Last Updated on March 15, 2023 by Marjon Ramos
Quick Facts About Celery:
- Scientific name – Apium graveolens
- Also known as – Sedano, Celeriac, and Eppich
- Origin – Europe
- Most commonly found in – United States, Spain, and Mexico.
- Average weight – 56.7 grams
Celery is safe for rabbits as long as they are 12 weeks old and given in moderation. You should also limit the amount of celery you give your rabbits and base the amount you give on their age.
Younger rabbits are more prone to digestive issues when overfed, so older rabbits can eat more celery.
Now that I’ve given you the gist of the article, read on as I explain in more detail why rabbits can eat celery:
Table of Contents
Do rabbits like eating celery?
Celery is on the list of the most recommended foods for rabbits. Most rabbits would never dislike celery when given.
In my case, when I gave celery to my babies (Tyr and Freya), both of them would eat it without hesitation.
We’ve also asked a few rabbit owners and breeders if they fed their rabbits celery, and they all said yes.
Is celery safe for rabbits?
Celery is safe for rabbits to eat if they are old enough to eat vegetables and it is only a supplementary diet.
The only way celery would cause any harm to your rabbits is if you’re feeding them too much celery in lieu of hay.
The lack of fiber in your rabbit’s diet will eventually lead to digestive problems.
Another possible danger to look out for is introducing celery into your rabbit’s diet too fast.
You should always introduce any new diet slowly and only in small amounts at first.
What are the benefits of feeding celery to rabbits?
Gist:
Celery is rich in vitamin A.
To properly answer this question, you can use this nutrient constraint calculator to determine the amount of nutrients your rabbits are getting when you’re feeding them celery.
This tool would also tell you if the amount you’re giving your rabbit is within the nutritional constraint.
You can also click on the blue icon beside the nutrient to see the different benefits and deficiencies of each nutrient.
Nutrient Constrain Calculator For Rabbits
Warning:
Although celery has these benefits, overfeeding your rabbit is not recommended. This is only to inform you of the different vitamins and minerals your rabbit can get when you give them celery.
As you can see from the nutrient constrain calculator above, celery contains moderate amounts of nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin E, and fiber per 100 grams.
It also contains some amounts of choline, protein, niacin, phosphorus, and calcium.
Is celery good for rabbits?
Yes, celery is good for rabbits as long as you only give it in moderation and you mix it in with some other vegetables in your rabbit’s diet.
Celery is on the list of the most recommended vegetables for rabbits due to its fiber content.
How much celery can a rabbit eat?
The proper amount of celery to feed your rabbits should be based on their age and weight.
You can use this diet portion calculator to know how much celery (vegetables) you should feed your rabbits:
Diet Portion Calculator For Rabbits
If you currently have no idea what your rabbit’s weight is, here’s the estimated weight of rabbits based on their breed and how much celery you can give per day:
Rabbit’s weight based on breed | Allowed celery per day |
---|---|
Small breed (1.1–3.5 pounds) | <128 grams |
Medium breed (6 to 10 pounds) | 384-640 grams |
Large breed ( 9 and 12 pounds) | 384-760 grams |
When can rabbits start eating celery?
The table above only accounts for your rabbit’s weight.
Another important factor when feeding celery to your rabbits is their age.
Here’s a table to help you decide at what age you should give celery to your rabbits and how much celery to give as your rabbit gets older:
Age | Vegetables |
---|---|
12 weeks | Introduce vegetables (one at a time) in small quantities < 1/2 oz (15 g) |
7 months to 1 year | Increase vegetables fed daily gradually |
Adult (1-5 y) | 1-2 cups per 6 lbs (2.7 kg) BW |
Seniors (>6 y) | Talk to your veterinarian for a more specialized diet. |
When should you not feed celery to rabbits?
Gist:
You should stop giving celery to rabbits that are having digestive problems.
If you notice or suspect that your rabbits are having digestive problems, the proper protocol is to stop giving any other food, except hay.
This would ensure that your rabbit is getting enough fiber in its diet.
But, as an extra precaution, you should still bring your rabbits to a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis.
Risk of overfeeding celery to rabbits.
The risk associated with celery is mainly due to overfeeding.
Overfeeding any other food to rabbits (except hay) is dangerous because rabbits wouldn’t be able to get their required fiber for the day.
Here are the most common problems when rabbit owners overfeed celery to their rabbits:
- Gastrointestinal Stasis: Overfeeding celery in lieu of hay to your rabbits could lead to GI stasis, which is caused by a lack of fiber in your rabbit’s diet.
- Diarrhea: Diarrhea is also possible when rabbit owners overfeed large amounts of celery to their rabbits too fast. Always introduce any new diet to your rabbits slowly.
- Uneaten cecotropes: Soft uneaten cecotropes are also possible when rabbits are eating large amounts of celery instead of hay. This could lead to softer cecotropes due to the lack of fiber.
Healthy alternatives to celery.
While celery is safe for rabbits, you should still mix in some other vegetables for your rabbit’s diet.
Here are some alternatives to celery that you can give to your rabbits:
- Spinach
- Green peppers
- Basil
- Mint
- Alfalfa & Clover sprouts
- Beet greens (tops)
- Parsley
- Pea pods (flat edible kind)
- Peppermint leaves
- Bok choy
- Escarole
- Clover
- Peppermint leaves
- Carrot & carrot tops
- Radicchio
- Raspberry leaves
- Wheatgrass
- Watercress
- Cilantro
- Dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides)
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can rabbits eat celery leaves?
Rabbits can eat celery and its leaves.
Celery leaves are actually more nutritious for rabbits than the rest of the plant.
Can rabbits eat celery stalks?
Yes, rabbits can eat celery stalks. Just make sure that you wash it first.
Can rabbits eat celery root?
Yes, celery roots are safe for rabbits. It’s also known as celeriac, which is low in starch and therefore safe to be eaten by rabbits.
Can rabbits eat celery daily?
No, you should mix in some other vegetables in your rabbit’s diet.
Feeding one type of vegetable every day could lead to digestive problems.
Can rabbits eat celery hearts?
Yes, celery hearts can be given to rabbits as long as you only give them in moderation.
Conclusion
Giving celery to your rabbits is safe as long as your rabbit is old enough to eat vegetables and you only give it in small amounts.
You should also introduce celery into your rabbit’s diet slowly to prevent any digestive distress.
Cite this article:
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Sources
- Celery, raw
- Patry, Karen, et al. The Rabbit-Raising Problem Solver: Your Questions Answered about Housing, Feeding, Behavior, Health Care, Breeding, and Kindling. Storey Publishing, 2014.
- Digestive disorders
- Health Problems in Rabbits
- Obesity in Rabbits
- BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine
Image credit – “Appetizer” by A. Drauglis is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0