Rabbits are one of those creatures that consume various types of plant materials. From dry grasses to the fresh leaves- all are eaten by wild rabbits.
Still, when we own a rabbit at our home, we become much concerned about the right food items, to be included to their diet. A fresh and healthy diet is always desirable for a bunny, and thus, many people try to think of whether they can give some spinach leaves to a furry rabbit.
Why spinach is recommendable for your rabbits?
Spinach is often considered to be healthiest foods for all of us as it is full of minerals and vitamins. The best fact about this veggie is that this is recommendable not only for your body but also for your rabbits’ health.
You know that gastro intestinal tract of rabbits and our body is not same, and thus, most of the foodstuffs, which produce gas in our body, may not do so for our pet rabbits. The common kinds of food items, which cause disorder in the GI tract of rabbits, are those that have sugar and starch content as they lead to an alteration in pH of cecum. Ultimately, it may disturb the overall system of the body, and the effect will be severe GI syndrome. Foods, which are likely to cause GI problems in rabbit, are grains, legumes and other starchy foods. But, spinach is not included in this list and so, you may offer it to your rabbit without any problem.
Thus, if you have bought spinach from the grocery store for your purpose, you can happily share it with your small cute rabbit. In fact, it is observed by the experts that if raw spinach is eaten by your rabbits, then it may help you to serve you 2 purposes- One of them is the roughage that is good for digestion, while the other one is a superior source for vitamin A, which is always important for the growth of body.
While talking about the benefits about spinach, it is to be said that this veggie consists of the considerable amount of iron and folate. These elements are vital for excellent blood circulation in the body of your rabbits. In addition to it, you may also prevent your rabbits from experiencing anemia.
Besides, modern studies have also proved that spinach has a significant quantity of antioxidants lutein as well as zeaxanthin; these are also helpful to protect your rabbits’ retinas. Thus, to keep up the good vision of your rabbits, you may add spinach to your bunny’s diet.
Problems caused by spinach
There is only one problem that you can find with spinach leaves is the presence of oxalates. When your bunny has eaten spinach in huge portions, some organic acids may be generated within your rabbits’ body and it will eventually turn out to be poisonous. Thus, you have to be careful while giving spinach to your rabbits so that you can avoid all those problems. All the fresh veggies that you like to give to your rabbits must contain either zero or low percentage of oxalic acid.
However, only a few of the known foods, like parsley and also spinach hold the comparatively high amount of this acid. However, kale that is sometimes considered as the high oxalate-based food, in fact, has a very low amount of oxalates.
Another thing, which is to be noted in case of green spinach, is that it has high amount of calcium; this excessive calcium level may impact your bunny’s kidneys besides causing a reduction to the amount of phosphorous in the body.
Learn the way of feeding spinach to bunnies
Spinach needs to be raw and fresh if it is intended for your rabbits. Do not try to cook the raw spinach leaves. Though cooked spinach is suitable for some other animals like dogs, it is better to avoid doing so in case of your bunny.
However, if you are seeing that the spinach leaves seem to be slimy and give out unpleasant smell, then it is bad not only for your bunny but also for you yourself. Thus, you may discard it to avoid the risk of bacterial infection in the stomach of your rabbit.
Keep in mind that just for the reason that spinach leaf is superfood for your pet it never denotes this veggie is the only thing, which is to be given to your bunny. This may be very healthy for any pet only if you maintain the moderate amount; however, if it is overfed, then it begins to cause a number of troubles. If possible, you may give your rabbit spinach leaves one or two times every week and in this way, you will be able to make a balance of your bunny’s everyday diet.
Your small rabbit is possibly a very slow eater; you may better try to chop the spinach leaves into tiny pieces. It will not only help your bunny to chew the leaves easily but also assists in digestion of food very easily.
It is totally your decision about whether you like to feed rabbit raw spinach leaf. In fact, organic spinach has a very low amount of lower. Still, you have to talk to your vet to know if it is right to give spinach leaves to your rabbit.
Other veggies good for rabbits
In addition the leafy veggies, you may feed some other types of vegetables, like flowers and roots- cauliflower and broccoli. Such foods perhaps have higher content of sugars and starch and must be fed only in low quantities. Keep away from foods, which belong to the onion family, for example, chives, leeks, or onions as the consumption of these foodstuffs lead to abnormalities in blood.
Some other veggies that are to be given to your bunny must not be more than one tablespoon for two pounds of body weight daily in a single meal or separated into 2. Thus, follow these instructions while you are taking care of a rabbit.
