Last Updated on May 25, 2023 by Admin
We all know that rabbits need a balanced diet to stay healthy. Besides hay as their primary diet, they also need to eat fresh veggies to provide them with additional nutrients. The main question often asked by rabbit caregivers is, can rabbits eat celery? This article will answer that shortly and whether this particular vegetable is edible for your bunny and the nutritional value it has.
Can Rabbits Eat Celery?
The short answer is yes; celery is an edible vegetable for rabbits that are at least 3 months old. Nonetheless, it should be considered as a secondary diet rather than a staple food. When feeding your bunny celery, serve it raw and never cooked, since bunnies are normally unable to digest cooked veggies.
You can feed your bunny mainly the celery leaves and sticks after washing them. The recommended daily celery intake should be ½ a stick together with the leaves. In other words, this quantity is equivalent to half a cup when chopped into bits, less than an inch.
Introducing a celery diet to your rabbits
First and foremost, prior to introducing a celery diet to your bunny, make sure that the veggie is fresh and rinsed thoroughly rinsed to remove any dirt or pesticide residues. When you’re first introducing a celery diet to your rabbit, do so in moderation and take note of how their stomachs handle it. Gradually introduce this particular veggie to your bunny to avoid stomach upsets.
When serving it offer them a small piece, preferably half an inch per serving, to prevent choking incidences. Lastly, increase the portion with time bearing in mind not to exceed the maximum quantity which is half a cup per day. This is mainly due to the oxalic acid content in celery and most vegetables if consumed excessively can lead to bladder stone formation.
The health benefits of rabbits eating celery
Celery is a highly nutritious vegetable since it’s rich in essential vitamins such as vitamins A, C, and K. In addition, celery also consists of minerals such as potassium and phosphorous. All three nutrients contribute to the growth, development, and general health of a rabbit in one way or another.
For instance, vitamin A contained in celery plays a pivotal role in vision and bone development as well as combat rabbit infections. Vitamin C on the other hand helps support the normal functioning of a rabbit’s immune system by healing wounds quicker. Additionally, vitamin C also helps to improve the overall coat and rabbit skin appearance. Vitamin K contained in celery is also useful in bone formation and development in rabbits.
When it comes to minerals a rabbit gets from eating celery, potassium is one of them which aids the growth and development of bunnies. Phosphorous on the other hand is essential when it comes to the growth and development of a rabbit’s teeth and bones.
The other health benefit of rabbits eating celery is the water content contained in this particular vegetable. In other words, it keeps your bunny hydrated which is good for their digestion. Lastly, the dense texture of celery, preferably the stalk or root base is ideal when it comes to trimming down your rabbit’s teeth in the long run.
Conclusion
Although rabbits can eat celery, it should be served occasionally to supplement their primary diet which is hay. On top of that, always try to mix a variety of veggies alongside celery to spice things up. Finally, if your rabbit has diarrhea or is constipated after introducing a celery diet, cease feeding them this new diet. In addition, you may also want to take your rabbit to a vet just to be on the safe side.
