Can Rabbits Eat Peanut Butter?

No, rabbits can’t eat peanut butter. It’s super unhealthy because it’s filled with sugar and salt, high in calories and fats, and also contains minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and acid – all of which can be harmful to rabbits. It’s also likely to cause your rabbit trouble since it’s hard to digest.

Risks of Giving Your Rabbit Peanut Butter

Rabbits have sensitive digestive systems, and eating the wrong type of food makes it far more likely for them to have problems.

From eating peanut butter, rabbits can get:

Weight gain: When your rabbit eats too many calories and sugar, they’ll gain weight, and unless there’s intervention they’ll end up obese. This results in trouble grooming, extra pressure on their hearts, joint soreness, and more.
Digestive issues: Peanut butter is high in fat, and rabbits don’t have the ability to digest a large number of fats. Excessive fat can lead to diarrhea and dehydration.
Dental issues: After eating too much sugary food, rabbits often face issues with their teeth rotting and overgrowing.
Stomach upset: This can be in the form of diarrhea, gas, stomach pain, or bloating. It can be caused by eating food high in sugar and salt.
Urinary issues: Too much calcium and phosphorus can result in kidney stones, infections, and bladder issues.
Gastrointestinal issues: If your rabbit eats the wrong type of diet, it can upset the balance of bacteria in their gut and make them sick. If they get gastrointestinal stasis, it’s when there’s no movement in their gut and they can go downhill extremely quickly.

What if My Rabbit Eats Peanut Butter

If your rabbit eats peanut butter by accident, you need to check how they react to it. It isn’t toxic, just difficult to digest and full of the wrong type of ingredients. Give them extra hay and water and monitor them closely.

If your rabbit is having a negative reaction after eating peanut butter, take them to a vet.

Signs that they’re reacting badly include:

Changes in behavior.
Not eating normally.
Loose stool or unusual toilet habits.
Lethargy or not moving much.
Choking or struggling to breathe.

You know your rabbit best, if something isn’t right get advice from a vet ASAP.

What Should Rabbits Eat?

Rabbits should eat a specific, balanced diet to be as healthy as they can be:

Hay: The biggest part of their diet should consist of an unlimited supply of fiber-rich hay. Their gut needs to be healthy for smooth digestion and to avoid them getting sick.
Fresh vegetables: Your rabbit needs a cup of vegetables every day, made up of a variety of raw vegetables. Leafy greens are best, like kale, spinach, and watercress (to name a few).
Pellets: A daily bowl of pellets will top up the fiber requirement your rabbit needs. You can pick up age-appropriate pellets from the pet store.
Treats: Up to two times a week your rabbit can have treats. Sugary fruit like apples and bananas can be given to your rabbit in moderation.
Water: Always make sure that your rabbit has access to drinking water.

If you’re not sure what food your rabbit can have in their fresh vegetables or treats part of their diet, check it out online to make sure that it’s rabbit-friendly.

Can Rabbits Eat Peanuts?

No, rabbits shouldn’t eat peanuts. They aren’t toxic for rabbits, but they have no nutritional value and plenty of potential digestive issues if your rabbit eats too many of them. There are far better alternatives for your rabbit to snack on.

Can Rabbits Eat Peanut Shells?

No, rabbits can’t eat peanut shells. As well as lacking any nutrients, the shells are hard which is a choking hazard. They can also cause internal blockages if your rabbit manages to eat them. Keep peanut shells away from your rabbit to prevent any related issues.