Asparagus in general is considered a very nutritious and healthy vegetable. This vegetable has gotten its name from asparagine, an amino acid that is abundant in asparagus. Having said this, can rabbits eat asparagus?
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Can bunnies eat asparagus?
Yes, asparagus is one of those foods that you can give to your rabbit together with other types of veggies out there. With water making up almost 93% of asparagus’s content, this veggie has low sodium content and very few calories as well. Asparagus is also an excellent source of some other essential vitamins such as vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K for your beloved pet.
Asparagus also offers iron, zinc, calcium, folic acid, magnesium, potassium, copper, manganese, riboflavin, chromium, beta-carotene, and thiamin. For a veggie that mostly contains water, asparagus also offers more nutritional value since this also has fiber content and even some amounts of protein.
Can rabbits eat asparagus stalks?
Yes, asparagus can be fed to your pet rabbits. However, just make sure that you don’t give it to them in excess amounts and only give it to them on an occasional basis. Rabbits can customarily eat an entire asparagus plant, with the stalks included.
However, there are several distinguishing cases when it comes to the rabbit’s medical condition and age. This is why it is better to hold back on asparagus stalks when it comes to the diet of your beloved bunny.
Can rabbits eat asparagus stems?
Yes, you can also give asparagus stems to your rabbits. But, it is better if you avoid giving it to your bunny in excess amounts since too much of this can make your pet’s stool soft.
Can rabbits eat asparagus fronds?
The fronds that asparagus produce is important to maintain vigorous and healthy plants. There are still no data as to whether or not you can let your rabbits eat these fronds. For this reason, it might be best to avoid giving it to your bunny while there is no definite data to back up its safety.
Can rabbits eat asparagus leaves?
Yes, bunnies can also eat the leaves of asparagus. But, you should never forget to wash these leaves first before you let your rabbits munch on them. However, there are some rabbits that might not really like asparagus leaves.
Can rabbits eat asparagus fern?
Asparagus fern or also known as feathery asparagus is a part of the family Asparagaceae. But, be warned because this is something that you should never give to your rabbits. Bunnies cannot eat asparagus fern as this can be poisonous to them and must be avoided at all costs.
Can wild rabbits eat asparagus?
Yes, asparagus can also be eaten by wild rabbits. In case you have an asparagus plant in your garden with a population of wild rabbits around, make sure that you keep your plants protected.
Can pet rabbits eat asparagus?
Hay is the best source of food for rabbits. It must be the number one priority in a rabbit’s regular diet plan because this is a great fiber source for them.
Rabbits have been calibrated to get their overall nutritional needs from them. But, there is no denying that rabbits won’t be able to survive solely on hay. Asparagus is one acceptable preference that you can add to the diet of your rabbit since the variation is the key here. This means that rabbits can consume a moderate amount of asparagus.
Asparagus must never be given as a dietary staple for rabbits since this contains high amounts of water that is up to 93%. It is for this very reason why excessive consumption of asparagus may create a laxative effect on the overall health of your bunnies.
Asparagus as well as other types of vegetables with high amounts of water can be a great addition to the diet of a rabbit. Asparagus is considered to be non-toxic to rabbits and you can even add it to their daily food rotation.
Can dwarf rabbits eat asparagus?
Yes, dwarf rabbits can also eat asparagus. However, it is important to keep in mind that asparagus must never be given to all rabbits. In fact, this is something that you shouldn’t offer to rabbits that are too young or too old.
It is ideal that you wait until your pet rabbits are completely grown before you add this veggie to their diet. It is because a grown rabbit won’t have a hard time biting, chewing, and digesting this vegetable’s stalks while younger ones cannot. This is why it is best to wait for a while until your bunny has reached the correct age
Can rabbits eat Asparagus ends?
Yes, rabbits can eat Asparagus ends, however, just like spinach and blueberries, it should be given to them in moderation because the veggie is mildly acidic and can cause discomfort to your little bunny.
Can rabbits eat raw Asparagus?
Yes, rabbits can eat raw Asparagus. Actually, it doesn’t matter to a bunny whether you are feeding them with raw or cooked Asparagus; all they care about is getting their belly filled with as many nutrients as possible before going about their daily business. Giving your rabbit either cooked or raw Asparagus will not hurt them as long as you are not overfeeding them with the vegetable.
