Can Rabbits Eat Beets?

Can rabbits eat Beets? Yes. Rabbits can eat Beets only as a treat. We can’t provide this fruit to rabbits very often and we should only serve a limited amount of Beets in moderation. Beets contain good nutrition and are low in calories. It’s rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin A, antioxidants, and a decent amount of fiber. Beets also contain oxalic acid and are high in sugar content. A small amount of these chemicals is perfectly safe for rabbits. We can definitely provide some beets for rabbits only as an occasional treat. But keep in mind rabbits are not supposed to eat beets very often.

Don’t try to overfeed them with Beets. It can lead to critical health problems in rabbits. Good healthy rabbits need a well-balanced diet with nutrients and vitamins. In general, for rabbits, the main food source is high-quality hay. Hay mainly contains fiber that helps their digestive system. We can add Beets as a good occasional treat for rabbit’s diets. There is a lot to talk about Beets before feeding rabbits. This article will cover all the things you should know about beets from A to Z. 

Let us Get Started !!!!

Video Credit For Coniglio Bianco YouTube Channel

Extra Information About Beets

Beets are a common root vegetable among most people. Beets are similar to turnips and radishes. Beets have round bulb shape roots and leafy tops. Beets are popular in many names. They are garden beets and beetroot. The best thing is entire plat is eligible for even humans. Beets are often used in salads and soups. Beets have a sweet flavor.

Beetroot has been gaining popularity as a superfood. Recent studies claim that beets and beetroot juice can improve athletic performance, reduce blood pressure, and increase blood flow.

MedicalNewsToday

Beets have a wide range of health benefits. Beets are a low-calorie food that contains a variety of nutrition. Beets are a good source of betaine. Beets are also rich in fiber, vitamin B9, manganese, potassium, vitamin C, iron, and many other nutrients. Beets have numerous health benefits like being good for cancer prevention, digestion, improving blood flow and blood pressure.

According to the US Department of Agriculture(USDA), 100g of Beets contain these nutrients.

Energy	180 kJ (43 kcal)
Carbohydrates	9.56 g
Sugars	6.76 g
Dietary fiber	2.8 g
Fat	0.17 g
Protein	1.61 g
Water	87.58g

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamin A	2 μg
beta-Carotene	20 μg
Thiamine (B1)	0.031 mg
Vitamin B6	0.067 mg
Vitamin C	4.9 mg
Calcium	16 mg
Iron	0.8 mg
Magnesium	23 mg
Phosphorus	40 mg
Potassium	325 mg

GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT: RABBITS & ROSEMARY

Types Of Beets Good To Feed Rabbits

There are more than 15 varieties of Beets out there. Some of the common types of garden beets are 

• Red Beets: These are the most common type among humans. These beets are red or purple range color.
• Golden Beets: These beets are golden or yellow in color.
• Striped Beets: These types of beets are also called Chioggia or Bassano beets. These beets have red and white striped roots.
• Cylindra Beets: This variety grows in a cylinder shape. Also called Formanova.
• Mangel-wurzel Beets: These Beets are also called mangold.
• Sugar Beets: These beets are white and have conical shape root structures.

All most all the types are good for rabbits. But make sure to serve only raw Beets to your rabbits. Keep the moderation & only feed a small amount according to the guide. If you’re going to feed a new variety of Beets you must check whether it is good or bad for rabbits. All these types contain a high amount of sugar. Don’t try to overfeed them with Beets.

Do Rabbits Like To Eat Beets?

YES. Rabbits like to eat sweet and juicy fruits. They like the sugar flavor of the Beets. If you feed Beets for the first time for rabbits, give them small portions & check whether they like those.

Most of the time they will love to eat Beets. Don’t ever try to overfeed them. It can cause health problems for rabbits. If we give them sweet foods like Beets, they will be addicted to those. Sometimes they will try to reduce eating healthy food in their diet. So, keep in mind to give only small portions to rabbits. Moderation is the key to rabbit’s health.

