Can Rabbits Eat Strawberries?

Can Rabbits Eat Strawberries?

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Sweet, red, juicy strawberries: They’re absolutely irresistible to most of us – and they’re among the healthiest fruits we can eat!

The question is, can rabbits have strawberries, or are strawberries toxic to rabbits?

The quick answer is yes – most bunnies can have strawberries. But there are definitely some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when considering whether to feed a rabbit strawberries or choose a different treat.

There’s a lot to learn about this topic.

The good news is that we’re here to clear things up. In a few minutes, you’ll be have plenty of insight. Here’s everything you need to know about strawberries for rabbits.

Strawberry Nutrition Stats

Strawberries are a bit lower in sugar than many other types of fruit, yet they pack tons of nutrients inside!

On average, an entire cup of strawberries offers:

• 46 calories
• 1 g carbohydrates
• 9 g fiber
• 1 g protein
• .4 g fat

Strawberry Nutritional Facts

Despite their low calorie count, strawberries provide plenty of antioxidants including ellagic acid, flavanols, tannins, quercetin, and more.

That same cup of strawberries provides lots of vitamins and minerals:

• 2 mg vitamin K
• .6 mg iron
• 220 mg potassium
• 6 mcg folate
• 7 mg vitamin C
• .1 mg vitamin B6
• .6 mg manganese
• 7 mg magnesium
• .1 mg copper
• 6 mg phosphorus

Can Rabbits Have Strawberries?

Yes! You can give a rabbit strawberries as a treat. While you can make these bright red berries a part of your own daily diet, bunnies should only eat them occasionally – and in small amounts.

Before you head to the farmer’s market for a basket of fresh, delicious berries, we have a bit more insight to share about strawberries for rabbits.

Are Strawberries Good For Rabbits?

Did you know that rabbits can make their own vitamin C?

It’s just one of many fascinating rabbit facts! High vitamin C content is one of the things that makes strawberries great for humans – and highlights some of the differences between our nutritional needs and those of our pets.

Great news, though: A little bit of extra vitamin C can help rabbits overcome stress and stay healthy, and other nutrients make strawberries a good natural treat for rabbits.

Just as our own bodies use antioxidants to fight off free radicals, so does your bunny’s body. Antioxidants including anthocyanin can help keep our hearts (and theirs!) healthy.

We and our rabbits need magnesium, too. In rabbits, magnesium can help prevent bladder sludge from excess calcium.

Of course, your bunny should be getting their daily dose of magnesium from main food sources including hay and pellets, but a little extra certainly doesn’t hurt!

How Much Strawberry Can A Rabbit Eat?

That’s a good question and we’re glad you asked! Here’s how much strawberry to feed your rabbit:

Age	Amount
Baby rabbits	None
Juvenile rabbits	None
Adult rabbits	1 strawberry every 3 to 4 days

While we can sit down to a big bowl of berries and nibble to our hearts’ content, it’s important to feed rabbits strawberries in small amounts only. This means no more than two strawberries per week – and not even at the same time.

The main reason to avoid feeding your rabbit strawberries on a daily basis is that these wonderful treats are high in sugar, and too much sugar can spell trouble for your rabbit’s digestive system.

The second reason to avoid daily treats that contain sugar is that when rabbits develop a sweet tooth, they tend to ignore their food and fill up on treats.

This isn’t just a recipe for obesity – it’s also dangerous for your bunny’s health.

So keep strawberries and other sweet treats to a minimum and don’t give in when your bunny begs for more. Adorable as those trembling whiskers and big, pleading eyes can be, the health risks just aren’t worth it!

The Correct Diet is Important

Have you ever seen what wild rabbits eat? Don’t feel bad if the answer is no – wild bunnies are fairly shy and many people never encounter them.

In their natural habitat, a rabbit’s diet consists mostly of fiber-rich grasses and a vast array of leafy green plants.

