can rabbits eat orange?

Rabbits have delicate digestive systems, requiring a specific diet to maintain their health and well-being. Orange is a citrus fruit with many health benefits, but the question is can rabbits eat it?

Rabbits can eat oranges as this juicy fruit contains sugar, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and high water content. It is better to feed half to 1.5 tablespoons of oranges for 1 to 2 times a week according to their body size. You can serve orange fruit, peels, and leaves, but avoid seeds to avoid choking. Avoid feeding to baby bunnies less than 7 to 8-months-old.

Ideally, you should know the interest of rabbits in eating a particular food, like orange, and its effect on their health before feeding. This practice can help save your pet from many problems.

In this article, you can explore the impact of juicy and refreshing oranges on rabbits’ health and the safe quantity of this fruit that is suitable for consumption to ensure their well-being.  

Why do rabbits eat oranges?

Oranges can benefit rabbits with herbivorous diets as these animals prefer to eat sweet and juicy fruits enriched with healthy nutrients.

They are considered suitable for rabbits and help maintain a healthy lifestyle by adding essential nutrients to their regular diet.

Almost 85% to 90% of an orange contains water, which can help keep bunnies hydrated during summer when they are at risk of dehydration on hot days.

One cup of orange (180 grams) contains 17g of sugar (sucrose), which means they can provide instant energy to pet animals.

However, you have to ensure that they do not eat a large quantity of this fruit. Because excessive sugar consumption can negatively impact their lifestyle and health.

According to Michigan University, they are a valuable source of dietary fibers as a small orange weighing around 95g contains approximately 2 to 2.4 grams of soluble fibers.

These dietary fibers can help improve digestion or sugar levels and lower cholesterol. It can also provide a small content of proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

They are a valuable source of vitamins C and A, essential for bone development or better immune response and improve their reproductive functions.

Rabbits also produce vitamin C in their bodies, so they need less vitamin C content in their diet to avoid severe health issues.

Phosphorous, calcium, manganese, potassium and many other minerals are also present. These can improve their skeletal structure, metabolism of muscles, and blood regulation.

Nutritional elements in oranges, their amounts per 100g of fruit, and benefits

Nutritional elementsAmount per 100gHealth benefits
Carbohydrates11 to 13 gInstant energy, improves digestion
Proteins0.7 to 0.9 gMuscle building
Fats0.5 to 0.1 gAbsorption of vitamins, shinier coats
Vitamin C50 to 53 mgWound healing, improve skin
Vitamin A220 to 225 IUHealthy skin, boost immune system
Calcium35 to 40 mgElectrolytes balance, muscle contraction
Phosphorous20 to 22 mgBuild bones
Manganese0.02 to 0.03 mgBlood clotting, regulate blood sugar
Potassium178 to 183 mgLowers risk of hypokalemia
Iron0.1 to 0.2 mgHealthy blood, active lifestyle
Zinc0.15 to 0.17 mgCell division
Riboflavin18 to 20 pgGlucose oxidation
Folate36 to 39 mcgRed blood cells production
Thiamin0.04 to 0.30 mgFat and carbs metabolism

How do rabbits eat oranges?

Rabbits eat oranges using their sharp incisor teeth to help remove the fruit’s outer covering. After that, they nibble on the fruit’s inner juicy and fiber-rich part.

They cut it into smaller pieces with powerful teeth for easier chewing and swallowing. In addition, you should remove the outer covering by yourself when feeding it to pet rabbits.

Separate each fruit segment with white stringy material and cut them into small sizes. Add these pieces into a regular food bowl of bunnies, containing a mixture of pellets and vegetables.

It is better to offer it with other food types so that these pets can enjoy various food types with different tastes and nutritional values.

Moreover, you should remove the seeds from these segments to avoid the consumption risk. These seeds are not safe for them to eat.

I offered my bunny an orange without removing its seeds stuck in its throat and causing severe choking, so I had to take him to a vet.

Therefore, I suggest you to remove every seed carefully. Make sure that these segments have no seeds that can be helpful for the bunnies later.

Put only 1 or 2 small pieces of this fruit into their bowl and wait for a day before serving it again. You can continue feeding it if there are no undesirable changes in its behavior and poop.

Furthermore, they also like to drink orange juice, but it contains high content of sucrose and ascorbic acid; that’s why you have to serve it in small quantities.  

Can rabbits eat orange peels?

Orange peels have high nutritional value due to presence of fiber, vitamin C, sugar, water, and carbohydrates. Peels can have pesticides or chemicals, so wash them properly before serving.

