Last Updated on March 15, 2023 by Marjon Ramos
It’s fine if your rabbit accidentally ate duck food, but make sure that you don’t make it a habit.
Rabbits and ducks have different nutritional needs.
As an example, most duck foods have the following nutritional percentage: 19% protein, 2.3% fat, 0.75-1.25% calcium, and 5% fiber.
On the other hand, rabbit foods have 18–22% fiber, <3% fat, <1% calcium, and 14–18% protein.
As you can see, duck food doesn’t have enough fiber and has too much protein and calcium.
Now that I’ve given you the gist of the article, read on as I explain in more detail why rabbits can’t eat duck food long-term:
Table of Contents
Risk of feeding duck food to rabbits.
Because rabbits and ducks have different nutritional needs, feeding your rabbits duck foods has risks if fed long term.
Here are some of the risks associated with feeding your rabbits large amounts of duck food:
Gastrointestinal Stasis
Gastrointestinal stasis is also possible when a rabbit is fed large amounts of duck food, which is low in fiber.
GI stasis mainly happens when a rabbit is fed a low-fiber diet or when fed the wrong diet.
GI stasis happens when the balance of bacteria in your rabbit’s gut is disrupted.
This disruption would cause painful gas that would eventually lead to organ failure and death if not treated immediately.
The signs of GI stasis are:
- Depressed
- Hunched posture
- Bruxism
- Decreased appetite/anorexia
If you notice any of these signs, immediately bring your rabbit to a veterinarian.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea in rabbits is often caused by the wrong diet or when their diet is changed too fast.
Feeding your rabbit large amounts of duck food would check those two boxes I mentioned.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Should you panic if your rabbit ate a little bit of duck food?
While it’s true that rabbits should not eat duck food, eating a bit of duck food is not a problem for rabbits.
As long as you’re not feeding your rabbit a lot of duck food intentionally, then they should be fine.
Observe your rabbit for any behavioral changes or any changes in their poop.
What to do if your rabbit ate duck food?
Observe their behavior, poop, and urine for any changes.
If you did notice something after your rabbit accidentally ate duck food, call a veterinarian for proper advice.
Conclusion
Duck food should never be fed to rabbits intentionally because rabbits’ nutritional needs are different from ducks’.
Rabbit food needs to have 18-22% fiber, <3% fat, <1% calcium, and 14–18% protein.
Most duck foods have 19% protein, 2.3% fat, and 5% fiber.
As you can see, duck food has little fiber and too much protein and calcium.
Feeding your rabbits duck food long-term could lead to all kinds of digestive problems like GI stasis and diarrhea.
If you have noticed some behavioral, urine, and poop changes, call a veterinarian for proper advice.
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