Can rabbits eat banana like guinea pigs? This is a question that often pops up in the mind of new rabbit owners. As a rabbit owner, it is your responsibility to make sure your fluffy pet gets only the best after all. This means that you will need to know what fruits your bunny can and can’t eat.
You may have noticed that rabbits go bananas for some fruits, but can they actually eat banana fruit? In this article, we will discuss a rabbit’s love of of this fruit and what effect it will have on your fluffy friend’s health.
Now it’s time to go a bit bananas and get you some answers.
Rabbits can eat bananas, but it should be fed in moderation. This means feeding it as an occasional treat only. Banana may be rich in vitamins, magnesium and potassium, but they also contain a lot of sugar. Sugar can cause digestive upsets, dental problems and obesity in rabbits so make sure you feed the right amount if you don’t want to end up with a sick bunny.
Never feed a rabbit under the age of 3 months banana. Their digestive systems are still underdeveloped and the sugar content may make them very sick.
Banana, like guava, is a fruit that should only be fed as occasional treats. Fruits usually contain a lot of sugar that may lead to several kinds of problems in your bunny. The most common health problems associated with overfeeding fruit is obesity and digestive upsets.
So can rabbits eat this fruit or is it too risky? Fortunately, if done right, rabbits can eat fruits like bananas safely without any negative effects. The general rule for feeding any kind of fruit is one teaspoon of fruit per kilogram (2 pounds) of body weight no more than three times a week. Since banana is a fruit, this rule will apply.
Here are some tips for safely feeding banana to your rabbit:
It is very important to wash bananas properly before feeding them to your long-eared friends. Even better, buy organic bananas especially if you’re planning on feeding the skin as well. Pet rabbits are very sensitive to pesticides and can get very sick and even die if you aren’t careful. To remove pesticides, wash the banana in lukewarm water with some baking soda.
If this is the first time you’ll be feeding banana to your pet rabbit, you can start with a very small piece as an introduction to this fruit. The usual amount you can feed safely is 5.4 cm (2 ⅛ of an inch) per 2.3 kg (5 pounds) of body weight. Also, restrict feeding banana to two or three times a week.
Bananas can be fed with the peel on. The peel is good for rabbits, but only if it came from an organic source. Keep in mind that rabbits can get addicted to bananas so it is extra important to keep to the serving size.
Since you've googled 'Car rabbits eat banana' I'm assuming this is the first time you'll be feeding this fruit. Keeping an eye on your bunny friend after introducing a new fruit is very important.
If your furry friend has any negative reactions to the banana, you can step in before the situation becomes serious. 24 hours is usually a good amount of time to observe your rabbit before feeding more banana.
If you see any signs of discomfort or diarrhea, don't feed banana again until your bunny recovered. You can try again in a few months time. If your rabbit get's sick again, don't feed banana.
If the symptoms persist for more than a week, it is best to take your pet to the veterinarian. If nothing happens after the initial introduction, you can continue feeding this fruit, but do make sure not to overfeed!
Overfeeding can lead to complications such as obesity and gastrointestinal stasis (the gut stops working) which can be fatal to rabbits. Also, avoid overripe bananas since they contain more sugar.
Some fruits are safe with some conditions while other rabbit food can be fed freely. Bananas are one of the fruits that can be fed freely as long as you follow the correct portion size. Some parts, however, are better than others. Let’s take a look...
The parts of banana:
Bananas contain a lot of beneficial nutrients for rabbits. Some of these nutrients include:
Are you afraid your bunny will get addicted to bananas? No worries, you can try these fruits and vegetables as alternatives:
Also, keep in mind that fruits should not make up more than 10% of your rabbit’s weekly diet. It is also very important to check if fruit should be peeled and if the seeds are harmful. In the case of bananas, you can remove the peel if you want to avoid exposing your bunny friend to more pesticides. Hay is still the most important component in any rabbit diet.
The short answer here is no. Bananas are completely safe if fed in the right quantities. The problem lies with pesticides. If you feed a rabbit banana covered in pesticides, it may end up dead or seriously ill.
It is definitely possible, especially if fed to baby bunnies or too much at once. Bananas contain a lot of sugar which may upset a rabbit’s sensitive digestive tract. If you don’t keep to the serving size or feed baby bunnies under the age of three months banana, you will most likely end up with a sick rabbits.
Definitely, as long as the banana is pesticide-free and cut up into the correct serving size. Rabbits can consume both the peel and the flesh of the banana. In fact, they can even eat the banana plant!
Yes, the leaves are healthier than the banana. Leaves can be fed in large quantities and much more often than the fruit. If you have a banana plant, adding the leaves to your fluffy friend's diet daily is a very good idea. You can include it in the ration of daily leafy greens your bunny gets fed.
Some rabbits are a bit pickier than others. If your bunny doesn't eat the leaves, it's not the end of the world.
Yes, but only if the bananas were sourced from an organic farm. Pesticides on the peels can be very dangerous to bunnies, so if you're not sure, rather don't feed the peel. The peel isn't as nutritious as the actual food anyway so there is no loss.
Bunnies can eat dried banana as long as it's fed in moderation.
So can rabbits eat bananas? Bananas are safe for bunnies and guinea pigs to eat, but you need to be careful of how much banana you feed at once. Rabbits can get addicted to bananas and will beg relentlessly for more. You, as the owner, will have to draw the line to keep your baby healthy.
Rabbits are individuals and may react differently when you introduce new foods, so keep an eye on your long-eared friend for the first 24 hours. If you want to learn more about what rabbits can eat, click here.
