As herbivores, rabbits can only survive on a diet of plants. Herbs, grasses, fruits, and vegetables are all welcomed. However, potatoes aren’t a good choice for rabbit nutrition. Although most humans can eat potatoes without any problems, rabbits can’t.
Potatoes are a favorite of rabbits, but they are calorically dense and nutritionally useless.
Bunnies can’t digest the starch found in these foods. There is a risk of gastrointestinal (GI) stasis, diarrhea, or constipation as a result of this. The potato plant is poisonous, especially the leaves and vines.
Let’s check out the issues that can arise if you feed your rabbit potatoes. We’ll talk about whether or not rabbits can digest starchy vegetables like cooked potatoes, potato peels, and sweet potatoes.
Are Rabbits Allowed To Eat Potatoes?
There are lots of vegetables that rabbits like to eat. A rabbit will gladly take a piece of potato from your hand. But that doesn’t prove that potatoes are good for rabbits’ health. Herbivorous diets are ideal for rabbits.
Fiber is essential for a rabbit’s diet because it speeds up the digestive process. They need some fat and protein, which the body uses to make new cells, but only in small amounts.
grass hay provides nearly all of a rabbit’s dietary needs. Their diet should consist primarily of these high-fiber foods. Leafy greens and herbs like cilantro should make up the bulk of their diet.
Though rabbits can consume potatoes, even in small amounts, you shouldn’t give them to your pet.
Domestic rabbits should not be fed the same diet as wild rabbits, which is low in protein and high in starch. The rabbit can get the same amount of nutrition from either white or red potatoes.
Do rabbits like potatoes?
In that case, your rabbits will most likely eat potatoes if you offer them some. Without a doubt, they’ll pick at it and enjoy it.
Potatoes, it seems, are a flavor to which they take a liking. Rabbits, like humans, thrive on diets rich in starchy carbohydrates.
But the real issue is whether or not you should. Unfortunately, domestic rabbits have a limited palette and will consume all of the delicious starchy goodness that is offered to them.
Why Do Rabbits Like Potatoes?
Even though it’s bad for them, most rabbits still enjoy the taste of potato. It’s puzzling that rabbits find potatoes tasty given that they provide no nutritional value.
However, due to their high caloric content, rabbits are attracted to potatoes. Because of their dietary preferences, rabbits tend to favor high-calorie foods.
I think this is great news for rabbits in the wild. It’s an evolutionary change that keeps you from getting too thin and having to resort to fasting. By selecting high-calorie foods, the rabbit can go longer between meals.
The situation is not good for the rabbits we keep as pets. Pet rabbits are prone to obesity because they are not allowed as much freedom to run around as their wild counterparts.
That potatoes are bad for them is news to a rabbit. Instinctively, domestic rabbits do not steer clear of junk food. You should feed your rabbit a balanced diet to ensure its proper development.
Are potatoes a healthy food choice for rabbits?
No is the short answer to your question. Pet rabbits shouldn’t be fed potatoes because they contain a lot of sugars and starches that are difficult for their digestive systems to process.
The digestive systems of rabbits are extremely delicate, so even a small change can have a major impact on your pet’s health. It’s common knowledge that jackalopes enjoy a good potato now and then. To keep them out of gardens, gardeners frequently resort to chasing them away.
Domesticated rabbits can’t handle the starch in potatoes like their wild counterparts can because they aren’t as active. Keep in mind that your rabbit will be spending the vast majority of its time in its cage.
They aren’t getting nearly as much exercise as wild rabbits. In any case, you shouldn’t worry too much if your rabbit eats a small amount of potato. Your rabbit need not worry; this is not poisonous. In other words, it’s not something you should absolutely include in your diet.
Why Is Potato Bad for Rabbits?
Technically speaking, potatoes aren’t harmful. Your rabbit can safely eat very small amounts of potatoes without worrying about any serious health consequences. But if your rabbit eats too much potato, it will become ill.
Similar to how junk food is bad for humans, rabbits shouldn’t eat potatoes. They have too many calories and are tough to digest.
