Rabbits love their greens and vegetables. As a grazing animal, a bunny enjoys eating hay. However, giving your pet rabbit vegetables and fruits in moderation provides your bunny with the essential nutrients and excitement in its life.
There are plenty of plants in the world for us to enjoy. People cannot eat every plant, leaf, or fruit of a tree. Rabbits are the same way. Your bunny cannot eat every veggie out there, no matter how yummy it may be.
It would help if you always questioned before feeding anything to your precious pet rabbit. So, can rabbits eat Brussel sprouts?
Yes, rabbits can eat these tiny cabbage-looking vegetables. Brussel sprouts are full of benefits and nutrients for your bunny. They are tasty and small and carry all the essentials for a healthy bunny. However, too much of anything can harm your rabbit. Feed Brussel sprouts in moderation, and your rabbit shall be okay.
When feeding your rabbit anything new, start with a small quantity to notice any behavioral changes in your bunny. It is essential to do so with Brussel sprouts, as they can make your bunny gassy.
Rabbits experience painful gas when they eat anything from the cabbage family. To avoid this, you should feed these in moderation to your pet. Read further to learn more about Brussel sprouts and your bunny!
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How Much Brussel Sprouts Should You Feed Your Bunny?
Brussel sprouts are tiny but pack a punch of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. When introducing these greens to your precious pet, give it 1/4 of a tiny Brussel sprout as a trial.
Observe your bunny’s behavior for the next 24 hours to see changes in its daily energy or fecal pellets. If all goes well, give your rabbit one tiny sprout or half of a medium-sized sprout once a week in a meal.
If your rabbit likes eating cabbage and broccoli, it will surely enjoy the taste and texture of Brussel sprouts.
It might help if your rabbit is already used to eating vegetables that can cause gas. It means your bunny’s digestive system is accustomed to the components of such vegetables and can digest them.
Start your rabbit with a smaller portion of Brussel sprouts to avoid any more significant health concerns. Once you notice your bunny is digesting the sprouts quickly, you can give your rabbit these greens as a treat.
A rabbit’s diet should consist of 80-90% hay, 10-15% greens, and 5-10% fruits as a treat. Apart from hay, you should consider every other food as a treat for your furry friend.
It is best to mix different veggies in one serving instead of giving one vegetable to your pet. Your bunny will enjoy it more and benefit from various nutrients and minerals.
Nutritional Value of Brussel Sprouts
Knowing the nutritional value of anything you eat or feed your pets is vital. This factor determines the quantity of the food item for your bunny. Brussel sprouts are high-fiber vegetables. Eighty-eight grams of sprouts contain 12% of fiber.
Rabbits already eat hay as a significant portion of their diet. Hay is all fiber. To balance that, you must serve your precious furry friend various other foods to give your bunny all the nutrients it needs. Brussel sprouts are high in fiber, so they should be given low-fiber foods with other vitamins and minerals to maintain your bunny’s health.
How Do Brussel Sprouts Benefit Your Precious Pet Rabbit?
Brussel sprouts are a superfood for humans. They carry all the essential nutrients for us, serving as energy boosters, health enhancers, and sustainable bodily functions.
Sprouts have a similar value to bunnies. Rabbits are fragile creatures with sensitive systems and weak bone structures. Brussel sprouts can give your bunny all the benefits it needs to hop, run and zoom around the house as much as its little heart desires.
Here is a list of things that make Brussel sprouts a superfood for your precious bunny rabbit:
The Optimal Amount of Calcium
Brussel sprouts contain the right amount of calcium for your rabbit. Bunnies need calcium for stronger bones. However, calcium is a tricky nutrient for their fragile digestive system. If your rabbit eats high-calcium foods, it can have an upset stomach. With Brussel sprouts, you will not have to face such an issue.
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Low Oxalates
Any food with high oxalate content is harmful to your precious furry friend. When a rabbit eats foods with oxalic acids, it disrupts your bunny’s healthy gut bacteria causing intestinal troubles. Brussel sprouts are a safe vegetable in this regard.
Vitamin C
Vitamin c is excellent for a bunny’s body and organs. Rabbits have sensitive bodies that need natural boosters for development and growth. The vitamin C in Brussel sprouts helps your bunny with muscle development, bone strengthening, maintaining a healthy blood circulatory system, smooth skin, and firm tissues, and prevents scurvy in bunnies.
Vitamin K
It is a vital vitamin to maintain healthy bones and a robust immune system.
Vitamin A
Brussel sprouts are an excellent source of vitamin A that helps your little pet maintain sharp eyesight and develop bones.
Other nutrients
Besides the minerals and vitamins mentioned above, Brussel sprouts carry vitamins E and B6, magnesium, iron, proteins, manganese, potassium, and carbohydrates. All these nutrients prove that Brussel sprouts are a superfood for rabbits too.
Brussel Sprouts Can Make Your Furry Friend Gassy
Rabbits do not pass gas like other animals. They have difficulty expelling painful gas through farting, which causes them significant discomfort. The build-up of such pain and gasses inside your bunny can harm your pet’s health.
As a pet owner, you must observe your gorgeous pet for any signs of painful gas and provide instant relief. Here are a few things you should look out for when feeding Brussel sprouts to your precious pet rabbit:
- If you suspect your bunny is gassy, lift it to your ear and listen for any gurgling sounds from its tummy.
- Your bunny might be exhibiting lethargy and demanding more alone time than usual.
- A gassy bunny will lose its appetite. Even if you offer your bunny its favorite dish, it will refuse the food.
- Your furry baby might be switching positions to find the perfect angle to relieve pain. The most common position would be laying on its side and raising its front, not bending its stomach.
- Press your bunny’s stomach slightly. If it is too hard or soft, something is wrong with your furry little guy.
- Your rabbit will experience a drop in its body temperature when it is gassy. You should consistently measure your bunny’s temperature to know what degree is low for your furry baby’s body.
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What To Do If Brussel Sprouts Make Your Furry Pet Sick?
Every rabbit is different. There is a chance that if one vegetable suits a bunny, it might not suit another. Brussel sprouts can make a rabbit gassy and create a painful experience.
If you notice that your precious pet is exhibiting any discomforting behavior, stop giving it the sprouts. Contact your vet and book an appointment immediately. Keep your bunny calm while you wait for the vet’s visit.
Play with your rabbit, stroke its fur, and pet your bunny’s head. Your rabbit will be emotionally fragile when it feels sick; show it you are there for your furry baby.
There are many vegetables out there that are equally beneficial for your rabbit. If Brussel sprouts do not agree with your rabbit’s sensitive digestive system, you can hop onto the next best vegetable and try it. Your bunny’s health must come on top, no matter how many benefits a food may have.
Final Words
Feeding a pet rabbit can be challenging as these little guys eat anything they come across. You must scrutinize and pick the best foods for your furry friend as a pet owner.
When choosing a food for your rabbit, always read the pros and cons of the food. Plus, gather all the instructions about the food’s portions, nutrients, sources, and risks. Your bunny will feel loved through the food you provide it.