Have you every wondered, can pet rabbits eat grapes? Yes, they can but only as an occasional treat.
Grapes are an excellent winter fruit rich in minerals like Potassium, Vitamin C, K and Anti-Oxidents like beta-carotene which are really good for pet rabbit. They promote healthy fur and skin as well as a great source of trace minerals.
But there is a catch, grapes are also full of sugar which is not recommended for rabbits. Sugary fruits are known to case upset stomachs in rabbits which may even need a vet visit to resolve.
That being said, grapes can be added to a rabbit’s diet in small quantities as an occasional treat. Read on to learn more about the fruit and how you can safely give grapes to your rabbit as well.
Grapes do not fall within the natural diet of pet rabbits. Their stomachs have not developed ability to fully digest high amounts of sugar which can be found in grapes.
Rabbits rely on good bacteria in their gut to help them digest their highly fibrous food like grass or hay. Sugar in fruits can mess with the good bacteria and cause serious digestive problems like GI Stasis or stomach aches.
But in small amounts grapes do help rabbits get a good amount of Vitamins, Minerals and other Trace Nutrients which can be quite good as a part of a well balanced rabbit diet.
So can pet rabbits eat grapes and are they safe for them? Definitely in small amounts in a well balanced diet.
As grapes contain a large amount of sugar only a small amount of grapes should be given to rabbits as a treat. If you want to give grapes to a pet rabbit then start out with a tiny amount like half of a small grape and observe your bunny through the day for any signs of stomach problems.
If you find that your bunny is eating and pooping just fine then you can them grapes as treats from now on. Just make sure that you keep the amount to just one or two grapes a week.
Even though grapes or other sugary fruits may not cause any stomach problems in your rabbit, they may still cause them to gain unhealthy weight if fed regularly, which can be harmful in the long run. That is why it is recomended to keep fruit amounts to less than 10% of a rabbit’s diet.
Grapes can be given once or twice to a pet rabbit as a part of a well balanced and healthy diet. Having too many sugary fruits can not only cause stomach problems, it may also get your rabbits in the habit of begging for treats and refusing to eat their normal food like vegetables, pellets and hay.
Limit fruits to just twice or three times a week. That way they will have a good balance and are less likely to beg for more the next day.
Forming good eating habits can dramatically improve health in pet rabbits in the long run. It can help reduce the chances of developing a dental, digestive and heart conditions and even prevent obesity which is becoming a common problem in pet rabbits who do not have a healthy diet.
Green grapes are absolutely safe for rabbits. They are the most common type of grapes found across the world they are rich in vitamins and minerals. Green varieties often have a milder, sweeter taste which rabbits really like.
Some popular green grape varieties that rabbits love to eat are
Sultana & Kishmish varieties are derivatives of the Thompson Seedless.
Yes, rabbits can also eat red grapes. These generally contain more nutrients and minerals giving them a slightly earthier taste. Red grapes are known for having a good amount of anti-oxidants and tannins which are great for skin and tissue health in pet rabbits.
Some popular red grape varieties that good for rabbits are
Although most grapes we find these days are of seedless varieties but some grapes can have seeds in them. Unlike other common fruits such as apples which contain toxins, grapes seeds are edible for rabbits.
That being said grapes have small seeds that can be a serious choking hazard for rabbits. Unless they properly chew down their food, tiny grape seeds can easily get lodged in a pet rabbit’s wind pipe causing them to cough or have trouble breathing.
Yes rabbits can eat Grape vines and leaves. All parts of the Grape plant are safe for rabbits to eat.
Wild rabbits are considered a pest in Vineyards where they grow Grapes. They are known to nibble down the Grape plants and the leaves.
But grape vines and leaves are not a great source of nutrients for rabbits. So it is okay of your rabbit eats some grape leaves or vines but it should not be a regular part of their diet.
Almost all types of grapes are suitable for rabbits to eat. Rabbits can eat all parts of grapes including the skin, flesh and believe it or not even the stalks or twigs.
The only part of the grapes that rabbits should not eat are the seeds as they can have trouble swallowing them. Some rabbits may dislike the taste of unripe grapes which may be quite sour to them.
Here are some of the most common varieties of grapes that are safe for rabbits.
There are hundreds of varieties and variations of grapes around the world. If you find a variety not in this list and wonder if a rabbit can eat it or not then
Pet rabbits can safely eat raisins, currants or dried grapes. But be aware that raisins even though they are small have a high sugar content which can upset a rabbit’s stomach.
Their small size makes it easy to overfeed and we all know how much rabbits beg for sweet treats. To make sure that you do not feed to many raisins to your rabbit just assume that they are a full sized grape. Only give them one or two raisins a week just as you would with grapes.
Yes very much so. In fact wild rabbits have always been a pest at vineyards. They are known to nibble down grape vines and cause lots of trouble for farmers.
That being said if you have some wild rabbits nesting in your yard, you can surely give them some grapes. Even though fruits are not ideal for wild rabbit, they surely can use anything they can get.
Wild rabbits are often do not get enough enough food especially during the winter months so anything you can spare for them is good enough and can help them and their babies survive.
Rabbits getting a stomach ache from eating too many sugary fruits like Grapes is all too common. Grapes can easily upset the stomach of rabbits causing cramps, gas, soft stools and in some extremely severe cases, GI Stasis.
If you see the symptoms that your rabbits is having some stomach discomfort like they are sitting with their stomach pressed to the ground, gurgling sounds from their stomach or if they refuse to eat or drink, call a vet immediately.
Your vet will help you decide on the correct course of treatment for the problem before it develops into something serious. Remember early identification and treatment may be essential to saving a rabbit’s life.
There are many alternative fruits to Grapes for rabbits. Even though grapes contain a good amount of healthy nutrients that are good for pet rabbits like Vitamin C, K, Potassium & Anti-Oxidents, there are plenty of other fruits that can provide equal amount if nutrients to rabbits.
Some of the most recommended alternate fruits to grapes for rabbits are
Always provide a good variety of fruits to your rabbits which not only helps to supplement a variety of essential nutrients, it also helps to change the taste and keep them interested in their food.
So now that you have the answer to can pet rabbits eat grapes go ahead and give your rabbit a grapes or two with your mind at ease.
If you would like to learn a bit more about what rabbits can and cannot eat then check out some the article below.
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