Some days ago I was relaxing and having some sweet pineapples. Suddenly one of my pet rabbits came and try to have a bite of the pineapple. Though it is their common and basic instinct to try out the food that the owner is having. Still, I tried to think can rabbits eat pineapples?
I researched about pineapples, their benefit, and side effects and then tried to present everything I found from real-life experiences and from the internet.
This article will guide you to find the answer to can rabbits eat pineapple with other important information.
Can Rabbits Eat Pineapple?
Yes, rabbits can eat pineapples. Pineapples help to give much energy to rabbit’s bodies, helps in their reproduction, and improve their immune system.
Moreover, this sweet fruit can be an awesome treat to your pet rabbits.
Is Pineapple Safe for Rabbits?
As a conscious owner one may think if the pineapple is safe for rabbits or not just after thinking can rabbits eat pineapple? Let’s see what ingredients a pineapple contains:
- Carbohydrates
- Sugar
- Dietary Fibers
- Vitamins
- Manganese
- Thiamine
- Calcium
- Iron
The ingredients a pineapple contains are never harmful to a rabbit’s health. Moreover, these make the fruit much tasty for both people and animals. Rabbits also like pineapples besides their pellets.
How to Feed Rabbits Pineapple
As we know that sugar is not good for rabbit’s health and pineapple contains a lot of sugar then a question easily appears that how much pineapple a rabbit should eat? Feeding rabbits pineapple is either beneficial or a risky task. It depends on how you serve rabbits pineapple.
Worried already? Don’t be.
These are the steps you should follow to give rabbits pineapple:
- Try to choose organic and fresh pineapple. The pineapple should be both squeezable and yet firm enough.
- Remove the parts of the pineapple which are not to be given to your rabbits. So, you shoul remove skins, leaves, and the core of the pineapple.
- Try to cut the pineapple in a round shape and make sure that you are not leaving any eyes on the pineapple.
- The pieces should not be too thick or too thin, just a medium shape.
- Do not forget to wash the pineapple before cutting and before giving.
- You should give hay before feeding pineapple.
- Feed the pineapple as a treat, not as a portion of regular food.
- Try to keep the pineapple in the refrigerator to avoid spoiling and molding.
Health Benefit of Pineapple for Rabbits
Among the ingredients shown above, the Manganese of a pineapple is the most essential thing for rabbits. It refreshes the rabbits and helps to protect damaged cells.
While the pineapple is high in sugar, so rabbits find this tasty and can eat up for quite a large amount. That can increase the rabbit’s appetite.
Pineapple contains tons of vitamin C which help a rabbit to have better teeth and skin. Vitamin C gives the rabbit’s immune system a real boost. It also reduces rabbit’s blood cholesterol levels.
We find high Thiamine in a pineapple which is helpful to promote rabbit’s heart health and normal muscle deflation.
A fresh pineapple contains 86% of water and almost 2 grams of fiber. These duos create intestinal aptitude for a rabbit’s health.
Can Pineapple be bad for Rabbits?
Meeting your rabbits with new fruits is a good thing. Feeding pineapple has both good and bad sides. There are so many benefits of feeding pineapple to your rabbits.
Let’s see some demerits of feeding pineapple:
Risk of diabetes: As the pineapple contains much sugar and carbohydrates, then there are chances of gaining unnecessary weight and that leads them to have diabetes.
Intestines issues: Pineapple is rich in carbs and sugars. It has the potential to create intestinal issues in rabbit’s digestive systems. If the rabbits are overfed then they won’t be able to digest the pineapple and can face diarrhea.
Tooth Erosion: The sugar of pineapple can be sometimes too much than usual, which can be the cause of tooth erosion of a rabbit. This type of decay is much harmful as it can create tooth infection which is able to lead your rabbits to death.
Risk of refusing regular food: The rabbits can be obsessed with tasty fruit like pineapple and it is not shocking if they start refusing their regular diet.
Can Rabbits Eat Pineapple Rind?
Pineapple’s body is much juicy and sweet whether its rind or skin is not good at the taste. Pineapple skin has some rough texture to protect the inner part of the fruit, so its rind is generally hard and should be felt irritated while eating.
That is why we should not allow the rabbits to eat the rind of a pineapple.
Can Rabbits Eat Pineapple Plants or Leaves?
As we see, pineapple plants are close to the ground and easy to find for a rabbit. The plants don’t grow that much so it becomes quite hard than other plants.
Pineapple leaves have some thrones too and slightly sharp. If rabbits intend to chew the leaves then they can cut their tongue. Sometimes rabbits are stupid, right?
Rabbits should not eat that kind of plant. Still, when the pineapple plants are young and soft then a rabbit can eat them up.
Can Rabbits Eat Pineapple Cores?
The core of a pineapple is quite firm and has a bitter taste than the other parts of it. So rabbits should not be given the core of a pineapple. The core can create acidity problems for your rabbits.
Can Baby Rabbits Eat Pineapple?
Rabbits are sensitive from the very beginning of their life. Baby rabbits have very subtle bellies and their stomach needs time to match with every food. But as rabbits are curious animals, so baby rabbits also try to eat pineapples if given.
But pineapple is not suitable for them as they won’t be able to digest pineapple at that age. So, you should feed pineapple (any fruit actually) after baby rabbits pass 3 or 4 months.
Can Rabbits Eat Dried or Canned Pineapples?
Pineapple the fruit itself is not any issue. But a rabbit should not be given canned or dried pineapples or any kind of dried fruits.
The canned or dried fruits contain sugary syrup in them and other chemicals too. Which is not natural and has higher sugar than usual. This is not a good idea at all to give your rabbits any dried or canned fruit.
Things to Consider
I have tried to gather all the information here regarding feeding the pineapple to pet rabbits. Now you know that fruit like pineapple is not a portion of daily food, rather it should be given as a treat.
If you feed much amount of pineapple then some bad health issues can happen. So try to follow the described steps of this article before feeding pineapple to your rabbits.
Conclusion
Now you know the answers and suggestions of your desired question― can rabbits eat pineapple? You can now give your rabbits that juicy, tasty, and exciting fruit by avoiding any health problems if you follow the article perfectly.