Can Pet Rabbits Eat Apples – Good Treats For Rabbits?

two rabbits eating an apple

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Rabbits can eat a variety of plants and produce. However, it is very important to remove any pits and seeds.

These can cause rabbits to choke, and many even contain poisonous compounds.

Today’s question is ‘Can Pet Rabbits Eat Apples?’….. Let’s find out!

Can rabbits eat apples?

Apple seeds contain arsenic. So, while yes, rabbits can indeed eat apples, and even enjoy them greatly as a treat, removing the seeds first is imperative. Not even humans are recommended to eat the seeds of apples.

While the small dose of arsenic in apple seeds is not deadly to humans, for rabbits the dose is much larger and can cause serious harm.

Even humans are advised not to eat apple seeds. 

It’s not something everyone knows

Not everyone knows this information about apple seeds. Many will offer rabbit-safe, leftover produce to their rabbits -such as apple cores, with the seeds intact.

This poses a danger, clearly. Apples and apple cores alike are fine as long as the seeds are removed properly.

Just make sure to feed your bun no more than a few slices at a time, or a single core, ideally! Apples and other sweet fruits should be used as treats primarily. 

As mentioned above, there are plenty of plants and produce which rabbits can safely enjoy. Some have seeds or pits that require removal.

There are also, of course, fruits and veggies which are not okay for rabbits to consume. 

Here’s 5 Pet Rabbit Treats that they’ll love

In answer to the question ‘Can rabbits eat apples?‘, yes – just take care by removing the pips/seeds. We’ll look at other foods that your pet rabbit can and cannot eat below:

Can rabbits eat apples

The following is a list of common plants and produce; ones that rabbits can eat, sometimes under special circumstances only, and ones which they must avoid entirely. 

Fruits Rabbits Can Eat Safely 

Bananas are a Treat for Rabbits

Rabbits can eat a small amount of bananas a day. Specifically, offer no more than a thumb-sized amount daily. This is a sweet fruit that rabbits usually really like. 

Strawberries Make Excellent Bunny Treats

Only offer your rabbit a small strawberry or half of a medium to large one.

They will probably show a great deal of enthusiasm for the fruit. Sweet fruits like strawberries are, to rabbits, like candy.

Give your fuzzy companion a piece of strawberry every once and a while and they will surely appreciate the gesture. 

Rabbits Find Raspberries Very Tasty

Raspberries make a nice treat for a bunny. Offer only a few small raspberries at a time, daily. Raspberries and strawberries alike are rather adorable to watch rabbits eat, actually.

They chew quickly and often stain their chins and noses with the vibrant berry juice. 

Veggies Rabbits Can Eat Safely

Hay is Food for Rabbits 

Not only can rabbits eat hay, it should make up most of their diet each day.

Timothy Hay, in particular, is known for its high fiber content and nutritional value. 

Let Your Rabbit Give Wheat Grass a Try

Wheatgrass is a tender plant, full of flavor and nutrients. It is popular among rabbits and humans alike and makes for a lovely rabbit snack. 

Carrots Can Make a Nice Snack for Your Bunny

Contrary to popular belief, rabbits do not actually eat root vegetables naturally. This being said, carrots are safe for them to consume.

The veggie is high in fiber, and rather sweet, making it a healthful and tasty option for your bunny in small portions. 

two rabbits eating carrots
Rabbits really do love carrots

Celery is Good for Rabbit Hydration and Sustenance

Though there is some debate about celery, due to the stringy bits that can cause digestive issues in some small rodents, rabbits seem to be able to eat it safely.

Not only that, but they benefit from the high amounts of fiber and water in the vegetable. 

Rabbits have a special organ, called a ‘cecum,’ which digests fiber specifically. Of what rabbits eat, fiber makes up the bulk.

Not only this, but rabbits obtain some of their hydration during the day from fresh fruits and veggies. This makes celery ideal for them in a couple of ways. 

Sprouts are Full of Nutrients for Rabbits

Humans and rabbits alike can benefit from sprouts greatly. These plants are chock-full of nutrients that can help keep your rabbit energized and healthy.

Like celery, sprouts are also full of water and will help hydrate your bunny. These can be cute to watch rabbits munch, as the sprouts disappear into their mouths like noodles quickly. 

Squash is Okay as a Treat for a Bunny 

While squash is a bit high in carbs, a small amount for a bunny is okay.

Make sure to keep the portion no larger than a man’s thumb. You see, carbs and sugars can cause tummy troubles in a bunny. Their digestive system is very sensitive.

The fiber in squash helps balance this out, and squash also contains many nutrients which are beneficial. 

Some Rabbits Can Eat Bok Choy 

Bok Choy is actually a hit or miss among rabbits. It is not toxic, and many rabbits enjoy the veggie without issue. Some will experience mild digestive troubles, such as gas.

The only way to find out if your rabbit likes bok choy is to let them give it a try. Start with a smaller portion than you might otherwise offer, to test their reaction to the veggie. 

Alternately, as with apple seeds, the following are some fruits and veggies you should avoid feeding your rabbit entirely: 

Corn Hulls Are Not Safe for Rabbits

First off, corn is very high in carbohydrates. This alone makes it unideal for rabbits.

The hulls of corn, however, present the greatest danger, ultimately. Rabbits find it impossible to digest these.

This leads to blockages, which can all too quickly prove deadly. 

rabbit eating corn
Be careful with corn and especially the hulls which can lead to digestive issues

Onions are Toxic to Most Animals Including Bunnies

This is a vegetable you will want to keep far out of the reach of your bunny.

