Rabbits love a plant-based diet. These furry creatures love eating anything green or floral, whether it is healthy for them or not. Just as a little kid would be, these innocent creatures cannot tell what can harm them.
All they see are yummy greens and beautifully scented flowers. Bunnies can eat many types of flowers, lucky for them! However, some can bring illness to them. So, can rabbits eat sunflowers? Yes, they can, but with caution.
Rabbits can eat every part of a sunflower; petals, stems, seeds, leaves, etc. There are some cautions to be taken when feeding your bunny sunflowers, like removing the seed shells and not relying heavily on them as the main source of diet.
Every part of a sunflower holds different nutrients and benefits for your little furry friend. Additionally, these parts also require care while feeding and have some flaws. Keep on reading for more information on sunflower feeding!
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Can Sunflowers be The Only Source of Food for A Bunny?
Sunflowers are said to be one of the safest flowers for a rabbit. However, it will be unhealthy for your bunny to rely on these. These flowers do not carry the optimal amount of fiber that your furry pet requires daily.
It is suggested to create a steady food chart that has other nutrient-filled items with the sunflowers. Unlike humans, rabbits cannot take extra vitamins. To counter this limitation, you should adopt a high-fiber and varied diet for your bunny. Some beneficial foods for your bunny are:
- Kale
- Spinach
- Daisies
- Carrots
- Basil
- Broccoli
- Hay
Ensure that your rabbit has food available all the time. Bunnies love to nibble between their daily activities and hopping. Furthermore, rabbits’ teeth grow throughout their lifespan. Munching every other minute helps them ease their gums, and some foods, like dandelions, can even help them reduce their teeth size.
The Value of A Sunflower for Your Bunny
The plant is healthy for your bunny, but some parts contain more nutrients than others. Your bunny thinks of the sunflower as the tastiest treat of them all. So, you should know more about your pet’s favorites!
The Petals
Sunflower petals attract your bunny because of their vibrant colors, just like us humans. The yellow beauties have qualities that help keep your rabbit fur healthy. Plus, they also aid in maintaining normal and healthy skin for your pet.
The Leaves
Your tiny friend is fragile and exposed to many dangerous diseases like blood disorders and cancers. Sunflower leaves can give your buddy a fighting chance at prevention.
These greens are packed with Vitamin E and selenium, which act as antioxidants. Sunflower leaves serve as a detox food for your bunny, filtering all the dirt out of its system.
The Seeds
Sunflower seeds are a great way of keeping your bunny’s coat shiny and pretty. However, that is not the only benefit these have. They contain a good amount of fiber that helps with your bunny’s gut health.
The seeds have high amounts of calcium improving heart function and maintaining an electrolyte balance.
The most important benefit of the seeds is that it helps your rabbit stay warm through the chilly seasons. Sunflower seeds promote weight gain in bunnies, which allows them to retain body warmth through fall and winter.
Caution with The Sunflower Seeds
As discussed above, these seeds have a lot of benefits for your bunny’s health. However, an excess of anything can be harmful to your rabbit. A daily dose of sunflower seeds might be good for humans but not for rabbits.
Adding sunflower seeds to your furry friend’s daily diet can make it sick. Instead, give your rabbit little treats scattered throughout the month.
Furthermore, always remember to peel off the shell before giving the seeds to your rabbit. The shell is hard enough to get stuck in your precious bunny’s tiny throat and prove hazardous.
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Are There Any Risks to Overfeeding Sunflowers to A Bunny?
Treat sunflowers like fast food. Eating an intense amount of fast food can upset our stomachs. It is the same case for bunnies when it comes to sunflowers!
Overfeeding sunflowers can cause your bunny to suffer from three common and potentially lethal conditions:
Diarrhea
Too much sunflower can cause your little buddy to have a runny stool. It will make your bunny feel weak, lose its appetite and dehydrate fast.
Gastrointestinal Stasis
It is the opposite of diarrhea. In this, your bunny’s metabolism slows down, and the digestive tract reduces its work speed. It throws the healthy gut bacteria off balance causing pain and discomfort to your bunny.
Uneaten Cecotropes
Cecotropes are small pallets that your bunny excretes later at night or early morning. Cecal pallets are different than the rabbit droppings you clean up every day. They are softer in texture and can smell sweet.
They carry all the necessary nutrients that your furry friend’s regular diet does not. It may seem unappetizing to us, but our furry babies enjoy their cecal pallets very much. Chances are you have never seen them. So, if you see soft pallets around your bunny when you wake up, it has had one too many sunflowers.
Hay is Your Bunny’s Savior
If you notice your rabbit having any of the diseases mentioned above, do not panic! The solution is simple. Your rabbit has been on an unbalanced diet with less to no fiber in it. Increase your bunny’s daily fiber intake through a hay cleanse. Make your bunny eat a good amount of hay for a couple of weeks to a month, and it will be healthy as a clam.
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Your Bunny Can’t Say No to Flowers?
Ah, yes. It will be hard for your rabbit friend to accept this change of no sunflowers to munch. Rabbits are like babies, and as babies, they may throw tantrums. Your bunny may refuse to learn tricks, take more alone time, or wiggle its tail at you in disapproval.
Not to worry, you can always find prettier and healthier flowers as an alternative to sunflowers. As mentioned earlier, rabbits are not limited to sunflowers when it comes to eating the flora of this Earth. Here are a few other options that can easily replace your bunny’s sunflower cravings:
Roses
The aromatic flower is a perfect alternative for your pet. All parts of this flower are safe for your little guy to chew. Roses provide antioxidants and vitamins for the furry animal.
Daisies
This beautifully simple flower could be your bunny’s second favorite flower. It is small in size and tastes yummy to your furry friend.
Lavender
This stress-relieving plant for us humans is delicious for our furry friends. However, beware, it is an acquired taste. Not every bunny will like them.
Dandelions
Mostly mistaken as a weed, this herb-like flower can be your bunny’s next favorite flower. Bonus, the leaves are edible too! Dandelions help keep your bunny’s gut healthy and its teeth short naturally.
Pansies
These bite-sized colorful flowers would be a lovely treat for your cute bunny. The colors will make it forget all about sunflowers. The plant has anti-inflammatory properties that can be good for your bunny.
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Final Word
Excess to anything is harmful to all living creatures. Too much water can kill a plant, too much junk food can make us obese, and too many sunflowers can make your bunny sick.
Like a mother coddles her child’s every wish, we tend to do the same with our pets. However, sometimes a hard hand is needed for the well-being of your furry babies. Specifically, when it comes to their healthy diet, ignore that wiggling tail and beady eyes. Try alternating the flowers we mentioned. It will increase the variety of your bunny’s treats.
Say no to adding sunflowers to their daily meals. Chances are, your little bunny will enjoy an occasional sunflower much more than a regular meal. Plus, it will keep it healthy and happy. Isn’t that the end goal?