Raspberries are a great tangy and sweet fruit that’s enjoyed be people everywhere. As a rabbit owner you may be wondering if your pet rabbit would love to enjoy raspberries the way you do. So, the question is – Can rabbits eat raspberries? Are raspberries safe for rabbits?
The short answer is yes, rabbits can eat raspberries. But it’s not quite as simple as that, you need to know when you can give your bunny raspberries, how much, and what happens if you give your rabbit too many raspberries.
This article will provide full details regarding rabbits and raspberries.
Table of Contents
Are Raspberries A Good Source Of Nutrition For Rabbits?
Raspberries act as really good low calorie treat for rabbits. Let’s take a look at the nutritional facts regarding raspberries.
One cup of fresh raspberries, provides the following nutrition:
- 64 calories
- 14/7 g carbohydrates
- 8 g fiber
- 5 g protein
- .8 g fat
Raspberries are a good source of vitamin C and dietary fibre. The entire sugar level of raspberries is just 4%, which is a remarkable fact.
As well as vitamin C and very low levels of sugar, one cup of fresh raspberries also provide the following:
- .8 mg manganese
- 1 mg magnesium
- .4 mg pantothenic acid
- 6 iu vitamin A
- 186 mg potassium
- 2 mg vitamin C
- .1 mg vitamin B6
- .1 mg copper
- 7 mg phosphorus
- 7 mg calcium
- 6 mcg vitamin K
As you can see from the above nutritional information, raspberries are a great fruit for rabbits.
Are Raspberries Safe For Rabbits?
Yes, raspberries are safe and healthy for rabbits to eat. The best type of raspberries to feed your rabbit are fresh raspberries. Avoid giving your bunny dried raspberries. This is because dried raspberries are much higher in sugar content and even a small amount can disturb your rabbit’s digestive system.
Additionally, it would be a good idea to limit feeding fresh raspberries to your rabbit to a maximum of three times a week. This is in order to prevent any issues with their digestion developing later down the line.
Further, don’t forget to clean the raspberries well to get rid of any settled dust or dirt before giving them to your rabbit.
Do Rabbits Like Raspberries?
Rabbits actually love berries. This means they really enjoy eating not only raspberries, but also strawberries and blueberries and many other berries as well.
If you’re eating any berries near a rabbit, expect her to approach you and nudge you for some!
What Are The Benefits Of Feeding My Rabbit Raspberries?
As mentioned above, raspberries have great nutritional value for rabbits. Like it has high levels of vitamins, minerals and fibre. They also contain antioxidants which help to prevent diseases in rabbits (and humans too!)
It’s true to say that rabbits should be getting most of their nutrition from their staple foods, rather than treats and snacks. However, if you are going to give treats to your rabbit, then raspberries are a much more healthy choice than others.
How Many Raspberries Can I Give My Rabbit?
Firstly, you should only feed an adult rabbit raspberries. You should never feed raspberries to new born or juvenile rabbits. Rabbits reach adulthood at 12 months.
An adult rabbit can be given 2 large raspberries or 4 small raspberries. As mentioned above, you should only feed your rabbit these fruit treats a maximum of three times per week.
Related – Find out if rabbits can eat parsnips safely. You’d be surprised. Find out by reading can rabbits eat parsnips?
What Happens if Rabbits Eat Too Many Raspberries?
A rabbit’s digestive tract isn’t equipped to break down sugar efficiently. Sugar may travel through a rabbit’s digestive system without causing any harm, but too much of it can wreak havoc.
There are both beneficial and dangerous bacteria in the intestines. Sugar is a food source for harmful bacteria since it is indigestible by healthy bacteria.
When germs are well-fed, they grow ten times as fast, so bad bacteria growing ten times quicker than good bacteria is bad news for your rabbit’s stomach.
This over-growth of bad bacteria could result in your rabbit experiencing stomach discomfort, bloatedness, flatulence, and a lack of appetite.
Feeding your rabbit too many raspberries can also lead to your rabbit becoming obese or even developing diabetes.
Do Rabbits Eat Raspberry Leaves?
Yes, rabbits can and do eat raspberry leaves. It’s safe to give your rabbit raspberry leaves a few times a week, as long as the leaves haven’t been exposed to pesticides or any other harmful chemicals.
But remember, only the leaves can be fed to rabbits regularly, the raspberries themselves must have stricter limits.
Can Rabbits Eat Frozen Raspberries?
It’s not recommended to give rabbits frozen raspberries. This is because frozen raspberries tend to have extra sugar and other artificial ingredients included in them. This therefore makes them inappropriate for rabbit consumption.
However, if you buy fresh raspberries and then simply freeze them, then yes, you can feed those frozen raspberries to your rabbit. But make sure you thaw the raspberries first or your bunny simply won’t eat them.
Final Thoughts On Can Rabbits Eat Raspberries
Rabbits can eat raspberries, they are safe for your rabbit. Rabbits love to eat raspberries and other fresh fruits and would eat several a day if you let them. However, raspberries should only be used as a treat for your rabbit, and not as part of their staple diet. Feeding your rabbit too many raspberries can have an adverse effect on their health.