Don’t feed rabbits lettuce because it contains a chemical that gets them STONED, pet owners are warned. The owners of pet rabbits are used to feeding their animals lettuce, carrots and other salad vegetables – but now vets have warned that the diet could be seriously harmful.
Is wild lettuce toxic to rabbits?
Myth #3 – Rabbits eat lettuce
Reality: a rabbit’s diet shouldn’t be based on lettuce. Rabbits shouldn’t eat some lettuces (such as iceberg), as they contain lactucarium, which can be harmful in large quantities.
What lettuce can rabbits not eat?
Iceberg Lettuce
Iceberg Lettuce
This may come as a shock, but you should avoid feeding your rabbit light-colored lettuce, including iceberg, as it can contain lactucarium, a chemical that can be harmful to your bunny’s health if ingested. Iceberg lettuce also contains mostly water and will add little to no nutrition to a diet.
Can rabbits eat wild leaves?
Rabbit have evolved to eat a wide range of plants including the shoots, roots, leaves, stems, flowers, fruit and seeds and foraging for wild plants to feed to pet rabbits has many benefits.
Can wild rabbits eat green leaf lettuce?
Here is a list of lettuce rabbits can eat, in order of nutritional value: Green or red leaf lettuce. Romaine lettuce. Lamb’s lettuce.
What foods are poisonous to rabbits?
- Avocados. Though an excellent, healthy snack for humans, avocados contain a compound called persin which can be dangerously toxic to rabbits.
- Chocolate.
- Fruit Seeds/Pits.
- Raw Onions, Leeks, Garlic.
- Meat, Eggs, Dairy.
- Broad Beans and Kidney Beans.
- Rhubarb.
- Iceberg Lettuce.
What should rabbits not eat?
Do NOT feed the following: cereals, grains, nuts, seeds, corn, beans, peas, breads, biscuits, sweets, sugar, breakfast cereals, chocolate or any garden plants that are toxic to rabbits (see links below).
What is the most common cause of death in rabbits?
Possible Reasons Why a Seemingly Healthy Rabbit Can Suddenly Die
- The bunny was an indoor pet that could not handle outdoor temperatures.
- Myiasis, or deadly fly-strike.
- Injured during improper handling by children.
- Fear-related heart attack.
- Injured by another pet.
- Aborted pregnancy.
- Poisoning.
- Swallowed a sharp object.
What plant is poisonous to rabbits?
The most poisonous plants for rabbits include Azalea, Bittersweet, Buttercups, Daffodils, Deadly Nightshade, Figwort, Foxglove, Hemlock, Meadow Saffron, Poppies, and Ragwort.
What do I do if my rabbit ate iceberg lettuce?
True, iceberg lettuce isn’t good for rabbits but it won’t kill them if they accidently eat it once. Just watch out for any changes like diarrhea. Otherwise, the rabbit will be fine.
What wild greens can rabbits eat?
For the wild rabbits in your yard, you can give them:
- Collard greens (high in vitamin A)
- Beet greens (the tops, high in vitamin A)
- Lettuce: Romaine, Red or Green leaf (no iceberg or light colored leaf)
- Spinach.
- Parsley.
- Basil.
- Mint.
- Bok Choy.
What wild forage can rabbits eat?
This includes things such as clover, leafy weeds, grasses, shrubs, and leaves. But it will vary depending on what is available to the rabbits, and what time of year it is. Wild rabbits eat plenty of grass, which acts as roughage and is good for their digestive systems.
What can my rabbit eat from my yard?
Lettuce, carrot tops, watercress, dandelion greens and raspberry leaves are prime examples of nutrient-rich greens you can grow in a vegetable garden and feed your indoor bunnies. These leafy greens, along with grass hay, should make up 75 percent of your rabbits’ fresh food every day, says House Rabbit Society.
What vegetables can rabbits not eat?
These foods are poisonous for your rabbit and could make her ill: Potatoes, daffodils, tulips, rhubarb, lillies, mushrooms, avocado, broad beans, sweet peas, buttercup, kidney beans, jasmine, foxglove and iceberg lettuce.
What’s the best lettuce for rabbits?
You can feed your pet rabbit darker and leafier types of lettuce. This includes cos (aka. romaine), loose leaf and butterhead lettuce. These contain more nutritional value including vitamins A, C, K and fibre.
What do wild bunnies eat in winter?
Rabbits consume twigs, branches, young trees, and shrub buds in the winter. Instruct children not to feed the rabbits or run at the rabbits, which will frighten the rabbits and cause them to run away. Add a brush pile or more shrubs to your yard to increase shelter areas for rabbits.
What vegetable can rabbits eat daily?
Particularly good vegetables include the dark leafy greens like romaine lettuce, bok choy, mustard greens, carrot tops, cilantro, watercress, basil, kohlrabi, beet greens, broccoli greens, and cilantro.
Can rabbits eat potatoes peel?
Potato peels still contain a high amount of starch. Their high starch content offsets their fiber content, making them difficult for a rabbit to digest. Potato peels are just as bad for a rabbit’s gut as the white flesh inside.
Can rabbits eat banana?
Rabbits should not be given more than 2 tablespoons of banana per 5 pounds of their body weight, 2-3 times a week. As a general rule, you should never feed a rabbit a piece of banana that’s larger than the size of your thumb.
How often should you feed a rabbit?
The total amount of fresh food that you may give to your rabbit daily (once your bunny has been gradually introduced to it), is a minimum of 1 heaping cup (loosely packed), per 5 pound of body weight, given two times a day.
Can bunnies have broccoli?
Do not give broccoli to rabbits. It will give them painful gas. Never give your rabbit kale or spinach. Kale and spinach can cause health problems over time, due to the high amount of oxalates and goitrogens.