Can Rabbits Eat Celery? A Bunny’s Guide To Celery

An iconic image of rabbits eating carrots is fixed in all of our minds since childhood. But the reality is that they can eat a wider variety of fresh vegetables, grasses, and many more. And one controversy related to the rabbit’s diet often comes in highlights that can rabbits eat celery?

Well, the answer is yes, celery can prove to be a delicious snack and helps in contributing to a part of a balanced rabbit’s diet. But the question arises, what is celery?

Celery is a type of veggie from the Apiaceous family. A rabbit can eat both its leaves as well as its fibrous stalk. It should be offered in raw condition as cooked celery can cause digestive upset in rabbits.

The taste of celery is a bit sweet side without excess sugar and is also rich in water content. Thus rabbits are pretty fond of it.

Here in this article, we will discuss thoroughly can rabbits eat celery?

Can Rabbits Eat Celery?

Yes, rabbits are fond of celery and can eat it. It serves as a sweet and delicious snack for them and also contributes to forming a balanced diet for rabbits.

Also, rabbits require a major portion of their diet composed of hay and grasses. They also require full access to fresh veggies full of water in order to keep them hydrated and assist in easy digestion. Celery performs both of the above functions. It is great hay and full of water content.

Can Rabbits Eat Celery Leaves?

Yes, rabbits can eat the leaves of the celery. These are rich in all essential nutrients required by the rabbit and also, rabbits are fond of their crunchy texture.

Can Rabbits Eat Celery Sticks?

As another part of celery, a celery stick is also helpful when added to the rabbit’s diet. The celery stick with its crunchy texture helps in grinding the rabbit’s teeth.

Make sure the amount of celery you are offering your bunny should be within the limit. Though celery is not harmful to the rabbit, the excess can disturb the digestion of your bunny.

Do Rabbits Eat Celery in the Wild?

Well, the answer is no but please don’t compare this question with Can rabbits eat celery? Yes, they can bunnies eat celery but in wild conditions, they generally don’t eat it. In wild conditions, they don’t even eat carrots but the iconic image of rabbits is fixed with carrots only.

Read also: What Do Wild Rabbits Eat? Rabbit Health and Lifespan

Though celery is not part of the natural diet of your bunny, you can add this to their diet. In wild conditions, rabbits have more tendency to eat grass or hay as the major portion of their diet.

In fact, we recommend incorporating celery in your bunny’s diet instead of carrots. Carrots are high in sugar levels while celery is not. Excess sugars often lead to health complications in rabbits.

Is Celery Safe for Your Rabbit?

Yes, celery is completely safe. The composition of celery possesses no risk to the bunny’s health but its structure might harm the rabbit. Celery has thin, long fibers that can lead to health complications or risks in rabbits.

When eaten as a whole, the thin and long fiber of celery can get stuck in the throat and cause choke and eventually death in rabbits.

In order to avoid this complication or health hazard, it is recommended to offer chopped celery. Chopping the celery fibers in bite-sized pieces of ½ to 1 inch length will remove all the risk to get stuck in the bunny’s throat.

What Are the Benefits of Celery in a Rabbit’s Diet?

1. Growing the teeth of a rabbit requires grinding, otherwise, it has a tendency to grow excessively. Providing your bunny with some hard object to gnaw on will solve the over-growth problem of the bunny’s teeth. And, celery sticks can easily perform this function. They have a dense texture which offers a perfect material for rabbits to gnaw in and file down their teeth.
2. However, you should stick to the amount recommended for celery sticks in order to keep your rabbit healthy.
3. Another benefit of celery includes its composition rich in various essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
4. Celery is known to rich in Vitamin K and this helps in bone metabolism. It has a higher content of VITAMIN C which is known to play a role in cell protection. Also, celery is rich in Vet A that helps in improving vision.
5. Folate is also found in rich quantities in celery that helps in the production of new cells. It is also reported to prevent the development of several cancers.

The Disadvantage of Feeding Celery in a High Amount

• Though celery has no harmful effect on the rabbit’s health, an over amount can lead to some health-associated adverse effects.
• When your bunny is eating more amount of celery, it means it is eating less hay and grasses that are essential for its digestion. The recommended amount of hay in a rabbit’s diet should not be less than 75%. But when your bunny is concentrating more on eating celery, it means he is not eating a sufficient amount of hay.
• This can lead to several stomach-related issues including diarrhea.
• If you notice loose stool in rabbits after giving celery in a higher amount, discontinue giving it. Instead, offer your bunny a large amount of hay and fresh grasses.

How Much Celery Should I Feed My Bunny?

You can offer your bunny with celery leaves as well as a celery stick. But make sure you are not giving celery in a higher amount.

Make sure that the diet of your rabbits comprises at least 75% hay and the rest of the amount should be from nutrient pellets and leafy vegetables.

The number of celery sticks and leaves should not exceed a particular amount. You can include ½ of the celery in your rabbit’s diet per day.

Precautions for Feeding Your Rabbit With Celery:

• Make sure you are offering chopped celery only. As mentioned, celery has a thin and long fiber that can get stuck in your bunny’s throat and can cause choke and even death.
• The amount of celery should not exceed the recommended amount that is ½ celery per day.
• When you notice loose stool or diarrhea, discontinue offering or feeding celery to your bunny.

Advice on feeding celery to your rabbit:

As mentioned above, the fibrous veins of celery can pose a real problem for gut, dental, and overall health.

1. Cut celery into small pieces; no larger than an inch
2. Measure out 1/4 cup – approximately 1 medium stick of celery equals 1/2 cup of chopped celery chunks. Remember, this is a tasty treat in your diet and should be limited to half a bar per day
3. Feed your rabbit a serving of celery with leafy greens (celery leaves are not a bad choice) and good-quality pellets.
4. Observe how your rabbit reacts – rabbits have individual tastes. Although a fruit or vegetable is a sweet treat for some rabbits, it could be unappetizing or disturbing for others. Every time we introduce our rabbits to a new food, we should pay attention to whether they like it or not and whether their stomach can handle it.

The Bottom Line

So this was a complete guide on can rabbits eat celery.

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