Celery is one of the most abundant household veggies, and is one of the easiest foods to pull out of the fridge and snack on.
The health benefits of celery are obvious. To name a few, celery is high in Vitamin C and fiber along with folic acid, potassium, calcium, and Vitamin B6.
It’s no secret that celery is good for humans but what about for rabbits? Can rabbits eat celery? And can rabbits eat celery leaves? In this article, we’ll answer those questions and go over everything else you need to know to safely feed veggies to your bunny.
Short Answer: Can Rabbits Eat Celery?
The short answer – yes, rabbits can eat celery. For all of the same reasons that celery is a healthy snack for humans, the same basically applies to rabbits. The Vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, potassium, and other nutrients can be a great addition to a healthy bunny diet in the right amounts.
It’s important to keep in mind that the majority of your bunny’s diet (about 80%) should consist of fresh hay and/or pellets. A maximum of about 15% should be devoted to fresh veggies, like celery or bell pepper.
A Few Things to Keep In Mind
While feeding your rabbit celery is ok, it’s important to moderate and not over do it. Remember, only 15% of the ideal bunny diet should be made up of fresh veggies, and even then there should be a nice mixture of different types of veggies.
So maybe celery comprises the veggie portion of the diet once a week? And for other feedings it’s best to mix a different type of vegetable.
Also make sure to feed your rabbit the freshest celery possible. You should take all of the normal precautions to ensure that the food is as healthy as it can be. For store bought celery, make sure to give it a good wash and store in an airtight container or zip bag while it rests in your fridge.
Celery typically lasts about 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge, so make sure you don’t push it with old celery. Don’t feed your bunny celery that you wouldn’t eat yourself!
How to Feed Celery to Your Rabbit
Even though celery is good for your bunny, it’s quite important to feed it the right way. Any time you introduce a new type of food to a pet’s diet, you should be sure to do it in moderation. Also make sure to monitor how your bunny is digesting the new food.
Upset stomachs and diarrhea are signs that you might have over done it. If your bunny shows any of these signs, you should stop feeding them celery right away.
You should start off with tiny amounts and as your bunny gets used to digesting celery, gradually increase the amount per serving over time.
Bunnies are herbivores by nature and have teeth designed to slice into veggies like celery. Even though they are capable of chomping and breaking down celery, you want to cut it into 1 inch squares or even 1/2 inch squares at first. This way, you’ll avoid those long strands getting stuck in your bunny’s teeth or throat.
You can hand pieces of celery to your bunny or place them in a rabbit feeder alongside their hay and pellets. This way you can set a routine for them that they will adjust to over time.
The short answer – yes, rabbits can eat celery leaves.
Most store bought celery comes with the leaves chopped off, but if you happen to get ahold of some with the leaves, or if you grow celery in your home garden, you might be wondering can rabbits eat celery leaves?
Just like the celery stalks, celery leaves are safe for your rabbit to eat. They share similar nutrients and just like the stalks, celery leaves should be fed to your bunny in moderation and introduced slowly.
Health Benefits of Celery for Rabbits
We’ve already mentioned that celery has health benefits for bunnies, but here are the specifics on how nutrients in celery can benefit your bunny:
- Vitamin C helps to heal damaged skin and promotes general skin health
- Fiber helps the digestive system run smoothly and helps to process rabbits low protein low carb diet
- Folic Acid decreases negative effects of homocysteine
- Potassium helps keep the nervous system operating at top performance and promotes muscle health
- Calcium is vital for rabbits’ teeth and continual reproduction of dental tissues
- Vitamin B6 strengthens the immune system
Final Thoughts
I hope this helps to clear up the air for the question of can rabbits eat celery. As long as you do it in moderation, celery and celery leaves can be a fantastic veggie to incorporate into your bunny’s diet.
