Can Rabbits Eat Apples? What You Need To Know.

Last Updated on March 1, 2023 by Marjon Ramos

Apples are one of the most recommended foods for rabbits. Just make sure that you remove the seeds before giving them to your rabbits because they contain cyanide.

Also, make sure that you’re only giving small amounts of apples to rabbits that are at least 7 months old.

Young rabbits don’t tolerate sugar that well, and feeding them sugary treats like apples could trigger digestive problems.

Now that I’ve given you the gist of the article, read on as I explain in more detail why rabbits can eat apples:

Do rabbits like eating apples?

In my case, both of my rabbits (Tyr and Freya) like to eat apples.

I’ve also asked several of my friends who are rabbit owners and breeders if they ever fed apples to their rabbits and if their rabbits liked apples.

All of them reported feeding apples occasionally and seeing their rabbits gobble up the apples immediately.

Are apples safe to be eaten by rabbits?

As long as your rabbit is at least 7 months old, and you only give it 1-2 times per week, and you remove the seeds, then feeding apples to your rabbits is perfectly safe.

The problem would most likely come when rabbit owners feed treats to young rabbits whose susceptible to digestive problems.

Another possible way apples would harm your rabbit is if they are already obese.

Obese rabbits should not be fed sugary treats like apples until normal weight is acquired.

Also, apple cores should never be fed to rabbits because the seeds are poisonous to them.

Finally, apples, when fed regularly, could lead to dental problems because sugar damages teeth if fed long-term.

What are the benefits of feeding apples to rabbits?

To properly identify the benefits of feeding apples to your rabbits, let’s first take a look at what nutrients your rabbits are getting whenever you feed them apples.

We can use this nutrient constraint calculator, which shows the different nutrients your rabbit is getting and if the amount you’re giving is within the nutritional constraint.

You can also click on the blue icon beside the nutrient to show the different benefits and deficiencies of each nutrient:

As you can see from the nutrient constrain calculator above, 100 grams of apples contain very little nutrients.

But, as an occasional treat, it’s perfectly fine to have this low in nutrients.

You should never rely on treats like apples to meet your rabbit’s nutritional needs.

Doing so could lead to obesity or digestive problems.

Are apples good for rabbits?

100 grams of apples contain small amounts of vitamin A, E, and B6.

Apples also contain copper, pantothenic acid, niacin, choline, protein, fiber, lysine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium.

All of which are great for rabbits and are still within the nutritional constraint for rabbits.

How many apples can a rabbit eat?

The proper amount of apples you should feed your rabbit would depend on his current weight and age.

You can use this nutrient constraint calculator to determine the number of apples (treats) you should give your rabbits:

If you currently have no idea what your rabbit’s weight is, here’s a table of the different weights of rabbit breeds and how much apples you can give:

When can rabbits start eating apples?

The table above, which shows how many apples you can give your rabbit, assumes that your rabbit is at least 7 months old.

Another important factor when deciding how much apple to give your rabbits is their age.

Here’s a table that shows how many apples you can give your rabbit based on their age:

When should you not feed apples to rabbits?

Gist:

It would be best if you did not feed apples to rabbits when they are less than 7 months old or have diarrhea.

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If your rabbit has a watery stool, stop giving any other food except hay. It’s also a great idea to take them to the vet just to be sure.

Feeding your rabbits apples when they already have diarrhea could make it worse.

Apples contain sugar, which also causes diarrhea in rabbits in large amounts.

If your rabbit is less than 7 months old, skip giving them any apples or sugary treats and focus instead on feeding them as much hay as possible.

This would ensure that they are as healthy and growing as possible.

Risk of overfeeding apples to rabbits.

While apples are safe and nutritious for rabbits, there are still risks associated when a rabbit owner overfeeds their rabbits:

• Gastrointestinal Stasis: Overfeeding apples 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 apples 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 apples instead of hay. This could lead to softer cecotropes due to the lack of fiber.
• Dental problems: Due to the sugar content of apples, feeding your rabbits large amounts of them could lead to dental problems.
• Obesity: Overfeeding apples to older rabbits, whose metabolism is slower, could lead to obesity due to the high sugar content of apples. Obesity could also lead to uneaten cecotropes, or “poopy bottoms,” because obese rabbits wouldn’t be able to reach their cecotropes to eat them.

Healthy alternatives to apples.

While apples are a great treat for rabbits, you should still give your rabbits a variety of choices when it comes to their diet.

Never feed one thing for a long period of time.

Here are some healthy alternatives to apples that you can give your rabbits 1-2 times per week:

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Can rabbits eat apple seed?

No, apple seeds are poisonous to rabbits.

Under no circumstances should your rabbit eat apple seeds.

Eating apple seeds is fatal to rabbits.

Can rabbits eat apple skin?

Yes, apple skin is safe for rabbits.

Make sure that you wash the apples before giving them to your pet rabbit.

Can rabbits eat apple sticks?

Yes, apple sticks are safe for rabbits.

You can give apple sticks to rabbits to chew on.

Can rabbits eat apple leaves?

Yes, apple leaves can be eaten by rabbits.

It’s safe, just like apple branches.

The only part of apples that is not safe for rabbits is the seed.

Can rabbits eat crab apple seed?

No, crab apple seed is poisonous to rabbits.

Avoid feeding rabbits’ seed and core.

Conclusion

Every part of the apple except the seeds is safe for rabbits.

But only give them small amounts as treats.

Apples contain too much sugar and could upset their stomachs and cause diarrhea.

You can start giving your rabbits in small amounts at 7 months old.

Growing rabbits should focus on eating as much hay as they can to promote growth and health.

Rabbits that have diarrhea should not be given apples because apples contain too much starch, which could make it worse.