Rabbits can consume most green vegetables and grasses, but not all of them. Now you might be wondering, can they eat celery? The short answer is yes. But few things you should know before feeding your Rabbit celery.
Rabbits mainly eat hay or grass, some hay pellets, vegetables, and some occasional treats. There is a long list of vegetable rabbits can eat.
What Do Rabbits Usually Eat?
As already stated, rabbits can eat most green vegetables. That is not the entirety of their diet, though. They also like to have leaves, seeds, hay, and other different grasses.
Rabbits born in captivity grow up eating pellets. These contain necessary nutrients baby rabbits need to grow and stay healthy. They start eating more natural whole foods as they grow up.
Dark green and leafy vegetables are a rabbit’s favorite. They also like carrots and other root veggies. But variety is essential, and a rabbit needs a little bit of everything to stay healthy and strong.
Nutrients in Celery
Green vegetables are always one of the best picks for rabbits. Celery contains high nutrition which is beneficial for your rabbit. The following are the nutrients a
the medium stalk of celery (40-gram) contains and its benefits:
- Calories: 5.6
- Protein: 0.3 grams
- Carbohydrate: 1.2 grams
- Sugar: 0.5 grams
- Fiber: 0.6 grams
- Fat: 0.1 gram
- Sodium: 32 mg
Carbohydrate
Carbs are a good energy source, however, if rabbits can’t burn it off by exercising it may cause health issues like obesity. Celery is very low in carbs and calories.
Fiber
The most important nutrient for rabbits is fiber. A rabbits diet requires at least 80% of their foods to be high in fiber. Celery is a good source of fiber.
Vitamins and Minerals
Celery is a great source of Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Potassium and Folate. Potassium is beneficial to control blood pressure and bone health. Vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting. Vitamin A is important for healthy eyes. And, Folate or Vitamin B9 is important for tissue growth and proper cell function.
The nutrients in celery are necessary for rabbits. It mainly consists of vitamins, minerals, and other necessary nutrients including – folic acid, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, choline, fiber, folate, and vitamin A, B, C, E, K.
Can Rabbits Eat Celery?
Now let’s talk about feeding rabbits celery. Let us first answer, what is celery?
Celery is a green vegetable that belongs to the same family as carrots. It has a long stalk leading to many leaves. This stalk is fibrous and thus is a good source of dietary fiber.
Everything from the leaves to the stalk is edible. It has a savory taste with a crunch to it and is full of water. People all over the world use celery in their cooking, and it is quite delicious!
This succulent vegetable also possesses unique qualities. Consuming celery can lower inflammation, which means injuries like cuts and burns can heal faster. This also means it can reduce blood pressure.
Celery is a staple for anyone on a cardio diet. Recently it’s found to reduce the risk of cancer as well. What celery must be most famous for is its aiding in the loss of vision. Like the humble carrot, celeries can reduce the risk of vision loss due to old age. In short, the celery should be a vital part of any diet.
Many animals are quite fond of it too. Rabbits, in particular, enjoy having celery. A rabbit can eat entire celery, the stalk and leaves included. For the tiny rabbit, celeries are high in sugar, and they like the taste very much. So much so, that they might become attached to it.
Benefits of Feeding Rabbits Celery
Consuming celery has a ton of benefits.
- Each one contains a host of different nutrients. Potassium, phosphorous, zinc, calcium, iron, and magnesium, to name a few. They are also full of useful vitamins. Vitamins A, C, K, and many different vitamin B’s. All of which are essential for a rabbit’s good health.
- All prior mentioned health benefits, such as reducing the risk of cancer and loss of vision, are there too. Rabbits benefit from eating celery, just like humans. Lowering blood pressure can be useful for rabbits that need to lose weight. It also keeps the risk of heart disease low.
- Being high in fiber, celery is also suitable for digestion. This ensures your rabbit does not suffer from issues like constipation. Read this article[how to litter train your rabbit] to know more about rabbit droppings and learn how to litter train them.
- The crunchy nature of celery is additionally suitable for a rabbit’s teeth. Rabbits are one of the few animals whose teeth never stop growing! Having teeth grow at awkward angles or into the gums can be quite painful. Eating celery ensures your rabbits always have a whole row of teeth.
Downsides to Feeding Rabbits Celery
Overeating celery can undo all the good and cause problems for your rabbits.
- Rabbits cannot digest everything. The most dangerous of these might be celery strings. These are long strands of the vegetable that the rabbit cannot digest. They can potentially block their stomachs and make them very painful.
- Feeding rabbits only celery starves them from other vital nutrients and vitamins. Yes, celeries have plenty of vitamins and nutrients that rabbits need. But they need other veggies, leaves, and grasses too.
- Celery is quite tasty to rabbits, but the high sugar can be a problem. Too much of it can cause high blood pressure and indigestion. Rabbits can get an upset stomach pretty easily, so high sugar celery is a treat and not a meal.
How to Feed Your Rabbit Celery?
The most important thing to remember is never to give entire celery to a rabbit. Always cut it into pieces no longer than 1 inch. This ensures that the celery strings are not long enough to get caught in the stomach. Anything not digested can then pass through the rabbit and out with its droppings.
Next, make sure you pick fresh vegetables. Rabbits can have every bit of celery, but make sure none of it is brown. A brown stalk or leaves indicate that the plant is not fresh. It can also be an indication of fungi that can upset your furry friend’s stomach.
Finally, feed your rabbits celery once a day and always in small pieces. This ensures they get the benefits of a complete diet and not just the celery. Controlling celery consumption also stops overeating and the problems it brings.
Final Words
Celery is almost every rabbit’s favorite veggie to eat. It is full of nutrients, vitamins, and possesses many other useful traits. Feed them only in moderation; however, as too much of a good thing is never good.
You can feed your Rabbit Celery. But not too much and only in small amounts. We hope this article helps you now learn how to safely feed celery to your furry friend.
Reply