The digestive system of rabbits is quite delicate, so it is essential to be extra careful when choosing the foods you feed them. As a bunny owner, you have to do some thorough research before feeding anything to your pet rabbit.
The million-dollar question now is, can pet rabbits eat cucumbers?
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Can bunnies eat cucumbers
Yes, cucumbers can be eaten by your bunnies, yet you need to consider plenty of things when you feed these veggies to your pet. Cucumbers contain high amounts of fiber and water.
You also have to make sure that aside from cucumbers, your pet rabbit must also feed on hay, pellets, and leafy greens. Feeding excess amounts of cucumbers to your pet bunny may cause some digestive issues.
Do rabbits eat cucumbers
The answer to this question is not just a simple yes or no. This is because this is dependent on the available food alternatives.
Your rabbits will eat cucumbers and their leaves if you give them to them. But, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are a favorite among rabbits. Even wild rabbits might not be big fans of cucumbers. But, once left with no choice, they will feed on the young cucumber shoots or the leaves.
Should rabbits eat cucumbers
| Nutrition Facts | Raw Cucumber |
|---|---|
| Calories | 33.6 |
| Total Fat | 0.4g |
| Sodium | 5.6mg |
| Potassium | 380.8mg |
| Net carbs | 4.1g |
| Sugar | 3.9g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Glucose | 1.8g |
| Fructose | 2.1g |
| Protein | 1.7g |
| Vitamin A | 11.2μg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.1mg |
| Vitamin C | 9mg |
| Vitamin E | 0.1mg |
| Vitamin K | 20.2μg |
| Calcium | 39.2mg |
| Magnesium | 33.6mg |
| Phosphorus | 58.8mg |
| Zinc | 0.5mg |
| Water | 270.8g |
It is perfectly safe for rabbits to eat cucumbers. These contain lots of water, making them an ideal refreshing snack during hot days.
While cucumbers don’t offer lots of nutritional value, these are still rich in several nutrients that can benefit your rabbits.
Cucumbers are great for the skin of your bunnies because of the high water content and even their silica content that can maintain the health and strength of the connective tissues of your rabbits, such as their tendons.
It is also important to remember that bunnies that are younger than 12 weeks old should never be given fruits and veggies such as cucumbers. It is because kits or young rabbits tend to have somewhat sensitive stomachs that fresh foods can easily upset.
But, the moment the rabbits are more than 12 weeks of age, it would be safe for you to introduce fruits and vegetables like cucumbers little by little.
Since cucumbers have high amounts of water, you should refrain from overfeeding your rabbits with these leafy green veggies. Fruits and vegetables with water content can make your rabbit suffer from stomach upset and lead to diarrhea.
This is the reason why you should never feed cucumbers to your rabbits daily. One or two slices of cucumber several times a week is already more than enough to be enjoyed by your rabbit.
Is cucumbers good for rabbits
Cucumbers don’t have lots of nutritional value so these are not the best veggies you can give to your rabbit. However, it doesn’t mean that cucumbers are not suitable for them.
Cucumbers contain plenty of water that makes it beneficial to give your bunnies during hot days to stay hydrated.
Cucumber peel or skin has some fiber content that is also ideal for rabbits. In addition, cucumber flowers and leaves are much better for your bunnies than the veggie itself since they contain more nutrients.
These veggies only become bad or harmful for rabbits if they are fed excessively or too often. It is because cucumbers contain lots of water that can make rabbits suffer from diarrhea. Diarrhea can make your rabbit pass loose cecotropes. It is difficult for rabbits to digest soft cecotropes, and this is why it can be risky if rabbits constantly suffer from diarrhea.
Cucumber also has low-calorie content. If your bunny consumes a lot of cucumber to the point that he no longer eats other foods, this might lead to weight loss.
Finally, since cucumbers don’t contain lots of nutrients, this should never be the primary part of your rabbit’s diet. Rabbits need a good variety of minerals and vitamins for them to stay healthy. There are a lot of better veggies that you can regularly feed your pet.
Having said this, cucumbers must only be given to rabbits now and then. Two cucumber slices one or two times a week is already enough. On the other hand, cucumber flowers and leaves can be given to your rabbit regularly.
Can rabbits eat cucumber daily
Now that you know the possible consequences of too much consumption of cucumbers for rabbits, it would be best that you avoid feeding cucumbers to your rabbits every day. You also need to introduce cucumber little by little to make sure that your rabbit will favorably respond to it.
