Bunnies are no doubt cutest and one of the low maintenance pets. Anyone would love to lift and cuddle with this cute little furball. However, when it comes to the diet of a pet bunny, we have a common misconception that rabbits love to binge on carrots.
You need to remember that rabbits gut is not like that of humans. They need a lot of fibre not only to keep their gut moving but also to keep their oral cavity healthy. So, you should feed them a lot of hay and this must only be the thing they binge on. However, you should also give them a fixed proportion of food in the form of fruits and vegetables daily to provide a daily dose of calories and nutrients.
Fruits and vegetables if given correctly are essential for maintaining the healthy metabolism of a rabbit. However, if you feed the same stuff wrong or in excess it can play havoc. So, it would be best if you work on building a diet chart for your bunny to ensure it is getting all it needs.
Watermelons are treasures of summers. In this hot weather, you must be wondering how to let your little friend enjoy this treat. We discussed all about the watermelon diet for bunnies in this article. So, continue reading and note all the important points before starting with watermelons for your bunnies.
Yes, rabbits can eat watermelon. But just like every single fruit, they need to be given in moderation and only as a treat.
In fact, rabbits love the sweetness and juiciness of watermelons. However, the same fruits should not be part of the rabbit diet daily.
You know that the basic portion of the rabbit diet should consist of fibres and clean water. So, any fruit or vegetable must not disturb that portion of the diet.
Watermelons are very rich in sugar and offer a great taste to your rabbit. They are a natural healthy diet for the rabbit as long as they take it in the right amount. Watermelon does not contain anything that can be toxic for rabbit health. Watermelon eating in excess might have a laxative effect. Only adult rabbits with a fully functional digestive tract should be given watermelon. Watermelon should never be served as a meal or as a grain substitute.
How Much Watermelon Should Be Given To Rabbits?
For every 5 pounds of body weight, you can feed 1 to 2 tablespoons (10-20 g) of watermelon safely to pet rabbits.
However, mind that you should not feed it to baby bunnies as their metabolic systems cannot tolerate this much concentration of sugar and water.
Moreover,
You should feed watermelon 1-2 times a week to your bunny as a treat.
As you see, you need to be pretty concerned about the quantity of watermelon you feed to your bunny. Make sure you never overdo it to get all the health benefits from this amazing delicious snack.
Nutrition In Watermelon
You can tell just by looking that watermelons contain a lot of water. The sweetness in it comes from sugars which rabbits would love. Let us look at the detailed picture of nutritional content in rabbits. We will discuss macronutrients and micronutrients in watermelons separately to help you balance them easily in the diet of your little furry fellow.
Macronutrients In Watermelons
300 grams of watermelon has:
| Nutrients Sheet Of 300g Of Watermelon | |
|---|---|
|
Calories |
90 |
|
Water |
92% |
|
Fat |
0.6 g |
|
Carbohydrate |
24 g |
|
Dietary Fibre |
1.2 g |
|
Sugars |
18 g |
|
Protein |
1.8 g |
Micronutrients In Watermelon
When it comes to micronutrients we talk about minerals and vitamins. In 300g of watermelon we have:
| Micronutrients In 300 g Of Watermelon | |
|---|---|
|
Sodium |
3 mg |
|
Potassium |
336 mg |
|
Vitamin C |
24.3 mg |
|
Iron |
0.8 mg |
|
Magnesium |
30 mg |
Watermelon also contains an appreciable amount of Vitamin B6
Interpretation From Data
As you see from the above graphs:
- Watermelon is pretty high in water content. So, it is a good source of hydration for your bunny. However, an excess of water and sugar can also cause diarrhoea.
- The high sodium and potassium content, on one hand, regulate blood pressure but in excess can cause multiple side effects including increased heart rate, blood pressure, and so on.
- Watermelon is high in Vitamin C, giving it fair antioxidant capacity.
- Watermelon does not contain an appreciable amount of other vitamins and minerals, so should only be served as a treat.
- Watermelon has a pretty high to moderate glycemic index owing to high sugar concentration. Therefore, like most of the other fruits, it is not great for bunnies suffering from obesity.
- Watermelon is low in fibres so it is not good for the fragile guts of bunnies which need a constant intake of fibres to keep it moving.
How To Feed Watermelon To Rabbit Safely?
Watermelon can be fed to your rabbit two to three times each week, but not on the same day as other sugary or high-water foods. Of course, it’s better to give your rabbit a variety of goodies and to avoid giving him sugary food regularly. Rabbits with a sweet craving are more likely to reject their usual food, which can cause serious stomach issues.
Firstly, give your rabbit watermelon in small amounts and observe for allergic reaction. In case of no reaction, give them a little more.
The following recommendations should be followed while giving watermelon to rabbits:
- Do not feed watermelon to your rabbit every day. Serve them one to two times only per week.
- If you want to give your rabbit a watermelon, make sure it is organic because it is free of pesticides and waxes. The rind of this healthier watermelon can also be fed to them.
- Watermelon with no seeds should always be purchased from the market.
- Chop the watermelon into small pieces and remove all the seeds to prevent choking.
- Rabbits can take watermelon in large quantities as compared to other fruits. They are less sweet and juicier.
- Small rabbits can take few one-inch cubes of watermelon. While adult rabbits can consume half cup of cubes.
- If your rabbit has not eaten watermelon before, give them initially in small amounts.
