Rabbit owners know that a diet of their pets should be based on fresh hay, clean water and high quality pellets. But, rabbits also enjoy fresh vegetables and fruits as a part of their diet. It is important to feed your rabbit vegetables and fruits only occasionally. Large amounts of these foods can cause many health issues to your rabbit.
In this article we will deal with runner beans. If you are a rabbit owner, you may not be sure is this vegetable safe for your rabbit or it can be harmful. First we will tell you something more about runner beans and then we will analyze their impact on a rabbit’s health.
More about Runner Beans
Runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus) is a plant in the legume family that is native to Central America. This plant is also called scarlet runner bean or multiflora bean. Runner beans are easy to grow and they should be grown in a sunny or semi shaded spot that has to be protected from strong winds.
Runner bean is used as a food plant but also as an ornamental plant. Most varieties of runner beans have multicolored seeds and red flowers and they are usually grown as ornamental plants. When you use runner beans in culinary purposes, it is important to cook them well before eating.
Runner beans have a strong flavor and they have more coarse texture than green beans. But, are runner beans safe for rabbits or they are poisonous? Read on and you will find out.
Are Runner Beans Safe for Rabbits?
If your rabbit has eaten runner beans, don’t panic immediately! It is possible that nothing bad will happen, but you have to be careful in the future because we don’t have good news for you. Your bunny should avoid runner beans. Runner beans can make your bunny ill, especially if they are consumed in large amounts. As other beans, runner beans are high in fats, proteins and starches, so they are generally bad for rabbits and they can cause many health problems. Potatoes are not considered as toxic but experts have similar concerns because of its nutritional contents.
Also, they contain a toxic substance that can even kill your rabbit, especially if they are eaten raw. Actually, the seeds of runner beans are toxic, but if you take out the seeds then it is okay to feed your bunny runner beans in moderation. Runner beans can be safe for your rabbit as long as they don’t eat too many of them. If runner beans are consumed in large amounts, it can lead to many health problems. The most common are the problems in the gastrointestinal tract of your rabbit. Your rabbit may suffer from diarrhea or vomiting.
Also, your rabbit may have gas, which can be very dangerous. In some cases, the consequences can be fatal, especially if your bunny has eaten a large amount of runner beans.
Summary
As you have seen in this article, you should avoid runner beans and you should find some other treat for your rabbit. Runner beans contain toxic substances and they are not suitable for a rabbit’s diet. And while we’re at it, rhubarb isn’t as well. If you notice that your rabbit enjoy runner beans, you can serve them as an occasional treat but not every day!
A small amount of runner beans once in a while probably won’t do any harm to your rabbit, but generally, you should avoid this vegetable. Remember that you have the responsibility for your rabbit’s health and you have to be sure that a certain food is safe, before feeding this food to your rabbit.
Also, you should always start with small amounts when introducing new foods in your rabbit’s diet.
