Can Rabbits Eat Pumpkins? What You Need To Know.

Last Updated on March 17, 2023 by Marjon Ramos

Pumpkins have long been known to be beneficial to human health, and many of us enjoy eating them for both their taste and health benefits.

But what about our pet rabbits? Can we give them some pumpkins?

Absolutely! Pumpkins are safe to feed to adult rabbits as long as it’s done in moderation.

Pumpkins contain large amounts of vitamin A and some amounts of vitamins C, E, and K that are great for rabbits.

Rabbits only need 6000UI to 10,000UI vitamin A. Pumpkin, on the other hand, contains 8,513UI per 100 g.

We recommend limiting it to less than 100 grams a day because other foods also contain vitamin A, and we don’t want to go over that limit.

Also, you don’t want your rabbit to get full from eating pumpkins because their diet should mainly consist of hay, veggies, and pellets.

This is especially important for growing rabbits, because they need an unlimited amount of hay and pellets to grow properly.

Another benefit of feeding pumpkins to your pet rabbit is that pumpkins contain calcium.

Calcium is an essential nutrient, especially for growing and lactating rabbits.

Do rabbits like eating pumpkins?

Yes, rabbits do like to eat pumpkins. As we all know, rabbits are suckers for sugary treats. That’s why rabbits love to eat the sweet flesh of pumpkins.

Be careful though, because too much sugar in your rabbit’s diet could lead to all kinds of medical problems like GI stasis, diarrhea, uneaten caecotrophs, and dental problems.

Are pumpkins safe to be eaten by rabbits?

Yes, small amounts of pumpkin are safe for rabbits. Just remember that you need to treat pumpkins, especially the flesh, as a treat.

Never feed your rabbit too many pumpkins because they lack the daily fiber a rabbit needs.

A rabbit fed too much sugar and not enough fiber may develop GI stasis, uneaten caecotrophs, and diarrhea, all of which can be fatal.

Are pumpkins good for rabbits?

Yes, pumpkins are good for rabbits because they’re a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Pumpkins are packed full of vitamin A and minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, all of which would benefit your rabbit’s health.

But make sure that you are only giving it to your rabbit as a treat because pumpkins lack the fiber a rabbit would need per day.

You should only treat pumpkins as an occasional treat.

What are the benefits of feeding your rabbits pumpkins?

Gist:

Pumpkins in moderation, are a good source of vitamin A and minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

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For you to know the benefits of pumpkins to your rabbit’s health, you must first know the required vitamins and minerals that rabbits need per day.

Use this nutrient constraint calculator to see how much nutrients your rabbit gets each day from pumpkins.

You can click the blue icon beside the nutrient name to see the benefits and side effects of each nutrient.

As the calculation above shows, feeding rabbits less than 100 g pumpkin per day is well within their nutritional needs.

How often should you give your rabbit pumpkins?

Before we get into how much pumpkin to feed your rabbits, you should note that bunnies under 7 months old should not be given any pumpkins at all.

To determine the amount you should give them, first you have to consider that they need to eat their required fiber first in the form of hay.

If your rabbits get full because of eating too much pumpkin without meeting their required fiber, they could have bowel issues.

That’s why you must limit giving your rabbits pumpkins as an occasional treat only.

To safely feed them pumpkins, you must limit the amount you give them to less than 100 grams per day.

This can help you avoid overfeeding them because pumpkins are high in vitamin A.

Overfeeding them could be harmful to them.

How many pumpkins should you give to your rabbit?

Gist:

Adult rabbits can eat 30-60 grams of pumpkins per 2.7 kg of body weight.

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Feeding your rabbits pumpkins from time to time is beneficial because pumpkins contain large amounts of vitamin A. The problem arises when owners feed them too much.

Here’s a table to help you decide the number of pumpkins you should limit giving to your rabbits:

Adult or fully grown rabbits

Adult rabbits or rabbits that are 1–5 years old can eat 30 grams of pumpkin regardless of their weight. Make sure that your rabbit is eating enough hay before giving them any treats.

Also, if it’s the first time you’re giving pumpkins to your rabbit, make sure that you go slow at first because your rabbit’s gut flora needs to adjust to the new food source.

After a couple of weeks of feeding your rabbit small amounts of pumpkin, you can now feed them the normal amount (i.e., 30g).

Young or growing rabbits

Bunnies that are 12 weeks old should not be given any treats. Bunnies should focus on eating hay, pellets, and veggies to maximize their growth.

But after 7 months, you can start to introduce treats to your bunnies one at a time. You can feed your rabbit 30–60 grams of treats per 6 pounds of body weight.

Pregnant or lactating rabbits

For pregnant or lactating rabbits, don’t change the amount and type of food you’re giving to your rabbit for the first 3 weeks of pregnancy.

Then, gradually increase the amount of pellet you’re giving your rabbit in the last 10 days of pregnancy and the first week of lactation.

