Question: Can rabbits eat corn on the cob?
Answer: No, rabbits can’t eat corn on the cob.
Should Rabbits Eat Corn on the Cob?
Rabbits have a delicate digestive system – more delicate than even some animals. That is why although they would probably eat everything they are given to eat, you can’t afford to overindulge them. The wrong meal can lead to illness or something even more fatal. While these animals will conveniently digest hay and plants, their stomach has not been designed to break down tough fibers and complex grains.
So, should rabbits eat corn on the cob? No, rabbits can’t eat corn on the cob or any other kind of corn, for that matter. That includes processed, dried, canned, cooked, or rolled grain. While most other fruits and vegetables can be given to the rabbit in moderate quantities, corn is an absolute no-no for the bunny.
Why Can’t Rabbits Eat Corn?
Rabbits might eat sweetcorn if they are given to eat. However, corns are unsafe for rabbits to eat because they contain a complex called a non-cellulose polysaccharide. This complex makes it difficult for a bunny to digest the grain. When this happens, a rabbit can experience intestinal blockage, bloating, Gastrointestinal stasis, and so on. These issues can result in discomfort, pain, and sometimes death.
Maybe we could have suggested that rabbits could take the corn in little quantities if this grain offered some nutritional value to the animal. Alas, corn has no nutritional benefits and contains more starch and sugar than your bunny.
Corn on the cobs is also hard and can cause some chewing problems for your rabbits, so it’s better to offer your pet food and meals that are not difficult to chew. Since there’s no advantage of bunnies eating corn, and the grain has more disadvantages than we’re ready to deal with, it’s best to avoid feeding it to your rabbit altogether.
You may be wondering why corns are of no value to rabbits since these grains contain nutrients like vitamins and minerals. Sadly, all these nutrients are inaccessible by the rabbit due to the high density of sugar and starch in the corn.
Can Rabbits Eat Corn Husk?
The corn is not totally useless to the rabbit, and not all its part is inedible. Rabbits can actually eat the corn husk, which is the outer green leafy part of the corn. These husks can serve as the perfect chew toy for your rabbit. They also contain fiber, and that’s one nutrient that your bunny needs.
The husks might look tough, but you don’t have to worry about that. Since rabbits are herbivores, their teeth have been designed to bite through any stringy vegetable. Their sharp incisors will cut the husk into pieces while the molars and premolars will do the grinding.
However, you still have to be careful. Some of these husks contain chemicals like fertilizers or pesticides, and feeding the affected husk to your rabbit can get the animal sick. If you want to provide your rabbits with corn husk, ensure it is chemical-free and remove all the cobs, kernels, and corn.
Other parts of the corn that are edible are the stalk and leaves. However, since these parts are not as sweet as the corn itself, your rabbit might end not becoming a fan of these parts. If they’re going to eat it at all, it would probably just be a little bit.
To ensure the stalk and leaves are also safe for the rabbits, you should also wash them free of chemicals and fertilizers.
Can Rabbits Chew Corn Cobs as Dental Toys?
Some pet owners believe that corn cobs can serve as a dental toy for rabbits. Dental toys need to have a hard surface for the rabbit to chew. It would help if you gave your rabbit chew toys to wear its teeth out and regularly discourage overgrowth. However, while you’re at it, you should never give a rabbit a corn cob as a chew toy.
You can’t offer corn cobs because this item doesn’t have the right texture that a rabbit needs to wear down its teeth. Instead, using a corn cob as a chew toy is counter-effective. Your rabbit may end up cutting up some pieces and chewing them. This is very dangerous to your animal.
Should Rabbits Also Stay Away from Canned Corn?
Canned corn is just as bad as corn on the cobs or any other kind of cubs. True, since it is cooked, it’s usually softer and may not be challenging to chew by the rabbit. Still, their starch and sugar content remains high, and that’s how it is for all corns, whether cooked or not. This makes the canned treaties anything but safe.
Should Rabbits Eat Baby Sweetcorn?
Baby sweetcorn isn’t as challenging as mature ones. Maybe that’s why it might be the safest corn to eat of all the different kinds there are. Still, they might be the safest doesn’t mean that you should try to incorporate the grain into your animals’ meat.
Baby sweetcorns also have as many calories as other corns. So, feeding it to your animal adds more calories than the rabbit needs into its diet.
When this happens, your pet might experience serious weight gain, and finally, obesity.
Summary
Are corns sweet? Yes. Can rabbits eat them? No. There are different risks attached to leaving your animal to feed on the grain. There’s the choking hazard, impaction (a blockage of the intestinal tract), and the rabbit might die if these symptoms aren’t treated immediately.
So, what should you do? Ensure your rabbit stays away from corn. But if, by chance, your pet ingests the grain, act fast by taking the pet to the vet. They’ll know what to do.
Limit their meals to high-quality pellet and hay with freshwater. Then you can add some spice to their meal by feeding them with fruits and vegetables – in small portions.
