If you love your rabbit, it’s only natural that you want to give them a treat every now and then. You may be concerned that treats bought from the store will be too sugary or unhealthy for your rabbit. So because they are herbivores, you will naturally think that feeding them fruits and vegetables will be a fantastic alternative.
However, you will need to ensure that your chosen fruit or vegetable is suitable for giving to your rabbit.
So can rabbits eat kiwi?
The great news is that yes, rabbits can eat kiwi! However, there are a few caveats that you will need to bear in mind when it comes to giving your pet this fruit as a treat. Foods such as kiwi should only be given to your rabbit in moderation.
They shouldn’t account for more than 10% of your rabbit’s diet. Your pet will get all the nutrition they need on a daily basis from their usual diet of hay.
So it will be important to only give your rabbit a small amount of kiwi each time. Anything more than this will upset your rabbit’s digestive system. Remember that fruits are high in sugar, which can cause an imbalance in your rabbit’s body.
They won’t need a lot of kiwi on top of their usual diet. Kiwis are actually a relatively low sugar fruit, but this will still need to be given to your rabbit in moderation.
You won’t have to worry about the seeds in kiwi fruit. These are so small that they won’t pose a choking hazard to your rabbit. They are also fairly easy for your bunny to digest. You can give your rabbit any variety of kiwi – all of them should be safe for your pet. You will still want to wash the fruit before you give it to your rabbit just in case there are any pesticides.
What part of a kiwi can rabbits eat?
Your rabbit can eat any part of a kiwi without experiencing any issues. Providing you only give them a small amount, of course! The seeds are fairly small, so you won’t have to worry about your rabbit choking on them. They will also be easy for your rabbit to digest.
The skin is safe to give to your rabbit, and is actually more beneficial for them than the flesh of the fruit itself. Kiwi skin has a much higher fiber content than the fruit does, but should still only be given to your rabbit in moderation. This is because it also has a fair amount of sugar in it.
When it comes to deciding how much fruit to give to your rabbit, you should make this relative to their body weight. You should give your rabbit no more than 1 teaspoon of kiwi fruit for every 2 pounds of their body weight each day.
This should be just enough for your rabbit’s body to cope with the sugary treat. Your rabbit should also be able to enjoy this once or twice a week.
Remember that you will need to slowly introduce new foods to your rabbit’s diet. If you haven’t given them any kiwi fruit before, only give them a small mouthful and see how they react to this.
Some rabbits have very sensitive digestive systems and won’t be able to cope with too many treats. If your rabbit suffers from gastrointestinal issues on a regular basis, you should avoid giving them kiwi fruits as well as fruits in general.
The only thing to bear in mind is that you shouldn’t give your rabbit any dried kiwi. This will have been overly processed, and won’t have as many tasty nutrients in it as raw kiwi. You should opt for organic kiwis, too, and ensure that you wash them thoroughly before giving them to your rabbit.
Can rabbits eat kiwi leaves?
Rabbits can eat kiwi leaves, yes! This could make a very tasty treat for your pet. If you want to give your rabbit kiwi leaves, make sure that you only do so occasionally and only in moderation. You won’t want to cause them any tummy upsets.
What are the benefits of feeding your rabbit kiwi?
When given to your rabbit in small amounts, kiwi can be a very beneficial treat. This fruit is naturally high in vitamin C. This vitamin can help to boost your rabbit’s immune system. There is also plenty of vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin E, vitamin K, copper, and potassium in kiwi fruits. Kiwi fruit is also a rich source of antioxidants. These will be very beneficial for fighting off free radicals.
Compared to other fruits, kiwis are also relatively low in sugar. So you won’t have to worry about overloading your rabbit’s digestive system if you choose to give them this as a treat. They are also fairly low in calories, so won’t make your rabbit put on too much weight.
Kiwis are also an excellent source of fiber – particularly the skin. This can help your rabbit’s digestive system.
In summary
So there you have it! Your rabbit can indeed eat kiwi. This will even be a beneficial treat for your bunny! The kiwi fruit has a whole range of vitamins and minerals that will be beneficial for your rabbit, particularly vitamin C and fiber.
They are also packed full of antioxidants which can help to fight free radicals. Interestingly, the skin of the kiwi fruit has more fiber in it than the flesh of the fruit itself.
The kiwi fruit is one of the only fruits which is safe for your rabbit to eat all of. The kiwi isn’t toxic to rabbits, however, it should only be given to your bunny in moderation. Too much fruit will be bad for your rabbit because only 10% of their diet is meant to account for treats. Remember to only give your rabbit around 1 teaspoon of kiwi fruit for every 2 pounds that they weigh.
This will be a tasty treat that you can give your rabbit once or twice a week.
