It is a common thought that rabbits can eat and digest any vegetable and fruit. A recurrent and frequently asked question is whether they can eat celery or not and if it’s good for them.
To put simply, rabbits can eat celery because it is full of nutrients and vitamins and is great for digestion and their teeth. However, celery should only be eaten in moderation along with fresh hay and other healthy foods, as it should be a very small portion of their diet.
Celery is a part of a nutritious and healthy diet and is a delicious treat for your rabbits. But it can be fatal if taken above the recommended portion. This article will tell you all you need to know about why and how much your rabbit should eat the said vegetable.
What Is Celery?
Celery is a low-calorie marshland plant that has been cultivated as a vegetable for a long time. It is from the family Apiaceae with the scientific name Apium graveolens. It has long green fibrous stalks that turn into leaves. According to its cultivation, either the stalks or the leaves or both are used for eating purposes.
They are good for your rabbit but in a controlled form. If taken in abundance, it can prove to be deadly. The following are the pros and cons of rabbits eating celery.
Benefits Of Eating Celery For Rabbits
Rabbits can eat celery. In fact, it is very good for them as part of their balanced diet. A balanced diet is the one that has all the nutrients, vitamins, protein, carbohydrates, and fats in a balanced form, i.e., not exceeding the daily prescribed limit.
A healthy balanced diet is essential for all living beings. Fresh produce such as leafy green vegetables as well as root vegetables, along with hay, is important for a rabbit’s diet. Celery classifies as both a leafy vegetable as well as a root vegetable.
Celery has higher water content and a sweet taste for rabbits. So, they develop a liking for it’s taste and enjoy eating it. It is rich in dietary fiber, which keeps the gut healthy.
It also contains many vitamins, minerals, and nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, zinc, chlorine, and folic acid, to name a few. All of these are great for the rabbit’s overall health.
Rabbit’s teeth keep growing throughout their lifetime. They can grow straight through their gums and mouth if left unchecked. A great benefit of celery is that since it’s difficult to chew and fibrous, it helps the rabbits file down their teeth by munching on it.
Its crunchy texture helps to grind down the rabbit’s teeth and prevent them from growing super long and thereby becoming a health hazard.
Detriments Of Eating Celery For Rabbits
Despite its benefits, celery can be harmful to rabbits. As mentioned earlier, it is generally considered safe for them in a monitored and limited amount.
The biggest negative is that celery can be a potential choking hazard. Celery sticks are long and fibrous. When rabbits keep munching on them, it can get stuck in their throats. The fibers can act as shards, and they will face difficulty in breathing.
They can get stuck in the rabbit’s stomach and cause blockages. This may not seem like a huge health hazard at first, but it can be extremely deadly for them. Celery strings can get stuck in their teeth and cause infections.
To prevent this from happening, you should feed celery to your rabbit by cutting it into an inch or half-inch sized pieces. It will be easier for them to eat without becoming unhealthy.
Another point to keep in notice while feeding celery to your rabbit is its sugar content. Celery has a high sugar content for rabbits. Therefore, they enjoy eating it. But too much sugar is not recommended for rabbits and should not be considered a daily meal. Rather, it can be fed to them as a treat.
Moreover, it is believed that rabbits can tolerate any sort of food, and it won’t disrupt their stomach. That is actually a misconception. Some rabbits can be intolerant towards celery, resulting in a loose stomach.
Therefore, start by introducing it in a small quantity. If the rabbit experiences watery stool, then it is intolerant to celery and shouldn’t be fed celery anymore.
How Much Celery Should Be Fed To Rabbits
As mentioned multiple times now, celery should be fed to the rabbits in a moderate quantity despite its benefits. You should not feed more than half a stick of celery to your rabbit. This is because of the presence of too much sugar in it, which is not suitable for rabbits to take in large quantities.
Furthermore, celery should only be fed in small quantities. Not more than half an inch or one-inch pieces of celery should be given. Remember, if a rabbit eats a whole stalk of celery in one go, it can be a health hazard as it can lead to choking, teeth infection, and stomach blockages.
Which Part Is Recommended For Them To Eat?
Rabbits can eat all parts of the celery. But the leafy part is best for them. This is because the leafy part won’t get stuck in the throat or be dangerous. But if you want to feed the celery stick, do so but not more than half stick cut into one-inch pieces.
Conclusion
Celery is an amazing source of healthy nutrients and vitamins which are beneficial for rabbits. They are packed with a wide range and variety of vitamins, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K, to name a few, as well as with nutrients such as folic acid, chlorine, magnesium, and zinc, etc.
It files down a rabbit’s teeth, which is extremely important for them and keeps them healthy. However, excess of it can be fatal. While rabbits can eat celery, it should be fed to them in a monitored form, i.e., not more than recommended.
