Most people like having dogs and cats as their pets. These animals are omnivores and carnivores, respectively. However, if you are a lover of small animals, like bunnies, you would be happy to know that these little guys are herbivores. Rabbits eat greens, hay, fruits, etc.
It increases the chance of you sharing your daily groceries with your pet rabbit and reduces the costs of a separate meal plan for your pet. Like vegetables and fruits, humans can eat some flowers too. Talking about sharing food with your pet, can rabbits eat flowers?
Yes, rabbits love eating flowers. They are attracted to the flower’s sweet smell, vibrant colors, and taste. Flowers provide bunnies with many benefits. However, not all plants are bunny-friendly. You should research and give only the non-toxic flowers to your bunny as a treat and not make flowers its main meal.
The thought of bunnies and flowers brings a smile to your face. What an adorable sight it must be! Rabbits are one of the most fragile of pets, emotionally and physically.
Even a mild illness can create a stressful and anxious situation for them. For this reason, you should gather knowledge about a portion of food before introducing it to your precious bunny. Keep reading to know more about flowers for your bunny!
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Why Do Rabbits Eat Flowers?
Rabbits are grazing animals. They love eating any plant coming out of the soil. When it comes to delicious flowers, rabbits love to nibble on them. That is not because they are pretty and smell great. It is because flowers help the bunnies reduce their munching cravings.
Rabbits have forever-growing teeth. Chewing helps them trim and prevent their teeth from growing too long. There are a few foods that help them do that, and flowers make that cut. Chewing on flowers helps your furry friend in easing their gums and teeth-trimming. Your rabbit also thinks flowers are yummy treats and is attracted to them.
Not All Flowers Are Suitable for Your Furry Friend
Before giving your pet rabbit anything, you should always double-check if it is health injurious for your furry friend or not. All flowers seem friendly and welcoming, but that is not the case.
Your bunny cannot judge which flower can make it sick and which can benefit it. That is where you come in. As a pet owner, you are responsible for providing your furry friend with the best to eat, drink and live.
Flowers that Are Good for Your Bunny
Your bunny is lucky because not all flowers are a health hazard for it. Your precious pet can eat many types of flowers without harming their health. Most flowers carry medicinal benefits for your bunny. Here is a list of petal flowers your precious rabbit can enjoy:
Sunflower
Sunflowers have the quality of making your bunny’s coat shine through natural conditioning.
Chamomile
This beautiful flower can act as a painkiller for your rabbits. Plus, it has a similar calming effect for a bunny just like us. You can use chamomile tea to wipe your bunny’s eye or treat it weepy eye by squirting it directly in the eye.
Coltsfoot
This yellow flower is a great remedy to ease your bunny’s respiratory discomfort.
Comfrey
This flower has many benefits for your bunny. It is a source of Vitamin A and has a calming effect on bunnies. If your rabbit is weak, Comfrey can help with bone formation and digestion. It can also aid your bunny with the betterment of its immune system.
Dandelion
Dandelions are delicate-looking flowers. However, they are extremely beneficial to your rabbit. A dandelion has anti-inflammatory properties, purifies the blood, and betters respiration. This flower can also fight pneumonia, respiratory infections, and bronchitis in bunnies. Furthermore, it is better for gut health.
Echinacea
This pretty flower has antibacterial and anti-viral properties. It also has antimicrobial properties that help maintain healthy white blood cells in your bunny’s body.
Elderflower
Elderflower is a great medicinal herb for your furry baby with a fever.
Eyebright
This flower is best for weepy eye wash.
Lavender
It regulates blood pressure and has anti-stress properties for your rabbit.
Marigold
This gorgeous flower helps your injured bunny. It aids in reducing bruises, ulcers, wounds, skin disorders, and digestive issues.
Nasturtium
It has antiseptic benefits for your furry friend.
Roses
Roses are not just freshly scented. They are good for gut health and reduce stress and anxiety in your body.
Also Check Out: Can Rabbits Eat Asparagus?
Flowers That Are A Big No For Your Bunny
Your furry friend has many options of flowers to add to its daily meals, most of which are advantageous for its health. However, there are many flowers out there that can cause serious harm to your pet bunny. Ensure your bunny never gets close to any of the flowers mentioned below:
- Tulips
- Rhododendrons
- Poppies
- Irises
- Lillies
- Hydrangeas
- Foxgloves
- Geraniums
- Carnations
- Daffodils
- Chrysanthemums
- Bluebells
- Buttercups
- Azaleas
The flowers listed above are poisonous plants to your bunny. Make sure to never feed these to your rabbit. If your bunny ingests one of these flowers, take it to the vet immediately.
What Should You Do If Your Rabbit Eats A Bad Flower
As bunnies are not aware of what is good for them and what is not, they will eat whatever plant they see. As a pet owner, you need to be careful of your bunny’s health.
If your instincts tell you or you see that your bunny has eaten a poisonous flower, do not wait for any signs.
Rabbits rarely show any signs of poison through flowers. Poisonous flowers affect the internal organs of rabbits, and the symptoms appear too late. The best thing you can do for your furry baby is to take it to the vet and sort it out.
Do Not Make Flowers The Main Portion of Your Bunny’s Food
Rabbits have sensitive digestive tracts and immune systems. To maintain a healthy bunny, you need to provide a balanced diet. The perfect diet of a bunny has 80-90% hay, 10-15% greens, and 5-10% fruits or flowers.
You should follow these portions as much as possible to ensure your baby bunny gets all the necessary nutrients, minerals, and vitamins to enjoy life.
Flowers do not contain the majority of the nutrients that your bunny needs in its daily meals. They lack fiber and water, which is essential for your bunny’s gut health. Hence, flowers should be given to your bunny as a treat twice a week and no more.
It will help keep things interesting for your pet as it would have a different treat each day. Mix and match with greens, fruits, and flowers that are only to be given in a limited quantity to keep your bunny on its toes.
Also Check Out: Can Rabbits Eat Lemongrass?
Do Not Overfeed Your Precious Rabbit
Watching your bunny munch on its favorite crunches is the cutest thing ever. However, overeating cannot be good for your furry baby. Overfeeding your bunny can cause health problems that will result in frequent vet visits, fears, and stress for you and your bunny. Here are a few issues your furry friend can experience if you do not balance its daily diet:
Obesity
Being overweight will not suit your bunny. Rabbits are active and hyper creatures that love to run and hop. An obese bunny has trouble hopping due to the extra weight, and grooming is hard for them.
Heart Trouble
Overeating can cause your precious bunny to develop cardiovascular diseases that can be fatal.
Gut Trouble
Depending on the nature of the food, your rabbit can get diarrhea or constipation.
UTI
Flowers high in calcium can cause your bunny to contract a urinary tract infection.
Tooth decay
If your bunny is a fan of sweet flowers, it can cause tooth damage. A sugar-high diet can increase tooth decay in your bunny as they have sensitive bones.
Final Word
Bunnies look lovely while munching on a flower. They love the smell, color, and taste of their delicious treat. However, everything should be given in moderation to your pet rabbit. Give flowers to your bunny as a treat. This way the flowers will not lose their charm, and your bunny will not get sick.
Furthermore, always check what flower you are feeding to your bunny because not all flowers are good for it. Avoid harmful flowers no matter how pretty they may be.
Only use your bunny-approved flowers. You can contact your vet to know what flower is the best to add to your bunny’s diet and go from there. After all, your bunny’s physical and mental health is the top priority!