When giving cucumbers to your bunny for the first time, you should give only a thin slice once every two days. You can then start increasing this quantity in the next two weeks. But, avoid giving them more than several tiny slices in a single sitting.
How much cucumbers can rabbits eat
As long as you regulate the amount of cucumber that you give to your pet per week, your bunny shouldn’t suffer from any health issues.
It is best to give your pet a single serving of cucumber 2 to 3 times a week. Just one tiny slice with a thickness of a few millimeters is considered to be enough for this single serving. Anything that is more than this may lead to some health effects like diarrhea.
Is too much cucumbers bad for rabbits
Cucumber may be rich in water, but it has very little nutrition that your rabbit can benefit from. If bunnies eat the only cucumber as their primary source of calories, they might end up suffering from diarrhea or soft stools.
Rabbits are best suited to digesting green leafy veggies and dry hay. Vegetables and fruits with excess water might mess up the digestive system of your rabbit.
Cucumbers also have very little calorie content, so eating too much of it for a long time may result in weight loss and food deficiency in your rabbits.
Can baby rabbits eat cucumbers
The answer to this question will depend on the age of the rabbits and whether or not they were weaned. Baby rabbits shouldn’t be eating cucumbers or other types of veggies until they reach at least 12 weeks old, which is the time when you can start to introduce them to one type of veggie at a time.
Guinea pig and cucumber FAQs
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Can rabbits eat cucumbers seeds?
While seeds of most vegetables and fruits should be removed first before you feed them to your bunny, the seeds of cucumber are among the few seeds that you can leave as is.
Cucumber seeds can be considered safe for rabbits to eat. And since seeds make up most of the cucumber, removing these means that only very little will be left for your bunny to eat.
The seeds of cucumbers are small, soft, and squishy, which means that they won’t get stuck in the teeth of your rabbits or their digestive system once consumed.
Unlike the seeds of apples, cucumber seeds are non-toxic and won’t cause any health problems if your rabbits munch on them.
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Can rabbits eat cucumbers plants?
If it is safe for rabbits to eat cucumber, does it mean that they can also eat the plants, including the blossoms and leaves? Well, the answer is yes, your bunnies can eat cucumber plants.
The truth is that most of the time, rabbits are more inclined to eat the shoots and foliage of vegetables that are dense in nutrients instead of the actual fruits themselves.
In addition, leafy greens must make up only about 75% of your bunny’s allotted daily fresh food. The leaves of cucumbers can count toward this particular goal.
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Can rabbits eat cucumbers leaves?
Yes, it is okay for rabbits to eat the leaves of cucumbers. Cucumber leaves are much better for your rabbits compared to the veggie itself.
The leaves of cucumbers have low oxalic acid content, and these also don’t contain the same amount of water as the veggie itself. Cucumber leaves are also higher in vitamins and nutrients.
You can also feed cucumber leaves to your rabbits daily. Also, don’t forget that you wash the cucumber leaves thoroughly first before you feed these to your bunny.
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Can rabbits eat cucumbers skin?
Cucumber skin is found to be the fruit’s most nutritious part. This contains most of the minerals and vitamins of the cucumber. This also contains a substantial amount of beta carotene and dietary fiber.
Your pet rabbits will also be happy to munch on cucumber skin, which is even good for them. The fiber content of cucumbers can help digestion and ensure that their digestive system runs right on track. Beta carotene, on the other hand, promotes eye and skin health.
Since stomach problems can be very risky for rabbits, it is better to feed your rabbits with cucumber skin instead of the whole cucumber itself.
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Can rabbits eat cucumbers peels?
Yes, it is safe for rabbits to eat cucumber peels. It is even best to leave the peels on the pieces of cucumber that you feed to your pet since they can offer that much-needed nutritional boost.
Cucumber peel is also high in fiber that is essential to maintain the digestive system of your rabbit. Experts said that rabbits need a minimum of 15% crude fiber as a part of their diet.
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Can rabbits eat mini cucumbers?
As far as taste is concerned, the classic, slightly sweet, and refreshing flavor profile of cucumbers is pretty consistent. This means that every bite of mini cucumbers is going to burst with a refreshing and crisp sweetness. You can let your rabbits eat mini cucumbers just like how they can also eat other cucumber varieties.
References
- https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/cucumber-health-benefits
- https://fsi.colostate.edu/cucumbers/
- https://www.healthshots.com/healthy-eating/superfoods/7-benefits-of-eating-cucumber/
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