Can rabbits eat cooked asparagus?
Yes, rabbits can eat cooked asparagus. Just like I said earlier, it doesn’t matter what the state of the asparagus you are feeding your little bunny with is, they will safely eat it without any health implication.
Raw or cooked asparagus for rabbits?
Although your rabbit will benefit from eating asparagus in any form, whether cooked or raw. However, most rabbits may prefer cooked over raw asparagus because cooked asparagus is tender and it will be easier for them to munch on. Contrarily, some experts advised against feeding cooked vegetables to rabbits because they are herbivores and would benefit more from eating raw vegetables. Therefore, it is better to serve raw asparagus to rabbits rather than feed them with the cooked one.
Do rabbits eat asparagus?
There are some rabbits that like to eat asparagus but there are also others that don’t enjoy this vegetable at all. The next time that you buy fresh asparagus, you should try to offer your bunny with only a small nibble to see whether or not he likes the flavor.
Should rabbits eat asparagus?
It is perfectly fine to give asparagus to your rabbit as a part of his varied diet. But of course, you should never feed your rabbit with just asparagus alone.
You must always give your bunny an extensive array of vegetables. This means that it is perfectly okay to feed asparagus to your bunny only as a healthy treat or snack.
The high content of water in asparagus can also create some issues for rabbits. However, you can always offset it if you let your rabbit eat other vegetables with low water content.
The secret here is to not just feed vegetables that are rich in water. You need to balance the vegetables that are high in the water with drier ones. Again, the secret here is balance and variation.
Is asparagus good for rabbits?
| Nutrition Facts | Raw Asparagus |
|---|---|
| Polyunsaturated fat | 0.1g |
| Sodium | 2mg |
| Potassium | 202mg |
| Net carbs | 1.8g |
| Sugar | 1.9g |
| Fiber | 2.1g |
| Glucose | 0.7g |
| Fructose | 1g |
| Sucrose | 0.2g |
| Protein | 2.2g |
| Vitamin A | 38μg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.1mg |
| Vitamin C | 5.6mg |
| Vitamin E | 1.1mg |
| Vitamin K | 41.6μg |
| Calcium | 24mg |
| Iron | 2.1mg |
| Magnesium | 14mg |
| Phosphorus | 52mg |
| Zinc | 0.5mg |
| Copper | 0.2mg |
| Manganese | 0.2mg |
| Selenium | 2.3μg |
| Folate | 52μg |
| Choline | 16mg |
| Water | 93.2g |
Asparagus has been acknowledged for the high amount of water it contains which is at 93%. However, aside from this, asparagus is also rich in nutrients as well as a bulk of minerals and vitamins.
This vegetable is also dense in nutrient. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for a rabbit’s growth and development and you can find this in asparagus.
Vitamin C can also help in muscle development of rabbits. Asparagus also contains vitamin K and this helps keep bunnies healthy.
Asparagus also contains fibers that help rabbits with their bowel movement. This vegetable also contains vitamin E and vitamin B6.
There are also some proteins, potassium, magnesium, iron, and folic acid found in asparagus. As stated earlier, the presence of the amino acid asparagines has inspired the name of this vegetable.
A potent antioxidant, anthocyanin, is also found in asparagus and this is responsible for its color.
At what age rabbits can have Asparagus?
Before feeding your rabbit with Asparagus or any vegetable, the general rule of thumb is to wait until they are about 12 weeks to ensure that their stomach gets accustomed to the veggie as they mature.
Can rabbits eat asparagus daily?
There are just a few foods that your rabbits can eat on a daily basis and the bad news for those bunnies that like to eat asparagus is that this vegetable is not one of them. Asparagus can be given to your rabbit only twice or thrice a week.
It is important to always remember that there is 93% water content in asparagus and eating it on a daily basis may result in some digestive issues in bunnies. It only means that asparagus should never be a part of your pet’s daily intake. You can give this vegetable to your rabbits a maximum of three to four times per week to make their diet more varied.
How much asparagus can rabbits eat?