The starchy potato is too much for a rabbit’s digestive system. A rabbit’s delicate digestive system may have trouble processing excessive starch. When a rabbit consumes potatoes, it can feel:
- Gaining weight
- Lethargy
- Pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
The digestive system can come to a complete halt in a condition called GI stasis, which is brought on by chronic constipation. As far as a rabbit is concerned, potatoes are completely useless as a source of nutrition. There is a lack of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Rabbits in the wild eat primarily grass and other plant matter they can find.
Potatoes that have sprouted can be toxic. When a potato gets old, it starts to develop what we call “eyes,” which are actually the young shoots of the potato stem. Rabbits should avoid them at all costs because of how toxic they are to them.
The rabbit should be kept away from the potato plants in the garden. Keep your rabbit away from the potatoes by locking them up if they are allowed to roam freely inside.
How will your rabbits feel if they eat potatoes?
We’ve established that your pet rabbit shouldn’t eat potatoes, but you might be curious about the worst-case scenario if your rabbit does.
The following are some of the signs that your pet rabbit may be reacting negatively to potatoes.
- Rabbits with diarrhoea have bowel movements that are both more frequent and more liquid than normal.
- The opposite of diarrhea is constipation, also known as gastrointestinal stasis, which your rabbit may develop. There may be no feces in the cage at all, or there may be small, dry, hard pellets. Depending on the severity of the condition, the rabbit may experience severe discomfort or even pain.
- loss of appetite – Your rabbit’s stomach upset may cause it to stop eating.
- Rabbits as pets may become listless and stop exploring their environments or interacting socially with others.
- Obesity risk due to weight gain: feeding your rabbits potatoes may increase the likelihood of obesity.
Can Rabbits Eat Cooked Potatoes?
Unfortunately for rabbits, their digestive systems aren’t evolved enough to break down cooked potatoes. In spite of the fact that cooking eliminates most of the resistant starch, there is still a substantial quantity of the regular starch. Many forms of carbohydrates, including fiber, are poorly absorbed by rabbits.
You should know that your rabbit may experience the same digestive issues after eating cooked potatoes as it would after eating raw potatoes. Even after being cooked, potatoes can cause diarrhea, constipation, or gastrointestinal stasis.
Can Rabbits Eat Potatoes Peel?
Both the white and red potato skins have far more fiber than the white flesh. In a potato, the skin contains about half of the vegetable’s total fiber content. Nutrients like potassium and vitamin C can be found in the potato skin as well.
The healthiest diet for rabbits is one rich in fiber. Soluble and insoluble fibers are essential for the proper functioning of their digestive systems. Consequently, you may be curious as to whether or not the potato peels from your dinner potatoes are safe for rabbits to eat.
In spite of being discarded, the starch content of potato peels is still quite high. In addition to being hard for a rabbit to digest because of their high starch content, their low fiber content makes them a poor choice. Similar to how the white flesh of a potato is harmful to a rabbit’s digestive system, the peels are also toxic.
Grass hay, which is what rabbits should be eating most of the time, is nearly all fiber. Hay and occasional salads made of herbaceous leaves are their only sources of the beneficial dietary fiber they require.
Are The Potato Leaves Safe For Your Pet Rabbit?
No, they most certainly are not! The leaves of potatoes are toxic, period. You and your pet rabbit should avoid eating potato leaves.
They belong to the family of nightshade plants. The presence of solanine in their leaves is what makes them poisonous. As a chemical defense, potatoes produce an amino acid called Solanine. The presence of solanine in potatoes aids in protecting them from pests and other potential threats.
It’s also useful for keeping them healthy and free from a variety of illnesses. Seems like you have to be picky about which leaves you give your rabbit.
Here are some other leaves to avoid feeding your rabbits, just like potato leaves. If you have a garden and let your pet rabbits spend time in it, you should be on high alert.
