Can Rabbits Eat Blueberries?

Can Rabbits Eat Blueberries? YES. Blueberries are one of the popular food treats for rabbits and they are one of the best nutritious fruits in the world. Blueberries are high in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and low in calories. But we can’t provide Blueberries too often. That is because they contain a high amount of sugar, which can lead to many health problems. Rabbits can have a small number of Blueberries only as an occasional treat.

Rabbits always like to eat sweet juicy fruits like Blueberries. Being a good rabbit owner, are you willing to know whether Blueberries are good or bad for your rabbits. YES, rabbits can have Blueberries as a treat but there is a lot more to talk about Blueberries.

In general, the main food source is high-quality hay. Hay mainly contains fiber that helps their digestive system. The problem when rabbits like sweet foods is, they will end up overeating fruits like Blueberries. Overfeeding Blueberries can cause serious health issues like stomach issues, obesity, and dental problems. Before feeding Blueberries, you need to know what are the good type of Blueberries, the proper guide to serve them, how often we should feed Blueberries for rabbits, the good & bad sides of Blueberries, and many other things. Don’t worry. This article will cover all the things you need to know before feeding Blueberries to your rabbits. 

Without further delay, let us get started!!!!

Extra Information About Blueberries

These Blueberries are botanically classified to Bccinium Genus. Blueberries are native to North America and now are a popular fruit around the world. Blueberries grow in bushes and they are around the size of 0.2 to 0.5 inches. Blueberries have a common color range from blue to purple. Blueberries have a natural coat generally called the bloom. This bloom helps to waterproof and protect Blueberries from sunlight. These fruits have a sweet taste with a bit of acid taste. There are two main types of Blueberries categorized according to the plant. They are Highbush Blueberries and Lowbush Blueberries.

Highbush Blueberries are used for commercial products. Lowbush Blueberries are also called Wild Blueberries. Most of the time Blueberries are used for pies, jams, and used in savory applications. Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, K antioxidants, manganese, and fiber. Blueberries’ blue color comes from the compound called anthocyanin and this anthocyanin also has health benefits. These fruits can provide many health benefits like increase bone health, skin health, heart health, cancer prevention, mental health, managing diabetes, and many other health benefits.

Blueberry is a very popular berry. It is low in calories but high in fiber, vitamin C and vitamin K. Blueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity of all the popular fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids appear to be the berries’ antioxidant with the greatest impact.

Healthline.com

According to the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE(USDA), 100g of berry portion contains,

Energy	240 kJ
Carbohydrates	14.49 g
Sugars	9.96 g
Dietary fiber	2.4 g
Protein	0.74 g
Water	84 g

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamin A	54 IU
Niacin (B3)	0.418 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)	0.124 mg
Vitamin B6	0.052 mg
Vitamin C	9.7 mg
Vitamin E	0.57 mg
Vitamin K	19.3 μg
Phosphorus	12 mg
Potassium	77 mg

GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT: RABBITS & BRUSSEL-SPROUTS

Types Of Blueberries Rabbit Can Eat

There are 2 main types of Blueberries: Highbush Blueberries and Lowbush Blueberries. These types are different in their plant size, color, and flavor variations, etc. Highbush varieties have the 3 most common types of Blueberries: Northern Highbush, Southern high bush, Rabbiteye Blueberries.

Northern Highbush Blueberries 

• Bluecrop
• Bluegold
• Duke
• Elliot
• Jersey
• Legacy

Southern Highbush

• Gold coast
• Misty
• Oneal

Rabbiteye Blueberries

• Brightwell
• Powder blue
• Primer
• Climax

Lowbush Blueberries: Are wild berries

• Tophat
• Ruby

There is no toxic type of blueberries for rabbits. Highbush Blueberries are commonly available in the market. Always provide fresh quality Blueberries for your rabbits only as an occasional treat. Make sure to wash them before feeding your loving rabbits.

Do Rabbits Like Blueberries?

Yes absolutely. Rabbits love to eat Blueberries. Don’t ever try to overfeed them. It can cause health problems in rabbits. Rabbits love to eat sweet fruits like Blueberries. Due to the sugar content, they like the flavor of blueberries. But keep in mind they will addict to sweet foods like Blueberries. When we give too many sweet foods, they think they will always get some sweet foods to eat. Because of that, they will try to avoid the necessary diet. Always keep the moderation.

Rabbits do not care about health. They keep eating foods they like. So, it’s up to us to care for the rabbit’s health. Keep in mind to limit the blueberry amounts and feed them only in moderation.

Are Blueberries Safe For Rabbits?

Blueberries are a safe & a good healthy nutritious fruit for rabbits. Blueberries are a popular occasional treat among rabbit owners. As long as we provide Blueberries as an occasional treat, we don’t have to worry about rabbit’s health. A couple of blueberries are more than enough for rabbits once a week. Overfeeding them can lead to many health problems like stomach upsets and even more serious rabbit health problems. Don’t serve them another sugary treat with Blueberries on the same day. Check the guide on how to prepare Blueberries for rabbits in this article.

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. Blueberries are a good source of food treat for rabbits.

Are Blueberries Good For Rabbits

Blueberries are good for Rabbits. Blueberries 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 manganese.

Blueberries provide many health benefits for rabbits. But if we provide Blueberries regularly it can be dangerous for rabbits. We can safely give them a limited amount of Blueberries as an occasional treat.

How Often Should We Serve Blueberries To Rabbits?

As we know, Blueberries are good nutritional fruit for rabbits. But we can’t provide them too often. It contains high sugar. We must limit Blueberries treats for rabbits to reduce the health risk of feeding high sugar foods. Don’t serve other sugary treats with blueberries at the same time. It could be leading to critical health issues in your rabbits.