How much asparagus is already too much for your rabbits? Of course, the last thing you want is to go overboard with your feeding of asparagus to your bunny.
Basically, an adult rabbit can eat a portion of thick asparagus measuring 2 inches or section of thin asparagus measuring 4 inches.
Similar to the rest of the new foods that you introduce to your bunny, you need to gradually introduce asparagus to prevent cases of diarrhea or an upset tummy. Since asparagus has high amounts of water, this can result in loose stools once you end up offering too much of it before the digestive system of your rabbits gets the opportunity to adjust.
You might want to start with just a very small quantity, preferably a section of thin asparagus measuring one inch. Watch out for any signs of discomfort or symptoms of diarrhea in your pet for the next 24 hours.
Is too much asparagus bad for rabbits?
There are several risks associated with letting your rabbits overfeed on asparagus.
- Uneaten caecotrophs
These uneaten caecotrophs can happen if the stool of your rabbit is too soft. This condition mostly happens because of diets that have low amounts of fiber or when the rabbits don’t get to eat enough hay.
The high water content of asparagus can soften the stool of your rabbit. However, this will not really be a problem if you give enough hay to your rabbits.
If the diet of your rabbit is mainly made up of veggies such as asparagus, this may trigger gastrointestinal stasis. The reason for this is because asparagus has low fiber content and can disrupt the gut flora of your rabbit. The diet of your rabbit should be made up of occasional treats, 5% pellets, 10% vegetables, and 80% to 90% hay.
- Diarrhea
Giving too much asparagus to your rabbits may lead to diarrhea due to its high water content that can soften the stool of your rabbits. Asparagus is also low in fiber and must be given only as treat.
If your bunny suffers from diarrhea, make sure you bring your pet to a vet right away since diarrhea can be deadly to rabbits before you even know it.
How to feed Asparagus to a rabbit
No special skill or knowledge is required before you feed Asparagus to your rabbit: just a few cautions.
- Make sure the Asparagus is fresh and it is best to feed it to them raw.
- Make sure your rabbit becomes of age (12 weeks) before feeding the veggie to them.
- Start slowly with them (serve it to them in small portions).
- Watch their reaction closely after feeding it to them.
How do you keep rabbits away from Asparagus?
It is important to feed Asparagus to rabbits in moderation for health reasons, however, your rabbit doesn’t know that and they will keep munching on the plant as long as their access is not restricted. If you would like to limit how often your rabbit visits that Asparagus plant in your garden, follow the steps below.
- Mix about 6 to 8oz of water with 2 tablespoons of cayenne powder in a bowl and pour into a spray bottle.
- Spray on the Asparagus plant.
Can baby rabbits eat asparagus?
Young bunnies or rabbits that are less than 12 weeks of age should not eat asparagus. Your bunnies must only focus on consuming alfalfa hay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Rex rabbits eat asparagus?
Yes, Rex rabbits can eat asparagus. Rex rabbits, like every other rabbit species, like to eat hay and carrots because they are rich in vitamin A – a food nutrient that is essential for their bone growth. Asparagus is also very rich in vitamin A, which means you can safely feed them to your rabbit.
Can lionhead rabbits have Asparagus?
Yes, lionhead rabbits can have Asparagus. We all know that 75% of the total diet of rabbits comes from hay. Hence, to ensure that your lionhead rabbit stays healthy, you can complete the remaining 25% with varieties of veggies which may include Asparagus.
Can Asparagus make my rabbit sick?
Yes, Asparagus can make your rabbit sick. Your rabbit can benefit a lot from eating Asparagus and every other vegetable; however, if you need it to them more than it is required, it could lead to some discomforts like diarrhea and stomach pain.
References
- https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/asparagus-glossary
- https://www.health.com/nutrition/asparagus-health-benefits
- https://www.eatingwell.com/article/17129/5-powerful-health-benefits-of-asparagus-you-probably-didnt-know/
- https://www.livescience.com/45295-asparagus-health.html
Shannon work as nurse practitioner in Alliance Health Medical Group. She own pets and she love pets. With her knowledge in medicine, she know what can the pet eat and what can’t
We strongly recommend you to learn the following topics too to ensure you do not feed the wrong foods to your bunnies.