Is Beets Safer For Rabbits To Eat?

Beets/Beetroot is a good source of food for rabbits. Yes, it is safe for rabbits. Beets contain essential vitamins, fiber, minerals & antioxidants for rabbits. But you should offer only a small amount in your rabbit’s daily diet. Beets contain oxalic acid and sugar. In small amounts, these chemicals are safe for rabbits. Overfeeding them can lead to diarrhea and other health issues.

Rabbits’ main food source should be hay. We should prioritize hay in the regular diet plan. Overall nutrition can be covered by hay. Unlike humans, fiber is essential for rabbits. It can prevent bad bacteria from forming in the intestines. Some of the bacteria can lead to critical health issues in rabbits. This is why we should give priority to hay. But rabbits can’t live eating hay all day long. We must add veggies and fruits to their daily diet. The end of this article provides you general diet plan for rabbits. It will help you to understand.

Are Beets Good For Rabbits?

Beets are good for Rabbits. Beets are rich in many nutrients that are good for rabbits’ health. It’s a good source of vitamins, minerals & fiber which are essential nutrients for rabbits. And it contains nutrients like iron, lutein, phosphorus, and beta-carotene.

All parts of Beets contain fiber that helps digestion. Even with all these benefits, Beets can be bad for rabbits if the right precautions are not taken. Therefore, Beets should be fed as an occasional treat for rabbits.

Benefits Of Beets To Rabbits

Beets are good vegetables for your rabbit. It contains good and essential nutrients for your rabbit. All ways keep the moderation. Beets contain water and fiber that help for rabbit’s digestion. A good and healthy digestive system can provide an increased lifetime for rabbits.

According to researches, Beets are good for diabetics and act as immunity boosters. Beets are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C is a good antioxidant that is required by the body to protect from illnesses. 

Beets leaves are rich in calcium. This calcium can help your rabbits to increase rabbit’s bone health. Beets contain zinc and phosphors that are good for rabbits’ skin, they help to prevent skin diseases like rashes. Beets are high in potassium, which helps to lower blood pressure and maintain a good heart.

Along with many benefits, Beets are good as an energy boost for your rabbit. The leafy part of the beetroot contains a high amount of protein which helps for rabbit growth.

How Often Can Rabbits Eat Beets

Beets are a good vegetable for your rabbit only if we feed them according to a proper guide. A small number of Beets can provide good health benefits for rabbits. Overfeeding can cause bloating and increase gas inside your pet.

Your rabbits can have a small portion of Beets once or twice per week. Try to feed rabbits with Beets in moderation. It is healthier if you can give Beets with another leafy green vegetable. It’s much better for rabbits’ health. Don’t try to feed those to baby rabbits. They can’t handle high sugary foods.

Risk Of Overfeeding Beets

Beets’ roots contain high starch and sugar. Overfeeding them can lead to many health problems in rabbits. Giving them food in low fiber and high starch can cause gastrointestinal problems.

• GI Stasis
• Enteritis 
• Diarrhea
• Bloat

Beet leaves also contain oxalic acid. Low oxalic amounts will not be harmful to rabbits. But if we overfeed them with oxalate, it can combine with calcium. This may lead to kidney stones and kidney failure.

Beet leaves contain a high amount of potassium. If we exceed the right amount of potassium level in rabbits’ bodies, it will cause many health issues like lethargy and muscle weakness.

Beets Feeding Guide For Rabbits

As we know now Beets are good, natural food for rabbits. But there is a guide you must follow before feeding beets. Let us check it out.

Before introducing Beets to rabbits for the first time, you need to start up with small portions. Don’t try to introduce many kinds of foods at the same time & try to give the same food until they fully adapted to eat. Keep it in mind to introduce a small portion of the new food with other regular foods (daily diet). Follow up the rules for better rabbit health. This must be done for the Beets if you introduce them to rabbits the first time.

