Last Updated on March 9, 2023 by Woody Pet
Can Rabbits Eat Grapes? Learn More About This Bunny Candy!
Small, oval, and sweet, packed with vitamins and antioxidants, grapes make for a delicious, yet nutritious snack for us to munch on when we’ve got a sweet tooth. And what about our little furry friends? Can rabbits eat grapes as we can?
Do they also have a sweet craving that they need to satisfy? Well, as science tells us, they do. For that matter, rabbits would rather munch on treats all day long instead of eating their hay. Rabbits love to eat something sweet and their taste buds are certainly fond of small, soft fruits. Maybe a little too fond.
However, just like any other animal, rabbits need a well-balanced diet and grapes and berries in general should not make up a big amount of what they consume, but rather be served as treats. So, the short answer is that you should give grapes to your rabbit like you’d eat chocolates for yourself, in moderation and as an occasional treat. In this article, we will explore why that is and dive deep into the nutritious value of grapes and how and when they’re good to be fed to our furry friends.
Grapes Nutrition
Grapes are among the most nutritious fruits on the whole planet. That is mainly due to their very high sugar content. They are packed with calories, especially considering their small size. They contain amazing vitamins and minerals, including potassium, copper, manganese, riboflavin, vitamin K, etc. A rabbit’s system requires all the vitamins, except Vitamin C.
That is why it is very important to feed our rabbits fruits and veggies that are dense in nutrition. Grapes are a great example of that. Something that adds great value to grapes nutrition is antioxidants; red grapes have more antioxidants than green grapes, but both varieties are equally nutritious and dense in vitamins, which is wonderful, as vitamins are crucial for the physical wellbeing of most animals.
Are Grapes Good For Your Rabbit?
As we explained above, grapes are very good for nutrition. So yes, grapes are absolutely good for your rabbit. If you have not yet incorporated them into their diet, now is the time to do so. However, there are several things for you to keep in mind.
Even though grapes are amazing and dense with vitamins and antioxidants, they are also full of water and sugar. Sugary foods and foods that contain a lot of water can upset your rabbit’s stomach, as it is very delicate and sensitive. People often think that, since rabbits are natural foragers for food, they would be able to eat almost anything without having a bad reaction to it. That could not be further from the truth.
Rabbits like grapes, but they can become very harmful if given in big quantities. That being said, more is clearly not merrier in this case. So, the answer to “Are grapes good for your rabbit in high quantities?” is “Absolutely not.” The way to go around that is to administer grapes only in small quantities and always watch your rabbits for signs of their body not having reacted well to a certain food. Whenever that is the case, cut out the food right away. Now read on to find out how many grapes should a rabbit eat and how to serve them.
How Many Grapes Should A Rabbit Eat?
Just like with almost every other food, we should be careful about the quantity of grapes that we feed to our little pet rabbits. Rabbits do have a sweet tooth and they would probably not hesitate to nibble on anything sweet that you give them and we already know how much sugar is in grapes.
However, just because they would have no problem devouring a whole bunch of grapes, it does not mean that we should give it to them. Then, how many grapes should a rabbit eat? Well, if the rabbit is obese or overweight, none. If your rabbit is at a healthy weight and has shown no signs of intolerance for high-sugar foods, it is ok to feed them 4-5 grapes twice a week.
You should also keep in mind the amount of sweet foods that they are eating aside from grapes. In order to tend to a rabbit’s delicate stomach, it is recommended to wash the grapes thoroughly with water, dunk them in a bowl for a short while and then slice them open and remove the seeds, as they can cause kidney problems if consumed in excess.
Can Rabbits Eat Grapes Conclusion
Who doesn’t like grapes? Well, your little pet rabbit certainly does! Can rabbits eat grapes? Certainly so. Grapes are wonderful and delicious and packed in nutrients and antioxidants, so there is no reason not to give them to your favorite furry friend.
However, as with everything else, balance is key and grapes should only make up a very small amount of your rabbit’s diet. Considering your rabbit’s weight and diet, grapes should be administered only in small amounts, no more than twice a week, in order for the bunny to benefit from their many pros, which include being nutritious, good antioxidants, flavorful and hydrating.
In order not to put our rabbit’s health at risk, a rabbit should be given no more than 4-5 grapes which should be thoroughly washed, kept in water for a short time, have their seeds removed for safety reasons and be sliced up in small pieces so that it’s easy for the rabbit to eat them, once in a while.
