Rabbits are able to eat almost all kinds of vegetables and those are also good for their health. But this is not always the situation as some of the vegetables and fruits are toxic for them while some contain too much sugar which can make the rabbits obese.
So we will check the nutritional value of the fruit and vegetable that we are going to offer to the pets so they do not suffer from any illness after consuming that.
Sweet potato is usually counted as one of the safe food items for the herbivores creatures like rabbits, let us now discuss if all the aspects of sweet potato are good for the rabbit’s consumption.
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Can pet rabbits eat sweet potatoes?
Yes, sweet potatoes thankfully do not contain any toxic elements for rabbits. It will not cause sudden distress or digestive problem for the rabbits. But too large a portion of sweet potato may cause illness in the rabbit. The food that the rabbits eat should come in small portions and that will also help you to know if the food is suitable for the rabbits or not, as rabbits often suffer from stomach upset when they eat something new.
Can rabbits eat sweet potato peels?
Peels or skins of sweet potatoes contain a good amount of fiber and fiber is always good for rabbits. It keeps their digestive system intact. Thus the peel or skin of the sweet potato is better than the flesh of the vegetable.
But if the sweet potato is grown with the help of chemical fertilizer or pesticides have been used on the plant then the toxin will be there on the skin of the vegetable. Washing the vegetable with hot water may make it free from such toxins and dirt. Otherwise, these things stay on the skin of the potato and make the rabbit sick after consumption.
Is it OK for the rabbits to eat potatoes?
Potatoes of any kind are not toxic for rabbits. But this vegetable is not actually a great thing for your pet rodent. Potatoes of any kind usually contain a good amount of starch, which is actually a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates in high amounts will make the rabbit obese and thus, it should not be fed to the rabbits in regular diet.
Also, the number of potatoes should be restricted to one serving. The digestive system, as well as weight, will be disturbed when you will give the rabbit potato frequently.
What should you do when your rabbit eats some sweet potato?
Rabbits usually do not react after eating a piece of sweet potato. This is not a part of the regular diet of the rabbits, but as it contains no toxic element to harm the digestive system of the rabbit, it will not cause them runny stool or stomach infection.
The sweet potato will help your rabbit to gain weight. So in order to offer a treat to your rabbit, you should not choose this one, there are other healthy options that can be given to the rabbit as treat, but potatoes will not be suitable for daily consumption.
Can rabbits eat cooked sweet potato?
Cooked food is not great for rabbits. their digestive system is not prepared for cooked foods. So it is preferable to give them raw sweet potato cut into small pieces but not the cooked one. This may lead to some other complications. The cooked or even boiled potato will not be ideal for the rabbit.
How much sweet potato can you give your rabbit safely?
As the diet of the rabbit should be high in fiber, you should not give them sweet potato which is actually not a source of fiber. It contains a high amount of carbohydrates. When the rabbit eats sweet potatoes or such items containing carbohydrates then it will be affected by gastrointestinal stasis or GI stasis. Diarrhea is another problem usually faced by rabbits.
How many potatoes can be given to the young rabbits?
Young rabbits have a more sensitive digestive system and thus they should not be given the sweet potato even once. Until the rabbit becomes one year old, these experimental foods should not be given to them. Sweet potatoes are not ideal for them and their sensitive stomach may react with diarrhea or some other problem when fed with this kind of vegetable. Thus giving them food high in fiber is the only option for the young rabbits.
Is sweet potato good for pregnant rabbits?
Pregnant rabbits need more nutritious food than adult and healthy rabbits. As it is carrying babies and need extra nutrition, sweet potatoes are not at all recommended to be fed to them at such a stage. For the lactating rabbits, this same theory is applied.
They are not supposed to have sweet potatoes or such unwanted foods which will not provide them with adequate fiber. Hay is the only item that is needed for rabbits at all stages of life.
When you should not feed sweet potato to the rabbit?
When the rabbit is suffering from diarrhea or such a digestive problem then you should never provide it with a small piece of sweet potato. Sweet potatoes do not contain fiber so they will not affect the digestive system in that manner.
What should you do if your rabbit falls ill after eating a sweet potato?
Though the amount of sweet potato is something crucial for the health of the rabbits, in case your rabbit eats more than an adequate amount of sweet potato then it may suffer from digestive issues. You may find that the rabbit is having runny stool and it is not eating much after eating the potato. Do not panic as this will be okay after some time.
After a few hours, the rabbit will feel normal. But you neither should nor force it to eat. The rabbit will eat when it will wish to. If the runny stool continues for more than a day then you may need to take the pet to the vet.
Why sweet potato is not good for rabbits?
Rabbits are herbivores and they always seek and eat something leafy and green. Thus their digestive system is built in such a way that they end up having the whole meal based on fiber-related items. Starch and natural sugar-based fruits and vegetables are not good for them.
When they are adopted they should be given only fresh hay of different varieties. Most of the fruits contain a good amount of sugar, which is tasty for rabbits but not as healthy as hay. Hay keeps their stomach alright. When they are given some fruit or vegetable that they are not used to, then they may end up having diarrhea or other health-related problems.
Even if they do not suffer from diarrhea after eating raw sweet potatoes, they also they can get obese or have high blood sugar due to the presence of starch and natural sugar in sweet potatoes. You should not take such a chance with your pet and feed it with unnecessary vegetables like this.
Once in a while, you can try this type of vegetable which may help the rabbit to change their taste and get more interested in food. However, if the rabbit is underweight, with the vet’s suggestion you can sometimes offer it sweet potato, as it will help the pet to gain weight fast.
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