Rabbit’s diet depends 80% on grass and hay. The rest 20% should be consists of both vegetables and fruits. For your kind information, a rabbit gets bored if it has to eat similar food day by day.
So, we need to feed rabbits fruits as snacks or treats, not as their daily food. Among fruits, apples can be one of the most available and tasty fruit. To us, apples are just awesome to taste.
But is it the same for rabbits too? Can rabbits eat apples? We are going to talk about this here.
Can Rabbits Eat Apples?
Yes, rabbits can eat apples but in a small amount. Apple contains very essential nutrients for rabbit’s health. But they should not eat the whole body of an apple. There are some steps to follow to feed rabbits apples in the correct way.
Let’s take a closer look at this article to find out more.
About Apples
Here is a quick list of what an apple contains inside of it.
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B Complex
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Carbohydrates
- Fiber and Protein
So, apples are low in calorie, crunchy fruits which contain a lot of fiber and no cholesterol. We need to know if they are safe for rabbits or not.
Are Apples Safe for Rabbits?
If we see the list, we find no harmful ingredients an apple has. Moreover, there are some health benefits an apple can offer.
- Potassium in an apple can help a rabbit in its growth time.
- Calcium in apples can prevent any teeth disease and makes teeth and bones stronger.
- An apple contains a vitamin B complex that can be helpful for improving the nervous system of a rabbit.
- An apple contains tons of dietary fiber which is needed to fight against any heart issue and improve rabbits’ gut health.
Can Rabbits Eat Apple Skin?
Apple is a watery fruit that tastes sweet and widely common to all of us. The most nutritious part of an apple is- its skin. Yes, rabbits can eat apple skin.
Most of the vitamins and fibers an apple contains remain just under the skin. And the skin doesn’t taste bad or different than the flesh of it.
On the other hand, apple skin is the place where pesticides and parasites also can stay. So, before providing a rabbit to eat apple skin, we need to wash it well.
Don’t worry, we will talk about the feeding system of apples just a bit later.
Can Rabbits Eat Apple Seed?
Unfortunately, rabbits can’t eat apple seeds. You need to remove all the seeds inside of an apple before giving them to your rabbits.
There is a powerful compound called cyanogenic glycosides that stays in the seeds of an apple. Eating seeds can be the cause of an upset stomach. It can lead the rabbit’s stomach to painful ache, diarrhea, low heart rate, and bad acidity.
The seeds have a hard cover on them. If anyhow seeds go down straight to the digestive tract of rabbits, then it can create serious damage and sometimes death.
Can Rabbits Eat Apple Stem?
Like seeds, apple stem is also should not be fed to rabbits. Cyanide in the stem is too much harmful to any rabbit.
Stems look like hard fiber but not digestible. It also contains the same cyanogenic glycosides as the seeds do. So, we need to make sure that there are no stems or seeds when we feed rabbits apples.
Can Rabbits Eat Apple Leaves and Branches?
In wild, rabbits eat leaves and branches of apple trees. They are both safe and healthy for rabbits. During summer, apple leaves can be a good option to feed.
As chewing is rabbit’s favorite, so chewing branches and leaves of an apple tree is good for them. Just try to give those fresh leaves and soft branches that contain no pesticides or any kind of chemicals.
Can Rabbits Eat Apple Juice?
Water is the most important for both humans and other animals. Rabbits also should drink water every day. Though they get water from their foods, still there is need of water surely.
If you add a little amount of apple juice to their diet chart, then it is okay. But the juice should be made at home, not bought from the market.
Remember, when we blend apples to make juice, one kind of acid creates there. So we should never overfed apple juice to our rabbits.
Can Rabbits Eat Processed Apples?
Some of us try dry fruits in winter. Dry fruits taste better but they don’t contain the same nutrients as the raw.
Rabbits should not be ever fed dry apples or processed apples. This can create gastric problems in them. So, NO processed apples for rabbits.
Can Baby Rabbits Eat Apples?
Rabbits’ diet for baby rabbits and young rabbits is quite different from grown-up rabbits. As baby rabbits need time to create their digestive tract stronger so they should not be fed hard foods at the beginning.
Apples are not for baby rabbits at all. They should stick to their mother’s milk from the start to 6 to 8 weeks and after passing 9 weeks, you can give them fruit like apple.
This time their digestive tract starts growing and getting stronger. So, you need to go slow when you introduce them to new fruits.
How to Feed Rabbits Apples?
Remember, apples can’t get a place in their daily diet chart. Apples are only for a treat or you can give apples to your rabbits like a snack item.
These steps must be followed while you give your rabbits apples:
- Choose a fresh, greenish, and medium-size apple that can be handy. Always try to buy fresh apples if you are in a market.
- Wash the apple thoroughly with water. If there are any pesticides on the apple, washing will remove those pesticides.
- Cut the apple into pieces. If you cut them in cube shape, then it is good. Because there are sometimes some parasites that stay inside of an apple. Cutting an apple into pieces can remove those parasites.
- Never give your rabbits overripen apple. Overripen apples contain a lot of sugar which is too bad for rabbits’ health and teeth.
- Remove all the seeds and stem inside of an apple. They are harmful.
- Watch your rabbits closely, if they like an apple or not. If they don’t touch the apple that much then try again after some days. Remember, not every rabbit likes a new food for the very first time.
If you really follow the steps then an apple can be safe and ready to be fed to your rabbits.
Can Apples be Harmful to Rabbits?
Well, we have already talked about apples and we know that Apple has no problem with rabbits.
But sadly, you need to be aware that there are some cons of feeding rabbits apples too. Let’s talk about them now.
- Most of the apple trees need chemicals and other pesticides while growing. So, if the tree absorbs too many pesticides then there is a chance that apples become poisonous.
- Apple seeds and stems contain toxins and sometimes toxins spread into the flesh of the apple too.
- Apples have sugar content. So if any apple is way much sweet then this can be harmful to rabbits’ teeth.
- Overfeeding apples can be the cause of diarrhea and acidity. Rabbits do not understand their limitations. They can chew all day and then become sick. So apple feeding also needs a limit.
Alternative Fruits to Apple for Rabbits
There are some alternative fruits for rabbits to offer. They are safe but needs to follow the same steps of feeding an apple to rabbits.
- Melons
- Grapes
- Bananas
- Peaches
- Oranges
- Cherries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Guavas
These fruits can be fed without much hesitation.
Things to Consider
In wild, rabbits prefer hay and grass to other foods. But they also try to find new fruits or vegetables. Introducing your pet rabbits to new fruits is a sign of good bonding.
When you decide to feed your apple, you need to know some facts about apples. This article contains them well, suggesting you read it and follow the steps of feeding rabbits apples.
Conclusion
Actually, rabbit owners need to find the pros and cons of any foods they try to give their rabbits. Can rabbits eat apples? This is a common question. The answer is yes but there are some facts too. You can find them here.