It’s tempting to think rabbits can eat any sort of vegetation. They’re herbivores, after all, and pop culture has no shortage of imagery showing rabbits eating vegetables and fruits.
So, can rabbits eat grapes? Yes, they definitely can – as long as they don’t eat too many. As a general rule of thumb, fruits should only be fed to your pet bunny sparingly; grapes used as an occasional treat can provide your bunny with plenty of health benefits, but too much too often can cause problems.
In today’s article, we’ll be discussing the effects of feeding grapes to pet rabbits. We’ll also be answering questions such as “Can rabbits eat grape leaves?” and “How many grapes should my rabbit eat?”
Grapes: an excellent source of nutrients for rabbits
The benefits of grapes for rabbits are many, thanks to the fruit’s high nutritional value. While fresh, organically grown grapes are ideal for consumption, frozen grapes are just as good at providing your rabbit with a host of health benefits. Non-organic grapes usually contain fewer nutrients; dried grapes (a.k.a. raisins) have even less.
Fresh grapes are packed with the following essentials:
Fiber
Because fresh grapes are fiber-dense foods, they can do your pet rabbit a lot of good.
Fiber helps the intestines function properly, which means they help keep your rabbit’s digestive system healthy. It also staves off boredom and therefore destructive behaviors such as fur-pulling, excessive grooming, and unnecessary chewing. In addition, it files down constantly growing teeth so they don’t grow too long.
Protein
When rabbits eat grapes, they take in a lot of protein – a nutrient needed by all animals.
Protein plays a vital role in the development of muscles, the creation of energy, and the delivery of oxygen to various parts of the body. It also helps fight off illnesses and infections, among many other things.
Water
Water is necessary for the hydration of animal bodies. If your pet rabbit doesn’t get enough water in their body, they’ll have a tougher time defecating and urinating. Such issues can, in turn, lead to blockages, which can be deadly if left untreated.
Grapes are 80% to 84% water, so when rabbits eat grapes, they get the hydration they need.
Vitamins
Grapes are rich in healthy vitamins such as vitamin A, which keeps your rabbit’s body in great condition by promoting skin and immune system health. It also maintains the health of their eyes and helps them see in poorly lit environments. Bunnies often obtain vitamin A from leafy green vegetables, but the occasional grape is also a good source of the nutrient.
In addition, grapes contain vitamin C and are particularly rich in vitamin K. However, the rabbit’s body naturally produces these vitamins, making them unnecessary additions to your pet’s diet.
Minerals
Grapes are packed with minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Potassium boosts heart health, promotes muscle relaxation, and ensures the rabbit’s bodily fluids are balanced. It can even improve your bunny’s sleep. Potassium is so important that a deficiency of the nutrient can cause muscular dystrophy and even death.
Calcium is also essential as it helps your bunny develop healthy, strong bones and teeth. A lack of calcium can result in osteoporosis and dental issues.
Magnesium supports nerve and muscle function. It also helps in the production of energy.
Antioxidants
Grapes boast a wealth of antioxidants, which help keep your rabbit’s heart, brain, immune system, and eyes healthy. They also reduce the risk of inflammation and cancer.
So are grapes good for rabbits? Yes, they totally are!
But if a single grape is loaded with so many beneficial nutrients, why is it a bad idea to feed a rabbit too many grapes?
The dangers of eating too many grapes
When rabbits eat grapes in great numbers, they also consume nutrients that can harm them if absorbed by their body in excess.
Here are some of the biggest problems eating grapes in abundance can cause your rabbit.
Grapes have high sugar content, which means a rabbit that consumes too many grapes can become extremely fat and perhaps even obese. Obesity is associated with many health issues, among them gut stasis, myiasis, and pododermatitis.
Gut stasis, also known as G1 stasis or ileus, is when the digestive process slows down or stops and the bad bacteria in the intestines swell in number. This is a painful and potentially lethal condition.
Pododermatitis, or bumblefoot, can be the result of an obese rabbit putting excess pressure on their hocks and feet, causing inflammation and pain. When an overweight rabbit starts limping, they may need to cut down on their sweet treats.
Myiasis is when maggots infest your rabbit. Obese rabbits can’t clean themselves properly. Flies are attracted to the filthy areas of the rabbit’s body, where the insects lay eggs that eventually hatch into maggots. These maggots can cause infections, painful sores, and more serious damage, especially if they’re allowed to proliferate.
Diabetes
When bunnies eat grapes in excess, they may develop diabetes thanks to the fruit’s high sugar content.
Diabetic rabbits exhibit symptoms such as excessive eating, thirst, and urination. They may also be lethargic. If ignored, the condition can worsen, causing hypoglycemia, whereby the blood doesn’t get enough glucose. This can prove fatal.
