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Can Rabbits Eat Cabbage?

Rabbit owners always need a good diet plan in order to keep their pets strong and lively. In fact, baby rabbits, whose age are not more than six years, may be able to grow properly by consuming only timothy hay along with some clean water. These are enough for their complete meals.

Besides, you may also plan to offer them some delicious treats; however, that should be given only in small amount. But, as soon as your rabbits have crossed six months, you may try to be slightly creative while giving them meals. In this case, it is best to choose some green, fresh leafy vegetables in their everyday diet.

It is not much difficult to find leafy vegetables in any market, and one of these leafy foods is cabbage. People, who own rabbits, often cannot decide on whether it is right to give the cabbage to their rabbits. Now, a comprehensive discussion given below may give them an idea.

Cabbage of any type is suitable

Most of the veterinarians are found to suggest that cabbage can be chosen as the staple food of a bunny. Cabbages are of various types- red, green and Savoy- all of them are harmless for your rabbits. In fact, cabbage has high amount of beta carotene, vitamin C and K, magnesium, calcium and also potassium.

Moreover, iodine is also present in cabbages and it builds a strong brain as well as nervous system; at the same time, it also enhances the roles of endocrine system. Extreme percentage of vitamin E also maintains the shines of your rabbits’ skin, which may turn out to be healthy and soft.

Cabbage integrates high amount of effective antioxidant compounds, including the phytonutrients. This presence of higher quantity of polyphenols has made cabbage the best vegetables with lots of antioxidant compounds. So, the intake of cabbage sustains the general fitness of your furry friend, while also improving its immunity.

Besides, this veggie also prevents the issue of oxidative strain. In addition to it, such effect antioxidants may also help your rabbits to keep away from some serious ailments, such as, heart disease.

Cabbage is recommendable to rabbits at any stages of life. Vitamins, fiber or minerals really make it such a veggie, which has turned out to be a staple in the daily diet, when they take pleasure in eating it.

Possible adverse reaction from cabbage

Rabbits or bunnies possess an extremely sensitive and specialized digestive system, and for this reason, feeding excessive amount of cabbage leaves to your pets is expected to cause diarrhea and gas.  It is for the reason that the bacteria, present in the digestive tract of rabbits, ferment all the things, which cannot be digested by these animals. Under usual conditions, when the rabbit consumes hay, it takes much time for fermentation, and it gradually contributes bacteria with some nutrients, which they want to develop. Then, such bacteria turn out B-vitamins along with other nutrients, important for bunnies.

However, some rabbit owners have said that their pets have felt gassy after eating cabbage. It is not highly risky though it may make your pet painful because cabbage has the capability of producing gas in your rabbit’s body.

Generally, rabbits are not so much competent to gain self-control; thus, when you have loaded up their dish with a number of cabbage leaves, they will most possible eat all the bits. So, it is better to restrict their consumption to about 5 leaves per day and not more than that.

In some worst situation, your rabbits may suffer from the loss of appetite.  This loss of hunger, at times, also causes death, and thus, it is highly essential to ensure that your rabbits do not keep on eating the cabbage.

In short, it may be stated that rabbits will remain healthier and physically strong only when they are provided with completely balanced meals, which have very low amount of carbohydrates (starch and sugar) but very high amount of fiber as well as definite nutrients.

How to introduce cabbage?

Cabbage must be added to your rabbits’ diet in a slow way in order to keep away from all stomach problems. Only a few leaves over a week may be sufficient in order to keep them away from feeling gassy, particularly when they like to eat cabbage. While you have noticed that your rabbit is quite well and does not show any strange reaction, you can slowly start increasing the amount on the subsequent week. The bunnies, which tend to have any digestive problem, must have the cabbage only in reduced amount. Otherwise, your pet may get bloated to some extent.

Other veggies for rabbits

Some other kinds of fresh green leafy veggies, which you may feed your rabbit, mainly comprise beet greens, arugula, lettuce, cilantro, broccoli, dill, mint, turnip, escarole, water cress and many more. Besides, you may also nourish your rabbits with some herbs; however, make certain that you recognize their response to it as the herbs possess extremely strong tastes or scents. Some of the rabbits’ species may also munch basils with the utmost pleasure, while there are many rabbits that do not like herbs due to their taste and scent.

You may also introduce fruits to your rabbits’ diet and serve this as an occasional treat. The most preferred fruit treats, which you may provide to your rabbit, are bananas, apples, blackberries, cherries, strawberries, mangoes, oranges, melons, peaches, pineapples, pears, plums and also tomatoes without giving the leaves.

So, it can be concluded that sharing the leaves of cabbage with any furry friend, like rabbits, seems to be a positive concept. This is a wonderful vegetable, which represents an extensive variety of healthy properties that your pet may genuinely utilize for their body. But, moderation is always the main factor, which has to be considered while feeding your rabbit any vegetable or fruit.

Moreover, give high attention while introducing this veggie to the diet of your pet, and in this way, you can keep your rabbit healthy and lively.