Yes, rabbits can eat zucchini; you can even incorporate it into their meals. This should be given to your rabbit as a treat no more than twice per week. A perfect portion size would be around two medium-sized slices of zucchini – one slice for smaller rabbits, two for larger breeds.
Keep reading to understand the full range of effects zucchini can have on your rabbit so you can decide if you want to feed it to them or not.
Health Benefits of Zucchini for Rabbits
While hay is excellent for rabbits and should make up most of their diet, zucchinis will balance out their nutrient intake. Zucchini also contains potassium, which is essential to a rabbit’s diet. Without enough potassium, rabbits can suffer from muscular disorders and can pass away if they are potassium deficient.
Zucchinis contain small amounts of many nutrients, including zinc, iron, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, phosphorus, magnesium, and thiamine. All of these will benefit your bunny’s health and digestive system.
A whole zucchini is only 55 calories! Low in calories and high in water content, zucchini is an excellent source of vitamins that won’t make your bunny obese but will keep them hydrated and happy.
Risks of Rabbits Eating Zucchini
First off, zucchini and many other foods can pose a risk to digestive health when fed to young rabbits. Young bunnies have much more sensitivity to variances in their diet, so it’s best to wait until they are older to give treats like zucchini.
Zucchini inherently doesn’t pose any significant risks. But if you don’t feed your bunny raw, organic zucchini, it can negatively affect their health. Organic vegetables are free from pesticides that can harm your rabbit, so make sure you buy organic if possible.
On the other hand, organic food may have parasites because it isn’t chemically treated. Check the zucchini for parasites that will look like small bugs. They can infect your rabbit and lead to awful health problems.
Like humans, over-ripened food is dangerous for rabbits to consume. Rotten or mushy zucchinis should be disposed of. A zucchini that has ripened past its prime will not have as many nutrients to offer compared with a fresh zucchini.
When giving your rabbit zucchini for the first time (or any food for that matter) monitor them over the next 24 hours and look out for the following behaviors:
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Excessive itching or scratching
- Excessive licking of skin or paws
If you notice any of these symptoms, go back to their regular diet. If the behaviors persist, contact your local vet.
How Much Zucchini Can a Rabbit Eat?
Zucchini is a healthy vegetable to add to your bunny’s regular diet in small servings. But moderation is still important.
The proper serving is one to two medium slices of zucchini to go along with their meals. You should only do this two to three times a week at most, or it can disrupt their digestive health. Make sure the zucchini is thinly sliced so that it’s manageable for them to eat.
Treat zucchini as a special snack for them when they’ve been extra good, or you want to show them some extra love. Giving them zucchini should not be a daily occurrence.
Related Questions
Can Rabbits Eat Zucchini Seeds?
Yes, zucchini seeds are safe for rabbits to eat. The seeds are soft and small enough that they can easily pass through your rabbit’s intestinal tract. And unlike some fruits and vegetables (like apples and watermelons) the seeds contain zero cyanide and pose no toxic threats to your rabbit’s health.
Can Rabbits Eat Zucchini Peels?
The peel (also called the skin) of zucchini is totally safe for your rabbit to eat. So, don’t worry about peeling zucchini before feeding it to your bunny.
Can Rabbits Eat Cooked Zucchini?
No, don’t give your rabbit any cooked food. Rabbits’ digestive systems are made for raw foods only, so any cooked or processed foods can be seriously harmful to their health.
Never feed your rabbits anything that has been cooked. This also makes it easier for you to prepare snacks for your rabbit!
Can Rabbits Eat Frozen Zucchini?
In addition to being sensitive to cooked food, rabbit stomachs are also sensitive to frozen food. Freezing food breaks down nutrients and affects the food similarly to cooking it. So, stick with feeding your rabbit raw, unfrozen foods.