Can Rabbits Eat Rosemary? Risks and Benefits

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Can Rabbits eat rosemary? Just like humans, rabbits enjoy a good meal. A nice mix of different ingredients and freshwater, that’s all you have to do to make their day. However, there are many myths about what rabbits should be eaten. The same goes with feeding Rosemary, some groups of people are in favor of feeding Rosemary to rabbits whereas others are against it.

Rabbits are loving and adorable, you will want to reward them with delicious treats. Often pet owners go overboard with treats, every time their pet learns a new trick or looks extra cute, they celebrate the ‘Treat Day’. Giving treats every day can imbalance their nutrient intake.

Belonging to the family Leporidae, Rabbits have fluffy, short tails, whiskers, and distinctive long ears. Rabbits are herbivores and their diet only includes plant-based food. Being opportunistic feeders, they venture out to find food at dusk and dawn.

Hailing from the Mediterranean, Rosemary is a fragrant evergreen herb. It is a household name used for multiple purposes. Rosemary is known to deliver nice flavor and aroma to many culinary dishes. It has been used in traditional medicine since ancient times and always brings positive outcomes.

Now, that you know enough about the Rabbit and Rosemary, it is time to know about their association together. So, without further ado, let us tell you is this herb bunny safe?

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Can Rabbits Eat Rosemary?

Yes, rabbits can eat but Rosemary imparts a bitter, astringent taste and charred wood fragrance to barbecue, veggies, chicken, lamb, and turkey recipes. Rabbits like herbs, Rosemary can provide great nutritional value to the bunnies.

It is non-toxic and considered one of the safest herbs for rabbits. Rosemary is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, this treat will add all the essential nutrients to the bunny’s diet. Rosemary leaves, twigs, and flowers can be given a few times a week to the rabbits.

Do Rabbits Like Rosemary?

A healthy treat does not necessarily mean that it is also the pet’s favorite. According to the research, Rosemary is not most bunnies’ favorite treat, they do not wait or demand it from their owners. Bunnies are not a fan of pungent and strongly tasted herbs.

Can Baby Rabbits Eat Rosemary?

According to a recent study, Rabbits are known for their sensitive digestive system since baby rabbits are small, your priority should not be a treat but nutritious food first. Ask the vet what you should give to the newborn rabbit, what foods to give and what to avoid. Baby rabbits are even more sensitive so care should be exercised in feeding treats to them.

How Much Rosemary Should be Given to Rabbits?

When you are giving treats to the pets, you should be concerned about how much and how often. Treats are no substitute for a regular diet and should only be given occasionally. Providing Rosemary every day in large quantities would lead to several problems.

If you are giving it for the first time, introduce it gradually into their diet, see if the rabbit’s sensitive digestive system is accepting it well or not. Give it in small quantities as it is a treat, after all. 6 leafy greens would be enough to give to a rabbit weighing 2 pounds.

The whole purpose of giving treats is to give pets their favorite snacks. If the bunny does not like it and turns away its face in disgust, it is a sign you should look the other way as well and try other snack options. Turn to fruits, veggies, and other herbs that the bunny actually likes.

How to Serve Rosemary to Rabbits?

Chop Rosemary leave first and feed it to them in small quantities. Do not throw the whole leaves as it is. Cut and feed should be your move when feeding rosemary to rabbits. Just add one leaf or two in the diet when feeding for the first time to see if it sits well with their stomach.

Risks of Feeding Rosemary to Rabbits

Every treat comes with its pros and cons. What you must care about is the amount you are feeding to them. Anything in moderation would not hurt, but when it exceeds beyond a certain limit that’s when it causes problems.

Feeding in the right amounts never hurts. Once you have introduced rabbits to Rosemary, look for signs that indicate trouble. An upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, bloating or any other reaction is a clear sign you should stop feeding.

Hay makes a large portion of the rabbit’s diet along with high fiber pellets. Different herb treats are more like garnishing that provides additional nutritional value. If you monitor a pet’s health after introducing new treats, different symptoms will speak themselves when you are overdoing it. (Source)

Can Rosemary Substitute Regular Rabbit’s diet?

Rabbit’s regular diet includes hay, pellets, vegetables, and fruits. This diet is rich in fiber and nutrients, delivering all the essential dietary supplements. Even though Rosemary contains many nutrients but it can never substitute a regular diet. It is only good to be given once or twice a week.

What are other alternatives to Rosemary?

Often Rabbits refuse to eat Rosemary because of the strong aroma and flavor. If Rabbits do like the taste, there are many healthy alternatives like Kale, Sage, Cabbage, Basil, Broccoli, Clover, Spinach, Lettuce, Cilantro, Dill, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Banana, Cherries, Orange, etc, to replace it.

Nutritional value of Rosemary for rabbits

Rosemary got an impressive nutrients portfolio that adds great nutritional value to the diet. It lends a helping hand in improving the bunny’s health and maintaining a constant essential nutrients supply. Here is a look at Rosemary’s essential ingredients

Vitamin A – Vitamin A is an essential vitamin responsible for facilitating a variety of functions. Its involvement is in immune functions, reproduction, vision, and cellular communication. Rosemary got ample Vitamin A content to help balance its supply in the bunny’s body.
Calcium – Calcium is an essential nutrient for both human beings and animals. It is involved in a variety of functions like building strong bones and teeth, muscle contractions, functioning of nerve and muscle tissues.
Iron – Plant, animals, and human beings need iron to make hemoglobin, deliver oxygen, and carry Carbon Dioxide out of the body.

According to the current study, Rosemary got many macro and micronutrients apart from the one mentioned above. It contains Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Thiamin, Magnesium, Manganese, and Folate.

Tips: Other treats like apples, grapes, flowers, bananas, watermelon, and some spice like peppers are best for rabbits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What herbs are best for rabbits?

It is quite common to give rabbits many herbs occasionally, there are a lot of herbs like Basil, Coriander, Dill, Mint, Parsley, Oregano, and Sage.

What food items can kill a Rabbit?

Not all treats are healthy for rabbits. Before introducing any new treats to the Rabbits, research a little, and make sure it is rabbit-safe. Avoid feeding chocolate, soda, candy, avocado, apple seeds, tomato plants, almonds, belladonna, foxglove, or wild carrots instead you can feed food pellets to rabbits.

What leaves are poisonous to Rabbits?

Rhubarb and Tomato leaves should not be given to the rabbit. Feeding these leaves can be deadly to rabbits.

Putting it all together, being a great snack can provide not only diversity to the diet but also a great additional nutritional value. Bear in mind that the rabbit’s digestive system is delicate, feeding Rosemary in excess amount will cause many digestive problems. Use it only as an occasional treat, replace it with other healthier alternatives if the rabbit does not like the taste of it.

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