Steps for feeding beets for rabbits

1. Buy good ripe Beets for Rabbits. 
2. Wash carefully to remove chemicals & remove the unwanted pesticides.
3. Cut the Beet’s root into slices so that they can easily eat.
4. If you intend to give beet leafy parts, chop them and mix them with low oxalic acid leafy greens. 
5. Always supply them with clean water.

Don’t try to overfeed them. Always keep the moderation. It is healthier if you can give Beets with another leafy green vegetable. Don’t try to feed Beets to baby rabbits.

Native Effects Of Introducing Beetroot For Rabbits (Color Change)

When you feed beetroots, you may be surprised to notice the rabbit’s urine turn in to red color. Don’t mistakenly think of blood. When we eat beetroots our mouth even turns into red color. Don’t be alarmed by this color change. It’s natural. This happens because saturated beetroot color passes with the rabbit’s urine. 

Cab Rabbits Have Beet Tops & Beetroot Leaves (Beet greens)?

Rabbits need leafy greens for their daily nutrition. Beets leaves are one of the good foods for rabbits. You can add them to your rabbit’s daily diet. Keep in mind to serve them only a limited amount. Make sure to wash them carefully before feeding them.

Beets leaves contain high oxalic acid. Overfeeding them can lead to health issues. Do not mix with other leafy greens which contain high oxalic acid (Parsley, Musted greens). You can mix with low oxalic acid leafy greens with Beets greens. We recommend giving only one cup of fresh Beet leaves per two pounds of your rabbit’s body weight.

Can Rabbits Eat Cooked Beets?

Don’t try to feed cooked Beets for rabbits. When we cook any vegetable, it changes the structure of the vegetable and burns out some good nutrition. It is also hard to digest after we cook Beets & hard for them to chew cooked Beets. You can avoid feeding cooked foods to rabbits.

Best Common Healthy Diet To Feed Your Rabbit

We need to feed our rabbits according to the correct diet plan This is the most important part as rabbit owners should feed rabbits in a correct and time-scheduled plan. We need to carefully pick the right food for rabbits. Some rabbits have different kinds of flavors. It’s up to us to find them and look after them. 

This will help you to make a good diet plan for rabbits.

• Good Quality Grass Hay – I recommend Timothy hay is the most popular/good all-around unlimited offering to your rabbits. Orchardgrass, meadow fescues are also good for rabbits. Hay is the main food supply. Hay will help your rabbits to stay healthy and strong and maintain a healthy digestive system.
• Fresh Water – Ensure rabbits can have clean, fresh water 24/7. Water bows are most commonly used to supply water for rabbits.
• Provide Good Quality Leafy Greens – Provide them with 5-6 varieties of safe washed green vegetables, weeds, herbs daily (arugula, basil, kale, cabbage, etc ). Try to introduce new greens with small potions.
• Treats & Fresh Fruits – For the safety of rabbits only provide 1 -2 tablespoons per day. Feed carrots, apples, blueberries, etc.
• Provide Good Quality Pellets – Is good to have a small number of healthy pellets daily. There are so many products out there, keep in your mind to supply quality and healthy foods for rabbits.

(source -.https://www.rspca.org.uk/)

Summary

Beets are a good natural vegetable for your rabbits. Beets are rich in vitamins that are good & essential for rabbits’ health. Beets are low in calories and are rich sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, etc. Beets contain oxalic acid and sugar. In small amounts, these chemicals are safe for rabbits. Overfeeding them can lead to diarrhea and other health issues.

Give them only a small amount and keep the moderation. Beets leaves contain high oxalic acid. Overfeeding them can lead to health issues. Do not mix with other leafy greens which contain high oxalic acid (Parsley, Musted greens). You can mix with low oxalic acid leafy greens with Beet greens. We recommend giving only one cup of fresh Beet leaves per two pounds of your rabbit’s body weight. I think this article covers all the things you should know about Beets before feeding your Rabbits.

Thank You !!!