We recommend only giving your rabbits pumpkins as a treat, as this should not be the main source of their diet. Remember that hay should make up 80% of their diet.

When can rabbits start eating pumpkins?

Gist:

Rabbits can start eating pumpkins at 7 months old. You can feed your rabbits 30–60 grams of pumpkin per 2.7 kg of body weight.

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You can start giving your rabbits treats at 7 months old. Just make sure to gradually introduce pumpkins to your rabbit’s diet if it’s the first time you’re giving it to them.

This would give your rabbit’s gut flora time to adjust to the new food source.

Also, it’s better to only feed your rabbit one treat at a time so that you can easily remove any food that is causing digestive problems for your rabbit.

Here’s a table to guide you on how much you should feed your bunnies as they get older.

When should you not feed pumpkins to rabbits?

Gist:

Rabbits that are less than 7 months old should not eat pumpkins.

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Rabbits that are less than 7 months old should only eat hay and pellets, and occasionally some vegetables.

The reason is that growing rabbits need as much protein and fiber as they can get. That’s why it’s recommended that the majority of their diet be hay and pellets.

Hay contains fiber and protein that are essential to their growth.

When you feed them too many treats, you are essentially limiting the amount of hay that they can eat that day. That’s why you should only give pumpkins to rabbits in small amounts as a treat.

Also, if you’re planning on adding pumpkins to your rabbit’s diet, you should do it slowly. Changing the diet of your rabbit too quickly can upset their stomach because rabbits have a very sensitive stomach that is sensitive to any dietary change.

Risk of overfeeding pumpkins to rabbits.

Uneaten caecotrophs

Uneaten caecotrophs are usually caused by a diet that is low in fiber or overfeeding foods that are high in water content.

Pumpkins alone could not meet the daily fiber requirement of rabbits. Therefore, pumpkins should only be fed in small amounts as a supplement to a hay-based diet.

Diarrhea

Overfeeding green beans to rabbits could also lead to diarrhea because of the lack of fiber in them.

Your rabbit’s diet should mainly consist of hay and pellets. Treats like pumpkins should only be fed in small amounts because rabbits could not get enough fiber from them.

If your rabbit is suffering from diarrhea, bring your rabbit to a veterinarian immediately because diarrhea is fatal to rabbits extremely fast.

Gastrointestinal stasis

Gastrointestinal stasis is also caused by a diet that is low in fiber and too many carbohydrates. When your rabbit is overfed with the wrong kind of food, like pumpkins, it could lead to an imbalance in your rabbit’s gut flora and slow down the passage of food through the GI tract.

If you suspect that your rabbit might be suffering from GI stasis, immediately bring your rabbit to a veterinarian because GI stasis could lead to organ failure and death if not treated.

Healthy alternatives to pumpkins.

Rabbits in the wild have an abundance of food available to them. This is why rabbit experts suggest giving your rabbits a variety of choices when it comes to food, because they believe that it’s the key to a healthy diet.

Here are some alternatives that you can give to your rabbits one to two times per week as a treat:

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Can rabbits eat pumpkin leaves?

Pumpkin leaves are safe to give to rabbits in moderate quantities.

Pumpkin leaves are a great source of vitamins A, E, and calcium. But pumpkin leaves should not be the majority of your rabbit’s diet.

Your rabbit needs a lot of fiber and protein in the form of hay.

Also, if your rabbit is less than 7 months old, you shouldn’t give them any pumpkin leaves because growing rabbits should only eat hay.

Can rabbits eat pumpkin seeds?

Pumpkin seeds are safe to feed to healthy adult rabbits. But it should only be given as a treat and shouldn’t be prioritized over their main diet.

Pumpkin seeds should not be fed to rabbits that are less than 7 months old. To maximize their growth, young rabbits should only eat hay.

Can rabbits eat pumpkin stems?

Pumpkin stems are not poisonous to rabbits. But we still recommend limiting or not giving them any pumpkin stems because it should be treated as an occasional treat and should not be part of their main diet.

Can rabbits eat pumpkin flowers?

Rabbits can eat pumpkin flowers, but they should only be given occasionally.

Conclusion

Pumpkins are safe to give to rabbits as long as they’re only given as a treat. Pumpkins are a great source of vitamins A, E, and calcium that are in line with the recommended nutritional value rabbits need throughout the day.

Rabbits can safely eat as much as 100 grams of pumpkin a day. It can only cause a problem if all you feed your rabbits is pumpkins and they do not get the recommended amount of fiber they need.

That’s why it’s important that you only give them pumpkins after they have eaten their hay for the day.

Other parts of pumpkins, like seeds, leaves, and vines, are safe to eat and are not poisonous to rabbits. Pumpkin seeds, leaves, and vines should only be given occasionally.

All in all, pumpkins are a great option to give to rabbits as a treat. They contain large amounts of vitamin A that are good for rabbits’ vision and bone development.