Are you scared of feeding rabbits tomatoes due to their sensitive digestive system? Is your bunny friend expecting a treat from you? And you thought of serving radish as a healthy bunny-balanced diet?
But you are unsure how safe it is to give it to them? Do you think your radish-treat idea might not be tasty enough for them? Well, it is not a thing to get worried about. What’s more? Your bunny friend is safer if they get fed on tomatoes alone and not the plant part because it is poisonous for them.
However, there are certain things that you need to know about, as a rabbit owner, in order not to put the health of your pet bunnies in danger. The most important of which is the fact that tomatoes have high sugar content, and this requires moderation per serving.
Can Rabbits Eat Tomatoes?
Yes! Your bunny friend can feed on tomatoes without altering their health. According to experts, it has been brought awareness that tomatoes alone are not poisonous. Unless eaten with the plant part, it is liable to cause deteriorating harm to the health of your bunny friend.
Tomatoes provide a lot of goodness that enriches and keeps your bunny healthy and should be served as a healthy diet. It should be served fresh and must not contain any parasites or pesticides.
Having concluded that it is healthy for rabbits to feed on tomatoes, it is now your obligation as a rabbit owner to be more concerned about the portion or size you give them each day.
What’s more? There is a need for moderation. While you have already decided to give your rabbits your tomatoes, you must serve them in small chunks by cutting them into bite-sized pieces. This will prevent your bunny friend from choking while they feed on it.
The Pros of Feeding Rabbits Tomatoes
- Rabbits enjoy eating tomatoes in small pieces; it is one of the best treats you can provide your rabbits.
- Tomatoes keep your pet bunnies hydrated due to their high water content.
- Tomatoes solely provide your pet bunnies with essential nutrients and are an excellent source of folate, potassium, Vitamin K and Vitamin C.
- Tomatoes usually prevent conditions like hypokalemia that bunnies suffer from due to their high potassium contents.
- Tomatoes have antioxidants that keep the heart healthy.
- Occasionally feeding your rabbits with tomatoes helps them suppress stress or anxiety.
The Cons of Feeding Rabbits Tomatoes
- The most important one of the drawbacks associated with feeding tomatoes to pet bunnies is the exception of baby rabbits. This is because baby rabbits have a sensitive digestive system which can get easily tampered with if care is not taken.
- Rabbits can be in danger if they get addicted to fruits and vegetables without daily hay consumption. This is because of the necessary nutrients they get from hay; if not eaten, they can get sick.
- Tomato plants are toxic and not for your pet bunnies to feed on due to the complex compounds contained in plants, such as tomatine and alkaloid solanine. This later results in a negative physiological effect on your pet if not well prevented.
Can Rabbits Eat Tomato Leaves and Stems?
No! Feeding your rabbits with tomato leaves and stems is very toxic and imperative to their health, unlike the fruit (tomatoes), so you must always remove the stems and leaves from their food before feeding. The best method of removing these seeds and plants is using a knife or spoon.
What’s more? These tomato plants contain solanine and tomatine substances that are poisonous to rabbits.
They are usually found in trace amounts. Finally, ensure you do not offer your rabbits tomato leaves or plants but feed them with fruit alone.
Do Rabbits Eat Tomatoes In The Garden?
Well, one thing we would be clarifying is that these bunnies feed on vegetable plants like carrots and tomatoes. So they aren’t picky when it comes to tomato varieties in particular.
If you suspect these jumpy critters of devouring your tomatoes, you are right because they use the sweetness to satisfy their taste buds utmostly. However, these rabbits are herbivores hence they don’t only feed on tomatoes but other flowers and plants from your garden or backyard.
So having suspected rabbits as the culprits behind your missing or already-bitten tomatoes, you are not to stop at that but ensure that you set traps for them so they will not be able to gain entry again.
What Other Vegetable Plants Can Rabbits Feed On?
Tomatoes are vegetables and are among the vegetable food your pet bunnies can safely feed on. So aside from tomatoes, there are other vegetables for rabbits which offer them the same nutrients as tomatoes and more.
Some of Which Include:
- Watercress
- Red leaf lettuce
- Carrot tops
- Green leaf lettuce
- Butter lettuce
- Watercress
- Zucchini
- Basil
- Cucumber
- Cilantro
- Brussels sprouts
How Should I Feed My Rabbits Tomatoes?
Having concluded that you will be making a radish treat for your pet bunnies, you are to note that there is a particular extent or amount that you’re to limit them to.
This small treat should be cut into bite-sized pieces, so your pet bunnies don’t get choked while feeding on it.
Is It Okay To Feed My Bunnies With Tomato Seeds?
Not! Doing this will harm your bunnies health-wise, so you should remove tomato seeds from the fruit before giving them to your pet bunnies to feed on.
Besides, there is usually not much work in removing tomato seeds. Hence it is very easy to do. Do this by scraping the already-halved tomato with a knife or something similar. So, in conclusion, avoid giving your furry little buddies tomato seeds because it is toxic to their health.
Conclusion
Tomatoes of all varieties, whether red, cherry or yellow, are safe for your furry bunnies, the most poisonous of which is the unripe or green tomatoes.
As mentioned in this article, feeding your rabbits with tomato flowers, stems, and leaves is bad because it is mildly poisonous.
Lastly, feeding your rabbits with tomatoes is one of the best treats you can offer your cute little furry bunnies for healthy nutrition and diet.