- leaves from a tomato plant
- Radishes with onion leaves
- Leaves of rhubarb
- Parsley, the Idiot
- Evergreens
- Eggplants
- Black pepper
These signs may appear if your rabbit consumes potato leaves.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drowsiness
- Quick heartbeat
- Shortness of breath (a sign of respiratory distress)
If you have a potato garden and let your pet bunnies out, the garden must be fenced.
Immediately consult a vet if your rabbit exhibits any of the aforementioned symptoms and you suspect it may have been exposed to potato plants.
Can Rabbits Eat Potato Chips?
Slicing a potato and then frying the slices in oil yields potato chips. They’re seasoned with dry seasonings in a powder form.
The potato chips are even worse than the potatoes themselves, which you shouldn’t feed to your rabbit. They are not only high in fat but also contain all the starch that rabbits can’t digest. Depending on the manufacturer, potato chips may contain as much as 50% fat.
A rabbit needs a low-fat diet (less than 3% fat) to thrive. Hay, pellets, and nutritious veggies provide all the fat they require. Potato chips and French fries are too fatty for rabbit stomachs.
What About Sweet Potatoes?
Even though sweet potatoes are not the same as Irish potatoes, you shouldn’t feed them to your rabbits as a healthy alternative. Alluvial potatoes and sweet potatoes come from different families of plants.
Irish potatoes are members of the nightshade family, while sweet potatoes are part of the Convolvulaceae family.
They have fewer calories and less starch than regular potatoes, but more sugar and fat.
Since they are a complex carbohydrate, they are better for humans, but you should never give them to your rabbit.
If not potatoes, what should a pet rabbits diet look like?
The variety of fruits, vegetables, and grasses available to rabbits is great, but it’s important to keep the portions in check. About 80% of a rabbit’s diet should be made up of hay.
Since rabbits graze rather than eating pellets, their diets should be high in fiber. If they get the recommended amount of fiber every day, their digestive system will function more smoothly.
Keep a tray of hay in your pet rabbit’s cage at all times. Rabbits in the wild spend most of their time moving from plant to plant, nibbling. Having a hay wrack around will help them feel more at home in their natural habitat.
Vegetables of all kinds can be used to fill up the remaining 20%. Supplementing your rabbit’s diet with pellets is a good idea.
Vegetables and premium pellet food are the primary sources of vitamins and minerals for your bunny.
Fruits are a treat that shouldn’t be given too often. The sugar content of most fruits makes their use in moderation necessary. The ones with the least amount of sugar are also an option.
To keep your rabbits healthy and happy, try some of the items on this list. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it should serve as a useful jumping off point.
Let’s start with the vegetables:
- Asparagus
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Snagged Sprouts of Brussles
- Cauliflower
- Chicory
- Courgette
- Cucumber
- Braised Kale
- Stringless green bean
- Peas
- Lettuce Romaine
- Spinach
- Salad Veggies
- Squash
- Hot peppers
- Watercress
Keep in mind that most of these veggies should be used sparingly because of the gassy nature of vegetables and the risk they pose to your rabbit’s sensitive stomach.
Even less frequently than vegetables, you should eat fruits, but every so often is fine.
Here are some fruits that are safe
- Pear (core and core the fruit).
- Apricot
- Banana
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- A Kiwi Is a Fruit That
- Mango
- Melon
- Nectarines
- Papaya
- Peaches
- Pears
- Pineapple
- Plums
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
By now, you should know that feeding your rabbits any kind of potato, raw or cooked, can be fatal.
Even though they come from a different species of tuber, sweet potatoes are just as bad as regular potatoes. Naturally, potato chips are not allowed.
A healthy rabbit requires a balanced diet, and you have many options. Accordingly, you shouldn’t feed your rabbit any kind of potato.
Final Thoughts
It’s possible that your rabbit won’t die from eating potatoes, but you shouldn’t feed it to it because it’s nutritionally deficient and will do more harm than good.
Be on the lookout for signs of GI stress, such as decreased pooping or eating, if your rabbit has accidentally gotten into potatoes.
We appreciate you taking the time to read today’s post and hope you found the information you were looking for regarding potatoes and rabbit care.