Do Rabbits Fart? (What’s Normal And Is It Ok?)

It’s something that causes embarrassment in humans and can even startle some animals. Yes, we are talking about farting! But, it’s completely natural and normal, right? Doesn’t everyone fart? Well, farting is usually nothing to worry about.

It’s your body’s way of releasing gas that has built up inside. This is usually from the air we have swallowed during the day as well as different beverages and meals. Then, there are our furry friends.

Do Rabbits Fart? (What's Normal And Is It Ok?)

Animals also fart and it is completely natural. However, it can become a worry if your pet is farting more than usual or producing particularly unpleasant scents in the air. Sometimes, this could mean they have eaten something that doesn’t agree with them.

This is what can cause gas in humans, so, it could do the same for rabbits, right? Read on to find out more.

The question remains – do rabbits fart? Yes, rabbits fart a lot. It is essential to their digestive health. While it may sound funny, having a rabbit tooting around the place, it is highly unlikely that you will ever hear your rabbit let one rip.

As with humans, passing gas is a normal function of a rabbit’s digestive health on a daily basis. However, too much gas build-up can become very painful and even fatal for our bunny friends.

Today, we are going to discuss farting and what its role is in a rabbit’s digestion. We will also learn when you should be concerned about too much gas and what we can do to ensure rabbits stay healthy and happy. 

Why do rabbits fart?

Farting is an important and necessary function of a rabbit’s daily digestion. Rabbits fart because of gas that has been produced during digestion. Food products travel to the rabbit’s cecum where their gut bacteria break down the food which creates a by-product, gas.

This region of the rabbit’s digestive tract then becomes a chamber. This is where gas builds up while food is being digested.

The gas will then make its way through the remaining digestive tract before, eventually, escaping through the rabbit’s backside. And, most of the time, humans will never be aware that this has occurred. 

The build-up of gas in rabbits 

Silent but deadly. While we have all experienced a pet that sits next to you only to get back up and leave you with a pungent smell in the air, a rabbit’s silent farts are not so acrid.  Silent farts are completely normal and healthy for rabbits. If they do not fart enough, it can lead to some serious health issues. 

Without farting, gas can begin to build up in the rabbit’s gut which can lead to serious discomfort and pain. In some severe cases, this can lead to a fatality. It can be a sign of a more serious health concern such as GI stasis or stomach bloat.

If gas builds up in a rabbit’s gut, it could be because the gas is not passing through its digestive tract at a fast enough pace. The reason behind this can often be stress or not enough exercise. 

Gas may also build up because some rabbits could be producing more gas than they need to have. In these cases, it’s usually the rabbit’s diet at fault. It could mean they have had too many sweets or treats and eaten something that they shouldn’t have.

Can you hear and smell a rabbit’s fart?

On the whole, a rabbit’s fart is both silent and scentless for humans to experience. Therefore, you probably will not hear a rabbit making any kind of funny farting noise. However, some rabbit owners have reported hearing little noises coming from rabbits as well as experiencing some added smells to accompany their release of wind.

Many rabbit owners have shared stories where they have heard an unusual noise emanating from their pet. This sound has been described as a little squeak of air that leaves a balloon. In other words, a little rabbit fart. To be fair, isn’t this exactly how you would imagine a cute rabbit to sound when they release gas? We sure think so!

Nevertheless, most of us have never and may never hear a rabbit fart (sorry to crush your dreams). However, you may smell one at some point, especially if you own a rabbit.

A rabbit may show a sign of a fart by sighing and moving into an unusual, uncomfortable-looking posture. This can often be accompanied by a release of trapped air and, on occasions, a slight smell. 

Do some foods cause more gas in rabbits?

As with humans and many animals, a rabbit’s diet can have a huge impact on the amount of gas they produce within their intestines. In turn, this affects how much they fart.

While some foods such as sprouts or broccoli are known to make humans gassy, some pet owners believe the same foods can make their animals full of wind too. However, this is not completely true.

No evidence has been found that sprouts or broccoli will cause a rabbit to pass more gas than they usually would.

However, there are some foods that can lead to a higher build-up of gas. These include grains and legumes. Any kind of bread product, peas, or beans should not be part of a rabbit’s diet due to this reason. 

A rabbit should only consume a limited amount of sugary fruits and vegetables too. Any food that is high in sugars and starch is known to cause gastrointestinal issues if a rabbit has too much. Therefore, you should avoid giving rabbits too many sweet treats, even if they want more and more every time.

In Summary 

While farting is a natural and normal part of a rabbit’s digestive system, excessive gas build-up can cause serious problems. This can lead to discomfort, pain, and in rare cases, death.

With the right diet, a rabbit should not experience such issues and fart regularly and normally. Trust us, you won’t even know when they release their silent gases into the room!