Advantages Of Watermelon In The Rabbit Diet
Giving your rabbit watermelon is a fantastic way to supplement their diet with vitamins, minerals, and a unique flavour as long as they are taking it in moderation. Watermelon offers great health benefits to your rabbits which are as follows:
Hydration:
Watermelon contains large quantities of water which helps to maintain water and electrolyte balance in the body of the rabbit. Hydration is a key in the diet of a bunny. You can not only make your rabbit drink water but also eat it.
In hot weathers, the intake of water must be high in order to maintain a healthy metabolism. So, food items like watermelons become a great source to compensate for the loss. As watermelon is a very hydrated (contains 90% water) and juicy snack, it becomes your bunnies best friends on days when your rabbit is feeling tired and overheated.
Relieve Muscle Soreness:
Watermelon can help to relieve any muscle soreness in the body of the rabbit. It can help rabbit muscles receive more oxygen and recover them faster.
Regulate Blood Pressure:
Watermelon contains potassium and sodium which can help to maintain normal blood pressure. It is also important to maintain heart rate.
Prevent Bladder Sludge:
Watermelon contains magnesium which can be helpful for rabbits that are prone to a disease known as bladder sludge. It happens when rabbits absorb all calcium from their diet that builds up in their urine. An increase in magnesium in the diet of rabbits that are prone to bladder sludge has been proposed to help them.
Maintain Skin:
The vitamins, electrolytes and water in the watermelon help to keep your rabbit skin healthy.
Improver Immune System:
Watermelon, being rich in vitamin C helps to keep the immune system healthy. Vitamin C is one of the best antioxidant found naturally. Antioxidants help strengthen the immune system and prevent cancer. They also prevent ageing thus increase the lifespan of pet bunnies.
Watermelon also contains Vitamin B6 that helps the immune system to produce antibodies.
Disadvantages Of Watermelon In The Rabbit Diet
Although watermelon in small quantities is safe for rabbits to eat; yet in large quantities, it can cause some problems.
High Sugar Content
Another disadvantage of watermelon is its high sugar content. This may not appear to be a major concern, but it is critical for rabbits. If a food has a lot of sugar (like watermelon), it is not only difficult for rabbits to digest but can also disturb their stomach pH. Obesity, diabetes, and tooth damage can all be caused by eating too much sugar.
Digestive System Problems
Watermelon contains large quantities of natural sugar which can be easily broken down by human beings. Unfortunately, a rabbit is incapable of breaking down these carbohydrates. In tiny amounts, this is fine because the sugars will be passed in their faeces, but big amounts of sugary watermelon will cause the rabbit’s digestive tract to suffer. In a rabbit, eating a lot of watermelons can cause loose faeces, diarrhoea, flatulence, and a loss of appetite.
Sweet Tooth Problem
It is better to provide your rabbit with a variety of treats not only sugary treats. Otherwise, your rabbit can develop a habit of eating sugary food daily. Rabbits with a sweet craving are more likely to reject their usual food, which can cause serious stomach issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can Baby Rabbits Eat Watermelon?
It is not recommended to feed watermelon to baby rabbits. The digestive system of baby rabbits is not well developed; they should take a special diet. When they turn one year old, little changes can be made to the rabbit’s diet. Watch them carefully for few hours after feeding them any new food.
- Can Rabbits Eat Watermelon Seeds?
Because of the increased danger of intestinal blockage, watermelon seeds are not suggested for bunnies. Furthermore, because rabbits are unable to vomit, there is a risk that they will choke on a seed. As a result, before feeding watermelon to your rabbit, make sure you remove all of the seeds.
- Can Rabbits Eat Watermelon Rind?
No, we cannot feed watermelon rind to rabbits as it can cause digestive problems. Small portions of the white to pale green from the inside of the watermelon can also be served but is better to avoid hard outer skin. It is fine to feed the rind of organic watermelon. In the case of organic watermelon, wash the rind carefully. Gradually increase the amount of rind as long as it does not cause any health problems.
Conclusion:
Watermelons are one of the most delicious treats of summers. Every one of us wants to share food with our adorable pets and who can resist the sight of a pet bunny eating watermelon adorably? Besides all this, you should be cautious about the amount you feed your rabbit. Moreover, if your bunny is new to watermelon start slow with a small cube. If your pet can tolerate it well, you can then start to elevate the amount according to the weight and size of your bunny.
Moreover, never feed watermelon to bunnies suffering from diarrhoea, obesity, and heart-related problems.
Hope this article answered all your queries related to watermelon in the diet of a bunny. In case you have any other questions, you may comment or contact us. We would be happy to help.
I am a graduate of a veterinary university. Dealing with all the kinds of pets from the dawn to dusk, it’s like understanding their language. That is the best time ever, I must say!
Writing has always been my orphenadrine. I love to share my experience and talk about the most common issues people have been facing with their pets. My writing career began in 2015. I aimed to work for pets to share my experience and make pet humans relation a lot better. I usually talk about the most significant or recurrent cases of the day. During my practice at pet centre, I face a lot of questions by pet owners. Moreover, I also own a variety of pets myself including different species of mammals, birds and reptiles.
Therefore, I have decided to educate all the pet owners about their little friends who can’t talk the way we do. Understanding what they are telling us is all we need to do. And most of us fail to perceive.
So, I am here to serve the purpose. Let’s help each other in better understanding the needs, behaviours, and problems of our best friends with the best possible solutions!
