Is it Good for Bunnies to Have Grapes?
It is no longer news that everyone loves grapes; everyone cherishes this fruit regardless of location. If this is true for humans, how about bunnies?
Here lies a question, is it OK to give rabbits grapes as natural treats or rabbit food? Or is it acceptable to provide raisins for rabbits? The answer to these questions is simple and straightforward; it’s yes! Rabbits love to eat raisins and grapes.
But wait a minute, there are some vital points to be noted before you proceed to give your bunny grapes. Remember that it is unhealthy to give your rabbits only sugary fruits in large quantities.
Nutritional Stats for Grapes
In classifying fruits, we can put grapes into the class of the most nutritious. Owing to its high sugar content, it is relatively dense in calories compared to its size.
For every cup of fresh grapes, here is what is derived:
- 5 grams of fiber
- 1 gram of protein
- 5 grams of carbohydrate
- 104 calories
- 0.2 gram of fat
Nutritional Facts About Grapes:
Right now, grapes are said to be among the most nutrient-packed foods on the face of the earth. They are rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients such as catechins, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, lutein, quercetin, and resveratrol. They are also very rich in essential minerals and vitamins.
All the color variants of the grapes are both nutritious and healthy both for your bunny and you. Note that the dark-colored ones contain more antioxidants than the light-colored variants.
Here are the average values obtained from a single cup grape serving:
- 3 milligrams of copper
- 0.1 milligram of manganese
- 0.2 milligrams of copper
- 0.1 milligrams of vitamin B6
- 0.1 milligrams of riboflavin
- 22 micrograms of vitamin K
- 0.1 milligram of thiamine
Can Bunnies Eat Grapes?
Of course! Rabbits can get to take grapes occasionally as treats, but the intake of grapes has to be limited. When taken in excess, they can lead to severe gastrointestinal issues for your rabbits; small amounts are best.
Before going to the store to make that purchase, please wait a moment, and let’s talk about rabbits and grapes.
Are Grapes OK for Your Rabbit?
In order for rabbits to be sustained daily, they need to be supplied lots of minerals and vitamins in their diets. Due to its highly nutritious nature, the grape is just perfect for this purpose. The only issue with grapes is the high sugar content and the excess water it contains.
Diarrhea is a common adverse effect of bland foods, and excess sugar can trigger the rabbits’ stomach problems. Sugars lead to the buildup of flatulence and can cause abdominal discomfort for the bunnies.
The final answer to that question is, yes, it’s OK for rabbits to eat grapes, but it should only be in small quantities.
Quantity of Grapes to Be Offered to Rabbits
So, what amount is the right amount that should be given to bunnies?
The number of grapes to be fed to rabbits is dependent on the age of the rabbit. Baby rabbits should not be given grapes at all. In contrast, one large or two small grapes is just adequate for adult rabbits.
Although you won’t probably get satisfied with two grapes, having more than two is dangerous for your rabbit. Even though most rabbits show great love for grapes, the number of grapes fed to them should be little at first.
Why Should You Be So Careful?
The most significant factor in this is the digestive system of your rabbit. New food, when introduced to your rabbit’s diet, should be given overtime and sparingly. The reason for this is because of the numerous complications that could suffice.
So, a practical thing to do is cut your small grape in half, one for you, one for your bunny, and everyone’s happy. If your grape is a large one, give your rabbit only a quarter of it. After doing this, you should monitor your bunny for any gastrointestinal signs in 24 hours.
Any sign of discomfort, gas, and pain should quickly alert you and stop you from feeding your rabbits grapes later on. If everything stays normal, then proceed to give a whole small grape the day that follows.
Keep monitoring your rabbit, and when you discover no trace of diarrhea or gastrointestinal symptoms, you can increase the grapes. The maximum number of grapes you can feed to your rabbits is one large or two small grapes.
How Frequently Can A Rabbit Get to Eat Grapes?
So, to everything sweet, there usually is a tendency to get hooked – the same is valid for your rabbit. Due to the taste of the grapes, your rabbit would begin to crave for more and more, and you’ll have to keep on feeding it. The result of excessively feeding your rabbits with grapes makes them snub rabbit pellets and hay.
When they don’t get hay and rabbit pellets, they ultimately won’t get the required nutrients for a complete diet.
A Correct Diet Is Important
Wild rabbits are the common ancestors to all pet rabbits, even though most pet rabbits have varying features. Grapes are not the natural food for rabbits as in the wild; all they feed on are mostly grasses and leaves.
What then is recommended for you to give your rabbits?
- Very little quantity of treats; The maximum number of goodies that should be offered should not exceed one teaspoon of fruit. The measure of what fruits should be given is concerning the weight of the rabbit.
- Fresh, clean water
- Rabbit food that is appropriate for the age
- Fresh hay
- A tablespoon of nutritious seeds – examples of these seeds includes sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. These provide excellent dental health for your rabbit. If your rabbit’s food already has seeds, there is, therefore, no need for other seeds.
- Salad – Please note that it is best to rotate the veggies you feed your rabbit to avoid vital organ damage.
Wrap Up
There you have it, rabbits can indeed eat grapes. However, you need to make sure it is in reasonable amounts to avoid problems.
