this is really helpfull

Hobbit Bun on October 20, 2018:

Mostly good information, but incorrect on a couple points. Some lettuces (romaine, green leaf, red) are good for rabbits, and encouraged by vets as a regular part of their daily veggies. These lettuces do not have the high water content of iceberg lettuce, and are vitamin-rich.

On the other hand, vegetables in the cabbage family, including kale, broccoli, and brussel sprouts (which are an entirely different veggie from what's sold as "sprouts"), can cause digestive problems if offered more than a couple days a week.

Likewise spinach, collard greens, swiss chard, carrot roots, and certain other veggies especially high in a single nutrient (calcium, iron, sugar, etc.) should be offered sparingly, but are fine now and then.

Other greens that can be offered to a rabbit are raddicio (both the version that looks like a red cabbage (but isn't) and the leafy variety), fennel leaves, carrot tops, dandelion greens, endives (curly or straight), herbs (basil, cilantro, parsley, sage, mint, marjoram, etc.), and nasturtium leaves.

The main thing to remember is that vegetables are a supplement, not the bun's primary source of food. Timothy hay should be the main stay of a bunny's diet.

Lee92 on August 19, 2018:

JoeG860

What was the outcome of your rabbit that ate some plastic ?

Teagan on July 16, 2018:

When I feed my rabbits romaine lettuce, what about the whiter parts of the lettuce. Is it that ALL parts that are a little white is bad?

Rachel on June 26, 2018:

I was in 4-H for 10 years as a child and am now a mom of a 4-Her and ARBA show alumni. All show rabbit owners suggest a strict diet of rabbit pellets with a little hay, Timothy only, and some veggies or fruits as treats only. One oz of pellets per pound of rabbit. An 8 pound rabbit should get a cup of pellets a day. I think the problem people have with pellets that make these sites is that they buy the wrong kind of pellets. Don't buy rabbit pellets from pet stores or grocery stores they don't have the right nutrients in them. I've learned from trial and error and the best rabbit pellets come from live stock feed stores. 16% protein feed is best for small rabbits. Yes rabbits need protein. It comes naturally in mainly grains. Also, never feed alfalfa, it is too hot for rabbits and will kill them. Hot meaning too full of protein and calcium. Also just consider the fact that ur rabbit is kinda like a little bouncing horse. What do horses eat? Hay and oats.

sean406 on June 21, 2018:

joeg860 in response to your question if you bought the basket/play tunnel from pet store it should be fine as they don't spray those with chemicals and are made knowing they will get chewed on however if you got it from somewhere else it may have a thin plastic film to hold it together better that could be harmful

JoeG860 on June 12, 2018:

Is it alright for my 3yr old male Holland Lop to chew and swallow straw from a basket/play tunnel? Can't find an answer anywhere online.

ICE on May 26, 2018:

I have a bunny and she likes lettuces and dandelion leaves she is a black polish and she is so cute and she walks with me when we walk our dog. i like dwarf hotots.

Robin Halloran on May 19, 2018: