Celery is a common vegetable that some people will eat every day and you may wonder if your rabbits can also eat celery. This article will explain all about giving celery to your rabbit and discuss the pros and cons of feeding this veggie.
Can Rabbits Eat Celery?
The short answer is YES, according to the Rabbit Welfare Association rabbits can eat celery. It is best to only give them celery a few times a week and cut the celery into small chunks 1 inch or less in length. Most bunnies really like celery and do not have any intestinal problems after eating celery. When adding celery into your rabbits’ diet it is best to start off with small amounts (a small chunk) and gradually increase the amount you give them.
Can Rabbits Eat Celery Leaves?
Yes, your rabbits can eat the leaves of the celery. This part of the plant is actually safer for them to eat than the stalks since the stalks contain fiber strings that have the potential to cause problems. Most grocery stores cut off the leaves of the celery before selling them as most people do not use the leaves. You may try growing your own celery or look at local farmer’s markets for celery with leaves.
Can Rabbits Eat Celery Stalks?
Yes, your rabbits can eat celery stalks. Your rabbits can actually eat the entire plant. The stalks, leaves, and roots are all perfectly safe for rabbits to eat in moderation. The stalks contain fiber and vitamins that rabbits need each day.
Is Celery Good for Your Rabbit to Eat?
Celery is a great vegetable to feed your rabbit a few times a week. It is made up of about 95% water; this helps make sure that your rabbit is taking in enough water each day. Celery is also packed full of useful vitamins and minerals that are needed for every rabbit. These include:
- Folate
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Potassium
- Vitamin B6
- Manganese
- Phosphorous
While rabbit food and hay contain most of the vitamins and minerals your rabbit needs, daily veggies and a little fruit are also helpful. Vegetables help make sure that your rabbits are getting all the nutrients that they need.
Celery also contains good amounts of both soluble and insoluble fiber which helps to keep your rabbit’s digestive system working well.
Make sure to always feed raw celery to your rabbits as they cannot properly digest cooked celery. Raw veggies are a great thing for your rabbit to chew on. This will help keep their teeth – which are always growing – worn down to a proper length.
Problems With Rabbits Eating Celery
While celery is a great vegetable to feed your rabbit, it can also cause some issues. Some potential issues with rabbits eating celery are:
Diarrhea
Sometimes this veggie can cause diarrhea due to the high percentage of water it contains. Most of the time, extra water intake is great to help keep your rabbit’s digestive system working well, but sometimes too much water can lead to diarrhea. When first introducing celery, give them just a small piece and slowly increase the amount that they are eating.
Choking
The stalk of the celery has long fibrous strings that can potentially get cough in your rabbit’s teeth or stuck in their throat, causing them to choke. If your rabbit is choking on a piece of celery, you can help them by gently but firmly patting their back. This will help to dislodge the piece of celery. Also, take your rabbit to the veterinarian as quickly as possible.
The best way to prevent any of these problems for your rabbit is to cut the celery into small chunks less than 1 inch in length. Shorter lengths should not cause any problems for your rabbit.
Intestinal Blockage
These long fibrous strings can also get caught in the stomach and intestines catching food and other particles. This could eventually lead to your rabbit’s intestines getting blocked – a condition known as GI stasis. This is a very painful condition for your bunny. By making sure that your rabbit’s celery is cut into small chunks will help decrease the chance of any GI problems.
Sugar Content
Even though celery is made up of mostly water, celery actually contains just under 2% sugar. This may be the main reason that most rabbits really like to eat celery. Rabbits thrive on a low sugar diet and it is best to limit this vegetable to a few times a week and not feed alongside other veggies that are moderately high in sugar, such as carrots. Sugar intake can lead to teeth problems and obesity over time.
How Much Celery Should I Feed My Rabbits?
80% of a rabbit’s diet should be hay or grass and vegetables can make up to 10 to 15%. The remainder would be rabbit food (pellets). The veggie portion should contain a mixture of different veggies with a rotation through what you feed them each day. This helps to give a variety of nutrients.
Celery could be included in this mixture. It is best to limit your rabbit to a ½ a stick of celery cut into 1-inch pieces, every 3 to 4 days.
In Conclusion
While wild rabbits do not commonly eat celery, it is a great vegetable to give your rabbit in moderation. However, celery not only has some wonderful nutritious benefits but may also cause some problems.
It is always best to start off giving your bunny one small piece and making sure that their sensitive digestive system can tolerate the new veggie. If you notice any problems, stop giving this vegetable, or try to introduce slowly over time.
