Meta: This article is going to address the age old question that has plagued philosophers for decades: can rabbits eat coconut? Joking aside, you might be wanting to vary your rabbit’s diet and might be curious about introducing coconut into your rabbit’s diet. The short answer is no, and we’ll explain why.
If you are an avid animal keeper, then you might want to make sure that your animals are extremely healthy, with a decent coat and strong teeth and nails. Maybe you might think that a coconut husk might be hard enough to whittle down this animal’s sharp teeth.
Well, you should try and nix those hunches as quickly as you can. Coconut is very high in sugar and calories and will not be good for your rabbit’s delicate digestive system. Coconut also contains sulfur and high levels of calcium that will cause some severe stomach upset.
So what happens if your rabbit gets curious and eats a little bit of coconut? Should you rush this animal straight to the vets? Does the coconut have any nutritional value for a rabbit in the slightest? What about coconut oil and more synthetic coconut substances?
Well, if you want to settle the score between your rabbit and the coconut, then we would suggest that you keep reading. Not only will we solve all of your coconut dilemmas, but we will ensure that you have everything that you need to make sure that your rabbit gets a healthy diet.
The Big Question: Can Your rabbit Eat Coconut?
We hate to disappoint you coconut lovers, but the answer to this question is unfortunately not. Coconuts are full of things that are very unhealthy for your rabbit’s diet. The levels of calcium are way too much to accommodate your rabbit’s delicate digestive system. Calcium itself in large doses can lead to ruptures and intense stomach cramps.
This fruit is also very high in fat and should be avoided as it will cause your rabbit to certainly pack on the pounds. This will be very harmful to its mobility and you can be sure that you’ll have plenty of issues, especially if your rabbit is older.
This is not to say that your rabbit doesn’t have an appetite for coconut, it certainly does. If you leave coconut in a low place for whatever reason and your rabbit gets to it, then you can certainly expect it to tuck into the husk quickly.
Can Rabbits Eat Coconut Meat?
Rabbits are certainly attracted to coconut meat, especially because they are as tasty to rabbits as they are to humans. However, these animals do not have the requisite digestive system to deal with such an intense dose of these nutrients.
This will also lead to the stomach not absorbing the right amount of nutrients that it needs for its diet. These issues, while not lethal immediately, will certainly lead to a lot more issues for your rabbit in the long run.
If your rabbit has low phosphorus levels, then this will also lead to growth stunting and weak muscles. This is why it is important that your rabbit does not get any coconut whatsoever. If it does eat coconut meat just once by mistake, you can probably save yourself a trip to the vets, as it will not be immediately lethal.
Can Rabbits Drink Coconut oil?
Again, this oil is one of the things that you should avoid giving your rabbit. The reason for this is that they are prone to putting on weight if they are fed the wrong types of food. This can then lead to muscle problems and eventually death if left untreated.
Generally, you want to make sure that your rabbit is getting plenty of high-fiber foods with low calories. The perfect combination is nuts with lettuce leaves and chewy foods like carrots, peas and berries.
Can Rabbits Eat Shop-Bought Dry Coconut?
Even if your coconut is bought from the shop and dried out, it will still contain the high-fat content that you’ll want to avoid your rabbit eating regularly. If you are feeding your rabbit this food, you can be certain that they’ll put on weight after a while.
Dried coconut can also be very sharp and difficult for your rabbit to swallow. It might also lead to lacerated gums, which will soon become infected if they are left untreated for any length of time. You can be sure that your rabbit will have a serious choking hazard if it is left to eat dried coconut on its own.
Can Rabbits Eat Coconut Shells?
For the same reason that it can’t eat coconut meat or dried coconut, you should also avoid feeding your rabbit this, as it does not contain that many nutrients, has a high-fat content and can lacerate the throat and gums.
This will also be very dry and will cause your rabbit to dehydrate. A rabbit will probably be unlikely to get its teeth through the hard coconut shell. If your rabbit breaks its teeth it will not only cause it a considerable amount of pain, but it will also make it much harder to chew its way through its regular food.
These coconut shells are also very dense and heavy, so you’ll have to be sure that they won’t get injured when they are out playing in the garden. This hard shell also will provide a choking hazard, which could have disastrous consequences for you and your rabbit.
Can rabbits Drink Coconut Milk Or Coconut Water?
You can provide your rabbit with this drink, as it will be a tasty treat for them. However, under no circumstances should this be a permanent replacement for your rabbit. You should always make sure that this rabbit has access to plenty of tap water that is fresh and free of parasites that can nest in their stomach.
Coconut water can be a useful way of getting a dehydrated rabbit to drink water, as they will be attracted to the flavor rather than the texture of the water itself.
