Rabbits are grazing animals that love to eat berries, vegetables, and hay. Strawberries are one rabbits’ favorite fruits as they have a mild sweet smell, taste good, and have a soft, crunchy texture.
However, bunnies cannot know what is good for their health and what is not. That is where you come in. You should always ask questions when feeding your bunny something new. So, can rabbits eat strawberries?
Yes, strawberries are a safe fruit for your bunny to eat but only in moderate quantity. Strawberries will benefit your rabbit as an occasional treat once a week. If fed excessively, strawberry’s high sugar content can harm your bunny’s health.
Strawberries have a lot of minerals, vitamins, and nutrients that your precious bunny can benefit from by eating.
Your precious pet will love the strawberry’s different sweet taste and unique texture in its weekly treat. As always, research before feeding your bunny rabbit any new food. Keep reading to learn more about how strawberries affect your bunny rabbit.
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How Many Strawberries Can You Feed Your Rabbit?
You should feed every fruit in a low quantity to your rabbit. Fruits have a high sugar content that can cause trouble for your precious pet if overeaten.
Give your bunny rabbit one medium-sized strawberry once a week in a meal. Do not make it the only option as a treat for your bunny. Alternate it with other, less sugary options.
Your pet rabbit might insist on having more than little strawberry as it will find it yummy. Ignore its pleading. The poor guy does not know what is healthy for it, but you do.
How to Give Strawberries to Your Furry Friend?
When feeding anything to your pet, there are specific steps that you need to take. These steps ensure your precious bunny rabbit’s safety and health.
While feeding strawberries to your rabbit, keep the following in mind:
- Always try to get organic strawberries from a trusted farm.
- If you cannot find organic strawberries, get store-bought ones carefully.
- Wash the store-bought strawberries with plenty of water to eliminate pesticides or insect repellents.
- Check the fruit for any presence of bugs, molt, or worms.
- Remove any fruit that is wilted or rotten.
- Pick out the freshest pieces of strawberries and cut them into bite sizes.
- Make sure to observe your pet for any behavior afterward that might indicate an allergic reaction to strawberries.
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Can Rabbits Eat The whole Strawberry Plant?
As herbivores, rabbits can often eat whole plants of any food. However, there is always a chance that the fruit of a plant might suit your bunny and the leaves might not, or vice versa. Let’s discuss the strawberry plant:
The Fruit
Bunnies can eat the fruit of a strawberry plant. It is high in sugar, so rabbits should only eat a tiny amount.
Strawberry Tops
Rabbits can eat the stems and leaves from the strawberry’s top. They are safe for your bunny if you wash the pesticides off them.
The Plant
Bunnies are not attracted to the rest of the strawberry plant as much as the sweet fruit. However, it is safe for them to eat it. The same rule applies to washing it thoroughly before serving your pet the leaves and stems.
The Benefits A Strawberry Can Give Your Precious Bunny Rabbit
Apart from great taste and the sweetest aroma, strawberries provide plenty of other benefits for your furry friend. Here is a list:
- Strawberries help your bunny with bone development, teeth growth, and nervous system maintenance as they are rich in phosphorus and calcium.
- These berries contain anti-inflammatory properties that help your bunny with pain-relieving and bruises.
- Rabbits need plenty of vitamins to help them keep a robust immune system. Strawberries are a great source of vitamins C and B9.
- If taken in moderation, strawberries can help regulate blood sugar levels in bunnies.
- Strawberries contain antioxidants. It is beneficial for your bunny to fight free radicals.
- Fiber is essential for a rabbit’s healthy life. Strawberries have a high fiber content that helps your little furry friend maintain a healthy gut and stool.
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How Can Strawberries Harm Your Precious Pet Bunny Rabbit?
Strawberry is a fruit. All fruits are a threat to your rabbit if given excessively. Try your best not to overfeed your bunny. If, by accident, you have given your rabbit too many strawberries, watch out for the following issues:
Dental Problems
The high sugar content in strawberries can destroy your rabbit’s ever-growing teeth. Many people get cavities if they overeat sugar. It works the same way for rabbits. Plus, strawberries do not help with a rabbit’s teeth trimming either.
GI Stasis
Excessive sugar intake can cause your bunny’s digestive tract to get blocked. GI happens when your rabbit’s gut flora is out of balance.
Bladder Sludge
Accumulation of bladder sludge is the opposite of brittle bones. As strawberries do not have enough calcium, your bunny’s bladder becomes affected.
Kidney Damage
Strawberries are rich in vitamin C. Eating an excessive amount of these berries will result in kidney damage for your precious pet bunny rabbit.
Neurological, Skin, and Tissue Damage
Strawberries contain vitamin A. When eaten in large quantities, these berries can cause neurological damage to your pet. Furthermore, excessive vitamin A can cause the tissues to carry calcium deposits, resulting in skin ailments.
Obesity
Sugar is bad for your bunny, so fruits are always recommended as a treat and not a significant part of your precious rabbit’s diet. Strawberries have a high sugar content that can lead to an obese bunny.
A chubby bunny will have a hard time grooming itself and hopping. It will also be difficult for your bunny to reach its cecotropes for late-night eating.
Diarrhea
As strawberries contain all sorts of nutrients, your bunny will have difficulty digesting them. If you give your bunny an excessive amount of strawberries, your pet will likely develop diarrhea as it lacks the strength to digest complex nutrients all at once.
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What to Do If Your Bunny Gets Sick from Strawberries?
If you notice your special pet rabbit exhibit any of the discomforts mentioned above, stop giving strawberries to your pet. Notice what sign your bunny is showing and call your vet.
While you wait for the vet’s appointment, do everything in your power to keep your bunny calm. Bunnies are anxious creatures. When your rabbit gets sick physically, it gets stressed and emotionally strained.
Snuggle with your furry baby, give it a nose rub, and stroke its fur. It will ease your bunny. Once the vet is ready for you, tell him every detail of your bunny’s strawberry experience.
Final Word
Strawberries are a delicious treat. Bunnies look extra adorable when they munch on these juicy red fruits. Their eyes go big, and mouths go red like a little furry Dracula. It is the cutest you will ever see.
However, this lovely sight can become a nightmare if you overfeed strawberries to your bunny. No matter how cute or enjoyable your bunny may seem, never overfeed a fruit or vegetable to your pet bunny rabbit.
The only food your bunny can eat as unlimited is hay. As a pet owner, you are responsible for ensuring the best life for your bunny. Make healthy choices about your rabbit’s food, play, and trick learning.
Always research before introducing anything new to your sweet bun, whether it is food or a toy. Rabbits are sensitive creatures that can get triggered by the slightest inconvenience.
To see your rabbit happy and healthy as long as it lives, keep giving it unlimited love, attention, toys, and hay!