In rabbits, onions can cause Hemolytic Anemia, as well as anaphylactic shock.

Captive buns are not as wordly-wise as wild rabbits and will sample things that they should know to avoid naturally. Onions are one such.

In the wild, rabbits give these a wide berth. A captive rabbit, in an area of safety, may instead consider it another snack. 

If you grow onions in your garden, these are one of the vegetables you will want to be certain is fenced off from your bunny. 

Avocados are Highly Toxic to Rabbits 

Like the onion, avocados, when consumed by rabbits, are potentially deadly. Not only does this include the meat, but also the shell; in fact, the shell is even more toxic.

This means that, once your rabbit has gotten into the avocado, the harm is done. 

Something called ‘persin’ is what makes avocados so toxic to a bunny.

At the least, persin is known to cause behavioral changes, which are followed by breathing troubles, and, at worst, heart attack. 

Eliminate the risk of this tragedy by storing avocados up high. Should your rabbit get into avocado somehow, rush them to the vet right away. 

Any Bread, Crackers or Pasta are Terrible for Your Bunny

For some reason, as touched on earlier, rabbits have a very sensitive digestive system. An excess of carbs, even in fibrous foods like veggies, will affect them negatively. 

Specifically, rabbits are prone to something called ‘enterotoxemia,’ which is when their digestive tract grows too much harmful bacteria.

Not only does this condition cause rabbits a great deal of discomfort, but it also poses a great risk for shutting down the digestive system entirely. This is why enterotoxemia can prove deadly. 

Prevent Enterotoxemia in Your Bunny by Watching their Carb Intake

Carbs are a large part of the reason so many fruits are considered ‘treats’ by rabbit standards. Among plants, vegetables and the like, fruit is the most ‘sugary.’

Fortunately, fruit is also stuffed with fiber, which balances its effect on the body of a bunny. This makes it okay in specific portions daily. 

Comparatively, crackers, pasta, bread, and even worse, cakes, cookies and pastries, have a ton of carbs, with fiber content that is quite low.

These will wreak havoc on the delicate digestive system of a bunny. 

When your rabbit is out of the cage, ascertain there is no food such as this spilled on the floor. Even one cracker is a big carb dose for a little bunny. 

Chocolate is Poisonous to Most Animals Including Rabbits

Among animals, chocolate is pretty much always toxic. This is for a couple of reasons. First, chocolate contains caffeine.

While caffeine is not inherently deadly to animals, the doses that humans consume are; even the small amount there is in chocolate.

Animals should not have caffeine in any quantity, but especially not a human-sized dose. 

Second, chocolate contains theobromine, which, to rabbits, is often deadly. 

This is not to mention the high sugar content of chocolate and other candy. To rabbits, these are poison, basically. 

Nuts Are Not Good for Bunnies

While most nuts are not poisonous to rabbits, per se, they are high in fats. Rabbits do not consume very much fat naturally, so it is hard on their body.

Along with this, nuts offer no nutritional value to a bunny. Macadamia nuts are actually toxic. 

Basically, feeding your rabbit nuts – of any variety – is not advisable. 

Rabbits Do Not Benefit From Lettuce or Spinach

This may come as a surprise, but lettuce is not actually good for your bunny! Iceberg, in particular, offers very little nutrients, and romaine is not much better, ultimately.

This is because both plants contain something called ‘lactucarium,’ something which causes digestive troubles and runny stools in rabbits, unfortunately. 

Spinach, on the other hand, contains oxalic acid, which affects rabbits harmfully. Kale also contains this, along with mustard greens and parsley. A better choice is celery leaves. 

two white rabbits eating
Lettuce, spinach and cabbage is a favorite of our rabbits

Rabbits Should Never Consume Meat or Dairy

Unlike mice, rats, and other small rodents, which are omnivores, bunnies are herbivores. This means they do not consume anything outside the realm of plants naturally.

Do not try to feed your rabbit milk, eggs, cheese, or meats of any variety.

First off, your rabbit will probably not oblige you. A rabbit showing interest in foods like this is unlikely. Secondly, if your rabbit does eat the food, they will wind up very sick.

Herbivores literally cannot digest these sorts of foods with their body. 

Cauliflower Causes Rabbits Tummy Troubles

The stalks and heads of cauliflower cause severe abdominal discomfort and gas in rabbits. The leaves are the only part that can be comfortably fed to a bunny. 

Peas are Too Sugary For Rabbits 

In the realm of vegetables, peas are some of the sweetest. This high sugar content can pose a danger to your bunny. There is also phosphorus in peas, which rabbits should avoid the consumption of. 

Conclusion: Can rabbits eat apples?

As you can see, there are many fruits and veggies out there that rabbits may try. They will consider these a tasty snack, and get a lot of nutrients out of the food as well.

Just remember to pay attention to portion sizes, even with rabbit-safe foods. Rabbit-safe foods in excess can still affect a rabbit harmfully. 

Now you know some of the main foods that are bad for your bunny, too, and can avoid them accordingly. 

Along with this knowledge, never feed your rabbit something that you have not made certain is safe initially. The toxicity of some foods to rabbits can come as a surprise.

The fact that lettuce and spinach are not healthy for rabbits, for example, is not especially well-known! 

Use your best judgment and stay informed, so you can keep your beloved rabbit safe, well-fed and happy.

We hope we’ve answered the question ‘Can Pet Rabbits Eat Apples?’ here – just remember – it’s the seeds that are deadly; your pet rabbit will enjoy eating the flesh and seedless core of an apple.

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