These chemicals can be hazardous for the rabbits as they contain toxic ingredients and create problems for their survival. Vets have different opinions about serving these peels to rabbits.

Some consider peels highly nutritious and safe for consumption. Others do not recommend them due to the risk of chemicals.

Accordingly, you can reduce the health risks by washing them in adequate water and cleaning them properly. All the chemical constituents get removed after washing.

You should know about the safe quantity of peels for bunnies; otherwise, ask vets and take guidance to avoid problems later on.  

How many oranges can rabbits eat?

You cannot feed oranges without knowing about the safe quantity of this fruit. It only provides health benefits when offered in moderation.

Its frequency remains the same for all types of breeds as you can feed orange to bunnies 1 or 2 times a week, but its quantity varies for different breeds.

Ideally, you should give only a pinch or half tablespoon of orange fruit to a bunny if it belongs to a breed of smaller animals and weighs only 1 to 3 pounds.

Moreover, you can slightly increase the quantity to 1 tablespoon for medium-sized rabbits weighing around 4 to 8 pounds.

However, the larger ones weighing almost 8 to 12 pounds can efficiently digest 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of citrus fruit. Do not exceed this quantity to avoid the side effects.

So, you can estimate that the recommended quantity of oranges is 0.5 to 1 tablespoon per 5 pounds of weight that can be served in a week.

You should feed staple food to pregnant or lactating female rabbits because they need healthy nutrition at that time. Adding this fruit in a moderate amount provides benefits.

Furthermore, change their dietary habits according to their age and food preferences; otherwise, you can consider this recommended amount.  

What happens if rabbits overeat oranges?

Overeating oranges can lead to problems in digestion due to higher consumption of ascorbic acid, which can alter the pH of the stomach.

These pet animals also produce vitamin C in the liver, so the overall concentration of acidic material increases in their bodies, leading to an upset stomach or diarrhea.

Moreover, it contains a higher content of sugar or sucrose that can cause excessive weight gain and affect the activity rate due to obesity.

Overconsumption of sugar can affect good bacteria in the gut, which are involved in supplying essential nutrients and digestion of cellulose in addition to the synthesis of vitamin K.

Furthermore, it can also be responsible for dental problems, like jaw abnormalities and tooth elongation. They need hay grass and other abrasive foods to keep their teeth healthy.

So, it is better to feed oranges in moderation and mix them with other food types. It helps avoid the negative impacts of sugary food on their digestive system and teeth.  

What type of oranges do rabbits like to eat?

Different varieties of oranges are available in the stores, but you have to choose carefully while feeding rabbits. All types of these fruits are not good for them.

The navel orange is seedless, sweet, juicy, and easy-to-peel fruit enriched with vitamin C. They have a positive impact on bunnies’ health and development, but should be given in moderation.

In addition, Valencia is sweet or juicy and is enriched with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They aid digestion to maintain a healthy digestive system if served in small quantities.

Tangerines are also known for their sweet and tangy flavor, containing vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They boost immunity, but can cause diarrhea if consumed in large amounts.

Moreover, rabbits can eat ripe and raw oranges, but serving fully ripe fruits is better as they are juicier and more nutritious.

Raw oranges are slightly bitter and pose problems with chewing and digestion. They prefer fresh vegetables and fruits because they are juicy, fleshy, and nutritious.

Furthermore, mandarin contains less sugar than other citrus fruits so you can serve them once or twice a week. The mandarins are considered safe when you offer them as an occasional treat.

They can also eat its leaves, but you have to wash them thoroughly before serving, as they can be dusty or contain harmful chemicals from fertilizers.  

Is it safe to eat oranges for baby rabbits?

Baby rabbits have different dietary requirements than adults because they are in the growth period of their lifespan. They need more healthy nutrients for ideal growth.

It is better to avoid feeding citrus fruits for at least 5 to 7 months. However, you can add a small quantity of this treat when they are almost 15 weeks old.

This age limit varies for different breeds as a few breeds grow quickly, and their digestive system develops earlier than others so that they can digest this fiber-rich and sugar-rich fruit.

Ideally, you should give staple foods, like hay and grass, to baby bunnies when they are less than 7 months old and add sugary treats to their regular diet when they get older.

Early changes in their eating habits can disrupt the gut flora and cause intestinal blockage when they eat sugary and fiber-rich food.

I added 1 teaspoon of this juicy fruit pulp to the food bowl of Netherland dwarf rabbits when they were almost 12 months old, and I found no issues related to digestion.

So, you can also bring changes in their eating habits by considering their breed, as every pet type has varying requirements and tolerance to oranges.

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