Digestive problems
Too much sugar in your rabbit’s diet can result in many digestive problems such as stomach upsets and the buildup of gas, which can lead to painful bloating. Diarrhea is another potential concern that is particularly worrisome as it can cause dehydration if ignored.
The surplus of water each grape contains may also lead to diarrhea.
Tooth decay
Sugary fruits such as grapes increase the acidity in the mouth, which can wear away the enamel (the tough outer covering of the teeth), leading to painful cavities.
Grape addiction
Like most bunnies, your pet likely has a sweet tooth, which means they crave yummy, high sugar treats. If you feed your rabbit grapes in abundance, they may end up ignoring other foods and demand that they be fed grapes only. This, of course, will ruin your rabbit’s diet and thus their health.
Prenatal problems
The consumption of too much vitamin A may harm unborn baby rabbits, causing them to be resorbed or aborted by the mother. It may also cause fetal hydrocephalus.
Kidney problems
Before rabbits eat grapes, their owners may want to remove the grape skin and seeds.
Grape skin and seeds are high in antioxidants and other nutrients and typically don’t cause rabbits any issues. However, eating them in abundance may encourage the formation of kidney stones. Unremoved stones may prevent your rabbit from emptying their bladder, which may eventually result in a lethal bladder rupture.
The excess ingestion of grape seeds and skin may also cause a potentially deadly renal failure. Kidney disease is most common in adult rabbits, especially seniors.
Too much vitamin C may also lead to renal failure.
Can rabbits eat grapes? Yes, but in moderation
Don’t let the above list of risks scare you; you can feed grapes to your rabbit as long as you do so in moderation.
So, how many grapes should your rabbit eat? Depending on their size and breed, 1 or 2 grapes per week are ideal for the average adult rabbit. A large rabbit, such as one 9 pounds or heavier, can eat up to 3.
After you feed your rabbit a grape, wait two or more days before giving them another grape.
In general, sugary foods such as grapes and other fruits should only make up between 2% and 3% of a rabbit’s diet.
Are grapes safe for baby rabbits? Absolutely not. Juvenile rabbits and those between 1 and 2 years old should never be fed grapes. Only rabbits over 2 years of age can eat grapes.
When introducing grapes and other fruits to rabbits, do so gradually. After their first grape, observe them for any symptoms of health issues such as diarrhea. If the grape gives them no problems, wait a few days, then give them another grape. Should they experience any difficulties, stop feeding them grapes and seek veterinary advice.
The types of grapes and grape products
While rabbits can eat grapes of any type, some are better for their health than others.
Organically grown grapes
Organic grapes are those grown as naturally as possible – that is, without the use of herbicides, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or other chemicals. As mentioned previously, these grapes are ideal for consumption due to their nutritional value and absence of chemicals. Just make sure to get them while they’re fresh!
Non-organically grown grapes
Are non-organically grown grapes bad for your bunny? Not necessarily. However, these commercial grapes are grown using chemicals such as pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, hormones, or antibiotics. While these chemicals are not necessarily toxic to bunnies, they’re not that healthy, either, especially if consumed in large amounts.
Before eating such grapes, wash them thoroughly to rid them of chemicals.
Seedless grapes
It’s natural for some grapes to contain no seeds. As seeds are rich in nutrients such as antioxidants, seedless grapes may be less nutritious than grapes with seeds. It’s up to you whether to give your rabbit grapes with seeds or without.
Grapes of different colors
Grapes come in a variety of colors. Yes, rabbits can eat all of them.
The color variations are only due to small differences in nutritional content. Red grapes have several antioxidants not found in green grapes. One such antioxidant is anthocyanin, which protects the body from cancer, viral infections, and inflammation.
Both red and green grapes contain catechins, which improve brain function. Darker grapes, such as purple grapes, also tend to have this antioxidant in high amounts.
Grape stems
Wild rabbits can eat the entire grape plant safely. Domestic rabbits eat grape stems, too. Just ensure they’re organically grown. If not, wash the stem thoroughly to cleanse them of chemicals.
Grape leaves
Both domestic and wild rabbits eat grape leaves and other parts of the grape plant. If the grape plant is non-organically grown, give the leaves a good rinsing before feeding them to your rabbit. This will remove any chemicals that may not be good for your pet.
Raisins
While rabbits eat raisins, these dried grapes are less nutritious and often contain more sugar than fresh grapes, so your bunny is better off eating the latter. Some rabbits may also be unable to digest dried grapes properly. The adult bunny can eat 1 to 2 raisins per week.
In conclusion…
Yes, rabbits can eat grapes. And not only can rabbits eat grapes, but they can also eat their stems and leaves without suffering any adverse effects. Moderation is key.
Rabbits enjoy grapes. So why not give them this sugary treat once in a while? It’ll make your bunny happier as well as healthier!