Can Rabbits Eat Potato Peels?

No, rabbits can’t eat potato peels. The peel has almost as much starch as a potato itself and could cause your rabbit a lot of gastrointestinal distress if eaten. Combined with the fact that the peel offers no nutritional value, and contains toxins, it’s definitely worth skipping it in favor of a healthier snack.

It’s also worth mentioning that rabbits can’t eat potatoes either. No matter how it’s cooked or what type of potato – it’s harmful to rabbits. The green parts of the potato plant also contain a toxin called solanine that is especially harmful to rabbits.

Risks of Rabbits Eating Potato Peel

There are a bunch of problems that can be brought about if your rabbit accidentally eats some potato peel. Though potato peel contains high amounts of fiber, this single benefit isn’t worth the health complications your rabbit would get from eating the starchy snack.

When eating potato peel, your rabbit could develop:

• Digestion issues: Eating the wrong diet can cause difficulty in your rabbit’s digestive system. They’re designed for a plant-based diet and for eating lots of hay, so they will always struggle to digest different foods.
• GI stasis: This is a fatal condition that is caused by the slow movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract. Your rabbit would quickly deteriorate and it can be fatal in the worst cases.
• Complications from too much starch: Too much starch could quickly reduce the functions of indigestion and massively disrupt the balance of organisms in the rabbit’s digestive tract.
• Toxin poisoning: A toxin called solanine can be found in potato peel and can quickly affect your rabbit if eaten. Large doses can poison rabbits – get your pet to the vet ASAP if they’ve eaten a lot of potatoes and therefore consumed a lot of solanine.

What if My Rabbit Eats Potato Peel?

If your rabbit eats potato peels, the first thing you should do is remove the peel from them. You’ll need to closely monitor them for the next 24 hours, checking for any signs of illness. If you’re concerned, speak to a vet for advice.

If your rabbit has a strong, negative reaction then the most important thing is to get them to a vet as soon as you can. Look out especially for signs of solanine poisoning.

Signs of poisoning in rabbits:

• Breathing difficulty (struggling for breath, this is a serious and urgent indicator that would require vet treatment ASAP).
• Abdominal pain (if your rabbit is hunched over and not moving much).
• Lethargy (if your rabbit isn’t moving much and has low energy compared to normal).
• Diarrhea (soft or loose stools are a sign of an internal issue).
• Lost appetite (if your rabbit has no interest in eating, and won’t be tempted with a treat, something is seriously wrong).

If your rabbit is acting out of character in any way, it could be an indicator of a problem. Your first port of call for help should be your vet for advice if something isn’t right.

What Should I Feed My Rabbit?

You should feed your rabbit a balanced diet. Avoid foods that are more unhealthy than good (e.g. potatoes) and follow these guidelines:

• Hay: Provide your rabbit with unlimited hay for their fiber requirements.
• Water: Make sure your rabbit has constant access to drinking water.
• Fresh vegetables: A variety of fresh, raw vegetables should be given to your rabbit every day to get the nutrients they need.
• Pellets: A bowl of pellets once a day to top up their diet.
• Treats: Up to twice a week your rabbit can enjoy a treat. They’re typically food that’s unhealthy in large quantities like a cantaloupe melon.

If you’re looking to vary your rabbit’s diet, or unsure if a food is rabbit-friendly, there’s a wealth of information available online that you can check out.

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