We recommend giving one or two Blueberries twice per week. If you want to add another fruit or vegetable at the same time, reduce the treating amount and serve rabbits. The best way to provide the treat is according to the body weight. You can provide a mix of fruits, 1 teaspoon of fruits per 2 pounds of your rabbit’s body weight.

Benefits From Blueberries To Rabbits?

Raw Blueberries contain 80% of water. This will help your rabbit to stay healthy and active. Blueberries are also rich in carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, protein, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese, &, etc. 

Reduce Inflammation: Blueberries are rich in anthocyanins and cyanidin antioxidants. These antioxidants help your rabbit to reduce inflammation. That is because they have an anti-inflammatory effect. These Antioxidants help to prevent cell damage. Folic acid in blueberries improves immunity and increases red blood cells. 

Blueberries also help to reduce blood pressure. This is due to its high polyphenol content. Blueberries have the ability to enhance the sleep cycle. Melatonin is the compound in Blueberries that helps to improve sleep. 

Vitamin C helps muscle development in rabbits & it helps to maintain a healthy blood system. Vitamin C act as an antioxidant that helps the bones, skin, and connective tissues. Vitamin C is essential for rabbits, as lack of vitamin C in rabbits can cause scurvy disease. This is a common illness among rabbits. 

Blueberries are a fine source of Vitamin K. It will help to maintain good healthy bones. Vitamin K can heal to healthy blood flow and reduce the risk of blood clots developing in rabbit’s bodies.

Fiber helps to increase the efficiency of the digestive systems of rabbits.

Can Rabbits Eat Blueberry Pie?

Don’t ever try to equalize raw Blueberries and Blueberry pie. Blueberry pie is very bad for rabbits. Blueberry pie contains all the things that are bad for rabbits. Such as sugar, oil, eggs, and other flavors. Please keep your rabbits away from Blueberry pies.

Can Rabbits Eat Blueberries Leaves & Stem?

Blueberries Leaves, stems, and other plant parts are safe for rabbits. Most of the time farmers spray chemicals and pesticides for Blueberries plants. If you intend to give Blueberries leaves, first carefully wash them and feed your rabbits. Organic plants are safer for rabbits in many ways. But keep in mind not to provide these plant parts daily. Frist provide them a small amount and observer how they behave to Blueberry plants. It’s the better way to avoid digestive health problems.

Can Rabbits Eat Blueberries Seeds?

Rabbits can eat Blueberries seeds without any health problems. Blueberries seeds are small and will not cause choking hazards in rabbits. Blueberries seeds will pass through rabbits’ digestive tract without a problem. But for the best, we can remove the seeds before feeding rabbits.

Can Rabbits Eat Dried Blueberries?

NO. Never serve dried Blueberries for rabbits. They are filled with high sugar content. Dried Blueberries are much sweeter than normal Blueberries. If we feed dried Blueberries it can lead to an increase in the sugar level and it may lead to an increase of bacteria in the belly of rabbits. Avoid feeding dried Blueberries for your loving rabbits. Only feed fresh and raw ones for your rabbit.

Health Issues From Blueberries

We need to be careful before feeding high sugar content foods like Blueberries. Overfeeding them may lead to critical health issues in rabbits.

• Blueberries have high sugar content; it can lead to an overgrowth of bacteria in the digestive system. This causes an upset stomach, loose stools, stomach pain & diarrhea. 
• Too much sugar in a diet can also lead to obesity issues. This may lead to many varieties of health problems in rabbits.
• Also, high sugar fruits like Blueberries can lead to many dental problems in rabbits. We must be aware of these cases too.
• Rabbits can generate their own Vitamin C. If we provide Blueberries too often it can lead to cases of kidney damage. We must always provide Blueberries as an occasional treat for rabbits.

Alternatives For Blueberries?

Rabbit’s diet should mainly be covered with quality hay and grass. In addition, we can provide a small portion of vegetables and fruits. We recommend giving two cups of fresh vegetables to adult rabbits daily.

• Bell peppers
• Bok choy
• Brussels sprouts
• Basil
• Cilantro
• Endive
• Green leaf
• Red leaf
• Parsley
• Fennel

Fresh fruits should be served one or two times per week as a treat.

• Grapes
• Banana
• Berries
• Melon
• Peach
• Pear
• Plum
• Watermelon
• Papaya
• Pineapple
• Orange

Best Common Healthy Diet To Feed Your Rabbit

We need to make a good meal plan for rabbits. We need to provide them with good quality foods. Before feeding rabbits with new food, check whether it’s good for rabbits. As a good Rabbit owner, check whether you cover all the guidelines mentioned below. It’s a general food guide for rabbits.

• Good Quality Grass Hay – I recommend Timothy hay as the most popular/good, all-around unlimited offer 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 to maintain a healthy digestive system.
• Fresh Water – Ensure rabbits can have clean, freshwater 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 in small portions.
• Treats & Fresh Fruits – For the safety of rabbits, only provide 1 -2 tablespoons per day. Feed carrots, apples, blueberries, etc.
• Provide Good Quality Pellets – It is good to have a small number of healthy pellets daily. There are too many products out there, keep it in your mind to supply quality and healthy foods for rabbits.

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

Summary

Blueberries are a safe & good healthy nutritious fruit for rabbits. Blueberries are a popular occasional treat among rabbit owners. As long as we provide Blueberries as an occasional treat, we don’t have to worry about rabbit’s health. We recommend giving one or two Blueberries twice per week. Don’t serve them with another sugary treat on the same day. Avoid feeling dried Blueberries and Blueberry pie for rabbits. 

Thank you very much for reading. I think this article covers all the things you should know about Blueberries before feeding your Rabbits.

Thank You !!!