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Rabbits require fresh vegetables and fruit as part of a balanced diet, however it’s very easy to over indulge when you’re as small as a rabbit and doing so can have some devastating effects simply overnight. So that begs the question, are rabbits allowed apples?
Rabbits are allowed to eat apples with and without skin in moderation, much like other fruits this is due to their extremely high sugar content. You should only feed your rabbit 1 – 2 slices of 1 apple each week to avoid dental problems, obesity and diarrhea which in-turn can cause dehydration.
Yes! You should definitely give your rabbit apple as a treat! It’s a fruit that I’m yet to see a rabbit dislike! Apples should be eaten in small quantities over the course of a week. Exceeding no more than 1-2 slices a week.
Apples do contain seeds that contain toxins called Cyanogenic Glycosides, these should be removed from each apple slice to avoid harming your rabbit or potential choking. When chewed, Cyanogenic Glycosides release hydrogen cyanide which prevents your rabbits cells from using oxygen.
There are plenty of different types of apples, all of which are safe for consumption; Fuji, Ambrosia, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious & Red Delicious are some great options. But you will need to test varying types of apples with your rabbit because some vary in taste and sourness!
Whilst apple skin is good for your rabbits teeth as its tough and can help file their teeth down, the contents of sugar alone make it extremely bad for their teeth meaning the positives are outweighed by the cons.
Your rabbits teeth are crucial to their health and having something as acidic and rich as plant sugar will only complications in the future.
Before slicing the apple, make sure to thoroughly wash it to remove any pesticides, chemicals, dirt and any potential creepy crawlies. If you purchase organic apples, there will be a lot less chemicals on them.
Twigs and Branches are fantastic for your rabbits teeth and are often a go to with assisting them with grinding them down. Apple tree leaves and branches are extremely healthy for your rabbit and can be eaten all year round!
Domesticated rabbits absolutely love gnawing on twigs, whether they’re Willow Twigs or Apple twigs you’ll know that their teeth are in good hands!
One of the hardest parts of making sure your rabbit is healthy is checking their teeth, most rabbits don’t allow you to check easily so foods such as hay, twigs and foliage can help with grinding down your rabbits teeth and avoiding any issues!
Before giving your rabbit twigs or leaves, if taken from outside, make sure to wash them first to remove any dirt or insects. If purchased in store, do so to remove pesticides and chemicals.
Much like most fruits, you will need to give these to your rabbit in moderation, as Apples are high in sugar content you should only give portions of 1-2 slices per apple.
How big are the apple slices? This really depends on the size of your rabbit and the size of your apple! But it’s better to be safer than sorry. If you take a standard Granny Smith apple and slice it into 6 (This gadget is great for it!).
No, Apples are extremely high in sugar content and giving your rabbit constant portions of Apple will only result in Diarrhea, GI Stasis and Obesity. You should give your rabbit only 1 or 2 slices a week and don’t give more variations of fruit.
| Age of Rabbit | Amount of Apple |
|---|---|
| Baby Rabbits | None. |
| Juvenile/Teen Rabbits | None. |
| Adult rabbits | 2-3 slices a week |
It’s not all doom and gloom, whilst apples should be taken in small portions they are extremely rich in Antioxidants, Fiber and Flavonoids. Whilst this all sounds particularly complex, it’s really quite simple!
The Antioxidants in Apple can be sourced to helping prevent cancer, heart disease and organ failure, although these are mostly attributed to the study of multiple animals it’s safe to assume it would be the same in rabbits.
There are some fantastic studies that outline Antioxidants in rabbits, for example, “Supplemental antioxidants in rabbit nutrition: A review“
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 52 |
| Carbohydrates | 14g |
| Fiber | 2.4g |
| Protein | 0.3g |
| Fat | 0.2g |
Baby Rabbits, also known as kits have an entirely different dietary pallet that their parents or older siblings. As such, you should NOT give your rabbit any Fruit or Vegetables up until the age of 6 Months.
At 6 months at least, your rabbit should slowly be introduced into eating vegetables and fruits, but portions of Apple should be kept extremely small and even the size of the slices
Remember, each rabbit has a different sensitivity to foods and with an animal this fragile its better to be safer than sorry.
If you’re looking for more information, check out our post What Vegetables are safe for my Rabbit?
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