Good Treats for our Rabbit Friends

In the pet world, we spend most of our time talking about dogs and cats. There is always a ton of information out there for those furry loved ones, but this week we are going to talk about our less discussed but just as loved pet, rabbits. Small animals are the third most common pet in Canada, rabbits being one of the most popular, but there is quite a bit of misinformation about rabbits and how to care for them, especially what they can eat is the big one. Most people assume that because they are herbivores, all vegetables and plants are fair game to give your rabbit as a treat or a nice snack, but many of these foods can actually be quite poisonous and dangerous to them.

Rabbits have very specialized digestive systems that require a high fibre, low sugar, and low-fat diet, so in reality, most foods can actually be quite harmful to rabbits. “It is far better to identify and know the foods and plants/weeds that are safe for your rabbit to eat and then exclude every other single plant or type of food. The golden rule, in this case, is unless you are sure DO NOT FEED” (What is poisonous to rabbits?, rabbitmatters.com).

Other than hay and commercial rabbit food, here are the five foods that are safe to our bunny friends that are delicious treats for them as well:

Fruits including bananas, strawberries, raspberries, pineapples, apples (no seeds). Due to the sugar content of the fruit, it should be given sparingly and they should be washed thoroughly to avoid bacterial contamination.
Herbs including basil, cilantro, dill, mint, and parsley
Carrot tops, broccoli leaves, celery Carrots are high in calcium and should be given sparingly but the tops are high in fibre. Broccoli stems and tops can actually make rabbits quite gassy.
Kale (if given sparingly due to calcium content), collard greens, romaine, bok choy
Weeds such as dandelion or clover These weeds can be great when thrown into their hay mix for a fun surprise.

A nice mix of hay, pellets, vegetables, and fresh water will make your rabbit happy and healthy, and as pet owners, that is what we always strive for.