Can Rabbits Eat Apple Fruit, Seeds or Leaves?

Providing the right diet for your bunnies is very important in ensuring they are healthy and happy. They mainly depend on hay such as Kaytee Timothy Hay), some pelleted foods, water, as well as some small amounts of fruits and vegetables. Those with special needs may have some alfalfa hay too.

What about fresh apple and other fruits?

Some fresh fruits such as mangoes, apricots, blackberries, pears, peaches, pineapples, strawberries, bananas, plums, cherries, raspberries, and apples can be given in small amounts mainly as treats, occasionally. However, ensure together with vegetables, do not account for more than 10% of your bunny’s diet.

Apples are harmless and safe for your rabbits (all types – red delicious, Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, Granny Smith, McIntosh, golden delicious, etc.). However, like other fruits they should be given in small quantities (treats) of typically about two teaspoons per five-pound of rabbit weight per day about once a week.

On fruits, Dana Krempels, Ph.D. Miami University notes that bunny owners should “not to overdo these treat foods, as they may promote cecal dysbiosis, other intestinal problems and create a desire in the bunny to eat treats instead of his/her normal, healthy foods.”

Giving it an apple

If you want to give your furry friends an apple snack, chop it into small junks and give it according to the amounts we have mentioned. You only need to cut the edible part only, discarding the core and seeds. This answers the question of whether rabbits can eat apple cores or not. No. They cannot eat this part.

Do not peel the skin off as it is nutritive and rabbits can be able to digest it. However, thoroughly wash it before chopping it to ensure it is free of any chemicals.

Only give them to adult bunnies or those that are at least 12 weeks old. Younger ones should not be given fruits or vegetables.

Benefits

They are healthy, tasty, crunchy and loaded with nutrients including pectin, flavonoids (makes bones stronger), and can help reduce the chances of some neurodegenerative diseases in human beings.

Can rabbits eat apple seeds and stem

We have seen if given in moderation; an apple is a healthy additive to your furry friend’s diet. What about the stem, and seeds?

Ensure you do not give them pips or seeds or the stem of the fruit (the middle part that holds the apple core together and then attaches to the branch).

According to Animals.mom.me, “apple seeds and stems consist of cyanogenic glycosides, which are poisonous compounds that can trigger a variety of hazardous symptoms in pets, including stomach upset, diarrhea, vomiting, convulsions, reduced heart rate, and respiratory congestion.”

Consumption of seeds can be fatal. Ensure you carefully chop this fruit removing the stem as well as all the seeds. Note that their seeds are not safe for any pet.

In case your bunnies ingested the apple core and seeds accidentally, you should not be worried or call your vet since they will be fine. However, do not forget that excessive consumption of seeds makes them poisonous.

The Crabapples varieties tend to have higher concentrations of cyanogenic glycoside in their core and seeds. However, their branches are still fine.

Apple leaves, twigs, and branches

Can you give your bunnies apple leaves, twigs or branches? Yes. You can give it without any restrictions, and they will enjoy eating them just as they will enjoy eating aspen, birch, spruce and willow branches.

However, before giving them these twigs or leaves, ensure they are washed well, and their source is pesticide-free or does not have any other chemicals.

What about wild ones?

Rabbits.life discourages giving wild rabbits any fruits or sugary foods including tomatoes. They will prefer twigs, branches, fresh or dry grasses, and various plants.

Conclusion

Besides the seeds and core, apple fruits are very safe for your furry friends. However, they should not be cooked ones since they may cause diarrhea being starchy and being less fibrous. Remember rabbits should not eat apple seeds.