Can Rabbits Eat Quick Oats?

Oats are counted as one of the healthy meals for us humans. This one contains a high amount of fiber and thus can be considered only a good item to be included in the diet of the rabbit. But the reality is not that simple. If oats and such human food can be considered or given to the rabbits as the main food, then there would not be pellets and such food which are mainly created to keep the need of the rabbits in mind.

Are oats toxic to the rabbits?

Oats are not toxic to rabbits. They can eat a few flakes of oats mixed with their diet. You can give them some unrolled or rolled oats flakes when they need to chew on something. As this one does not contain sugar or fat, this will not make your pet rabbit ill.

This one contains complex carbohydrates which in turn make the heart and blood circulation right. Also, it contains good protein which is helpful for the health of the rabbits. The high fiber content of oats is also a very helpful point which makes it ideal for the rabbit diet.

Why oat is not harmful to rabbits?

Oat is a cereal grain that is really nutritious and it was earlier used for livestock feed. The forms like rolls and oatmeal are consumed by humans though, and it is counted as one of the healthy practices now.

This one contains a high amount of nutrition like high-grade carbs, protein, fiber, fat, and B complex vitamins like B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B9. Along with that it also contains iron, magnesium, potassium, copper, zinc, and phosphorus. These are the important minerals that keep the rabbit and whoever consumes oats, healthy and fit for long years. Thus you can safely feed oats in small amounts to the rabbits.

Why oats should be given in small amounts to the rabbit?

Oats contain so much goodness that after reading so far, many rabbits’ owners will decide to give oats in the main meal to the rabbits. But remember, grains cannot be the main diet item of rabbits. However good is the nutritional quotient of oats, it is a grain and it contains some amount of carbohydrate.

Enteritis is a health problem that can be suffered by your rabbit when you give it too many oats or give it oats regularly. The calorie content of oats is not high for the human body but for a rabbit, it is definitely high. This will make the rabbit obese by adding some extra pounds to its body.

Indigestible fiber is found in oats which are again but in very low amounts. This much fiber is not great for the gut health of the rabbit and it will not help in clearing the toxicity out of the rabbit’s body. So when you give your rabbit a good amount of oats it will make them sick by attacking them with GI stasis and constipation.

How many oats can you give to your rabbit safely?

Only one or two spoonfuls of oats can be given to your rabbit when it grows mature. This amount will be counted as a treat only and not as part of the main meal. This can be given only once a day and not much frequently.

The treats should vary every day, and you cannot give those oats as treats every single day. The rabbits should also have some vegetables and some fruits so the water quotient does not drop in their body and they get to eat some fresh things every day.

Can rabbits have oatmeal and even Quaker oats in their daily meal?

Though oats do not do much harm to the rabbit’s health, it does not do them much good as well. You can give them oatmeal, rolled oats, and even Quaker oats but do not give them more than one or two spoonfuls at a time. Also do not make it a habit to replace their original diet with oats, as that will not be suitable for their health.

The oats, when commercially packaged should not contain any additives when you offer them to your rabbit, even as treats. So check the packet of the oats for the list of ingredients and then only give it to your pets.

Can you give oat hay to your rabbit?

Yes, hay of oat plant, if it is weaned, can be given to the rabbits. The grassy hays are always good for the digestive system of the rabbits and these ones contain a good amount of fiber which is rather helpful for excreting the feces.

Oat hay does not contain many calories, and even it is lower in calorie content than alfalfa or legume hay. Thus you can give them an unlimited amount of oats hay if you can get them in your backyard or from a local store. This will help you to keep the rabbit busy munching this hay all along.

Now, if you have an underweight rabbit, then offering them oats hay instead of alfalfa or legume hay is not preferred. Your vet will suggest that you offer your rabbit more legumes and alfalfa and not the oats and hay as that will not give it much nutrition and the weight will not increase.

What type of oats can the rabbits eat?

Underweight rabbits may be fed one spoonful of oats every day. This should be done only after taking the suggestion of the vets. Oats contain some amount of carbohydrates which will help the rabbit to gain some weight.

But instant or quick oats are not actually beneficial for this purpose. So you should get your underweight rabbit only thick rolled oats and not the other one. The thickly rolled oats can fill their tummy and also do some good regarding their health and weight.

Are instant and quick oats good for rabbits?

Quick oats are steamed and rolled forms of oats that are thin and break easily when cooked.  The steaming process partially cooks them and thus gets a thinner shape than the regular thick oats. It takes less time in cooking and gets digested easily too.

There is a fine difference between quick oats and instant oats. Instant oats are often pre-cooked and just needed to be mixed with hot water to get them ready. However, these varieties are not suitable for rabbits and they should be given the conventional thick oats.

Do rabbits like quick oats?

Yes, rabbits eat quick oats when given them raw. They can munch on some flakes of oats when they are given these as treats between their main meals. As rabbits like to munch always they should be given something like oats which is low in carb and fat, to keep them engaged.

Quick oats are not ideal for rabbits, but you can give them some as their treats. The reason why quick oats will not be much suitable for the rabbit is, that the rawness of the thick oats gets replaced as the quick oats are rolled and milled into finer oats.

Can rabbits eat cooked oats?

A rabbit’s digestive system is not ready for anything cooked. They should be given only raw items to eat. Thus you can give those oats in raw form. They will be able to digest the raw thick oats easily. Cooked oats are better for us humans only.