Last Updated on February 26, 2023 by Marjon Ramos
While feeding small amounts of pretzels to rabbits is not harmful, feeding them large amounts of pretzels could lead to digestive distress like diarrhea, impaction, and GI stasis.
Pretzels are mostly made out of salt, butter, flour, sugar, and eggs. All of which are not recommended to be fed to rabbits.
If you notice any changes in your rabbit’s stool, both in size and consistency, immediately bring your rabbit to a veterinarian.
Now that I’ve given you the gist of the article, read on as I explain in more detail why rabbits can eat pretzels:
Table of Contents
Risk of overfeeding pretzels to rabbits.
Flour-based foods like pretzels or any kind of bread carry a certain risk when fed in large amounts.
Rabbits’ diets should be high in fiber, not carbohydrates.
Here are some of the risks associated with feeding your rabbits large amounts of pretzels:
Diarrhea
Diarrhea in rabbits is often caused by the wrong diet or when its diet is changed too fast.
Feeding your rabbit large amounts of pretzels would check those two boxes I mentioned.
Gastrointestinal Stasis
Gastrointestinal stasis is also possible when a rabbit is fed large amounts of pretzels, which are high in carbs and starch.
GI stasis happens when the balance of bacteria in your rabbit’s gut is disrupted due to a high-carb, low-fiber diet.
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.
Healthy alternative to pretzels as treats.
If you’re planning on giving your rabbits pretzels as treats, these alternatives are much healthier.
Here are some alternatives that you can give to your rabbits one to two times per week as a treat:
- Melon
- Nectarine
- Apple (remove seeds)
- Banana
- Papaya
- Peach
- blueberries
- blackberries
- Pear
- strawberries
- raspberries
- cranberries
- Pineapple
- Plum
- Watermelon
- Cherries (remove seeds)
- Grapes
- Orange
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Should you panic if your rabbit ate a bit of pretzels?
While pretzels are not recommended for rabbits, it’s still not toxic. It’s just that pretzels or any flour-based food are too high in carbohydrates. If you are worried, just feed them a lot of hay. The extra fiber would likely fix the problem.
Conclusion
A rabbit eating small amounts of pretzels or any flour-based food is not a concern as long as the rabbit is on a fiber-rich diet.
Just make sure that you monitor their stool for any changes both in consistency and size.
A rabbit that’s fed large amounts of carbohydrates like pretzels or bread could lead to digestive distress like GI stasis, impaction, and diarrhea.
It could also lead to obesity, especially in rabbits who are confined in small cages all day without access to regular exercise.
If your rabbit is exhibiting signs of digestive distress, immediately bring them to a veterinarian.