When wild strawberries are available, wild rabbits do enjoy them!

Keep in mind though, wild strawberries are far smaller than the ones we purchase in the supermarket and rabbits have lots of competition from birds, squirrels, and other creatures that look for natural sugar sources to bolster their diets.

Now that you know a little bit more about what wild rabbits eat, let’s take a look at what your own adorable bunny ought to be enjoying on a daily basis.

The ideal rabbit diet consists of:

• Unlimited quantity of fresh hay
• Unlimited supply of clean, fresh water
• Age appropriate rabbit food (check the label to see how much food to feed a rabbit the size and age of your pet)
• 1 cup of fresh leafy greens per 2 pounds of body weight (see our list below for ideas about which greens and veggies to include in your rabbit’s salad)
• A limited amount of treats; check our guides for recommendations about apples, blueberries, celery, cucumbers, banana, and other natural rabbit treats
• About one tablespoon of seeds such as pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds if they aren’t already blended into your bunny’s regular food

Is Strawberry Safe For Rabbits?

Yes! Most rabbits can have strawberry. Just like with other treats, you’ll want to introduce strawberries to your rabbit’s diet slowly. Start with a small amount – about half a strawberry – and let your bunny enjoy it.

Over the next 24 hours, watch for signs that your rabbit’s digestive system is functioning properly.

So long as there’s no diarrhea and no symptoms of discomfort, you can give your rabbit a whole strawberry next time. Repeat the process of watching for digestive trouble. If it happens with a whole berry, go back to feeding just half a berry at a time.

Go ahead and enjoy the other half yourself!

What Are Other Healthy Alternatives To Strawberries In A Rabbit’s Diet?

Rabbits can eat a wide variety of vegetables. When choosing these favorites for your rabbit, be sure to check for the correct serving size since too much of a good thing can lead to digestive problems.

Most rabbits love to snack on:

• carrots
• carrot tops
• basil
• parsley
• cilantro
• swiss chard
• beets
• beet greens
• radish tops
• romaine lettuce
• butter lettuce
• bibb lettuce
• buttercrunch lettuce
• red lettuce
• endive
• escarole
• fennel
• cabbage
• red cabbage
• bell pepper
• broccoli
• celery
• cucumber
• dandelion greens
• bok choy
• yu choy
• spinach
• kale

Always remember to rotate your bunny’s treats. Lettuces (except iceberg) are favorites, and it’s fine to feed kale and spinach once or twice per week, too.

Fresh herbs are favorites, and of course, there are fruits such as apple, apricot, and blueberries.

Last but not least, giving your rabbit strawberries is a fantastic way to change things up once or twice per week and keep their diet interesting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often can a rabbit eat strawberries?

Your rabbit can eat strawberries once or twice a week. For example, you can give your bunny one strawberry on Monday and another one on Thursday.

Do rabbits like strawberries?

Yes! Most rabbits love strawberries, and can we just say that we love watching rabbits eat strawberries? It’s one of the cutest things ever.

Can I give strawberry to a baby rabbit?

Sad to say, the answer to this question is no. It’s not a good idea to give baby rabbits strawberries – even in small amounts. Wait until your rabbit is an adult before introducing special treats.

Can strawberries make my rabbit sick?

Yes, but only when you feed too many at once. We are wearing our serious faces here: Give your bunny berries only occasionally, and only a little at a time. Since the recommendations provided are for medium-sized berries, you can give your bunny two small strawberries instead, or half of a huge strawberry.

Since chemicals and residues such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers can cling to strawberries, it’s very important to wash them before you give them to your rabbit or eat them yourself. Don’t skip this step even if you’re treating your rabbit to organic strawberries.

Can rabbits have strawberry leaves?

Absolutely! Most rabbits like strawberry leaves and will eagerly munch away when given the opportunity to do so. If you have access to them, you can offer a handful of freshly washed strawberry leaves with your rabbit’s daily salad.