Question: Can rabbits eat spinach?
Answer: Yes, but not every day.
What are the Health Implications of Spinach for Rabbits?
Spinach contains a high level of essential vitamins, especially Vitamin A. This particular vitamin supports the rabbit’s immune system. The vegetable is also high in dietary fiber, a much-needed nutrient for rabbits.
However, while there are health benefits that a bunny is sure to enjoy after eating spinach, there are dangers of eating the vegetable. The most crucial problem is that spinach contains calcium oxalate, which can cause serious problems if your rabbit ingests it in large quantities.
While oxalates aren’t poisonous or toxic, they are organic acids found in food, and if taken in large quantities, can cause itchiness in the body. Also, this oxalic acid can make minerals insoluble in the bunny’s body. So, this mineral content can get stuck in the rabbit’s bladder and end up becoming bladder stones. To prevent this from happening, only feed your rabbits spinach in little quantity.
Other vegetables that contain oxalates are:
- Radish tops
- Parsley
- Swiss Chard
- Mustard Greens
- Beet Greens
- Sprouts
The acid also exists in turnips, broccoli, berries, cabbage, celery, etc., but only in small quantities.
How Can I Feed my Rabbits Spinach?
Before anything, ensure that the spinach you’re feeding your rabbit is the organic one. Any other kind might contain pesticides or herbicides that can be harmful to your bunny’s immune or digestive system. Wash the spinach in clean water to remove dirt or bacteria. Then you can feed your rabbit leaf by leaf.
What Quantity of Spinach Should I Feed my Rabbit?
A rabbit’s size and age are two factors you should consider before determining what quantity of spinach they can eat. Smaller rabbits can only eat a few leaves per day, while much bigger bunnies can take about half a cup of spinach leaves. You should abstain from feeding baby rabbits any vegetable or fruit until they’re much older.
However, no matter the quantity you’re feeding your rabbit, don’t limit their diet to just spinach. Provide alternatives and introduce your bunny to other healthy veggies to keep them in premium health. Also, limit their spinach meals to once or twice every week.
To also reduce the presence of oxalates in the spinach, it is recommended that you feed your rabbits spinach in fall rather than summer or spring. Fall and winter are unfavorable seasons for spinach, so the acid is usually dormant in those seasons. The type of soil used in planting the spinach can also determine the level of oxalic acid present in the vegetable.
Can Rabbits Eat Young Spinach?
Nothing is certain about this because different researchers have produced different results. While a particular study shows that young spinach has the lowest oxalates, another shows the opposite. Hence, there’s no right or correct answer. One thing that’s sure is that season, and the type of soil will determine the level of oxalate present in the veggie.
Can Rabbits Eat Processed Spinach (Canned or Cooked)?
Generally, rabbits digest raw food easier and better than processed food. There’s no proof that cooked or canned spinach contains lesser oxalic acid than raw spinach. So, to play safe, it would be best if you gave your pet raw spinach. Besides the fact that your rabbit will digest it faster, it will also enjoy it more than cooked spinach.
How About Frozen Spinach?
Frozen vegetables are not recommended for rabbits, including spinach. The only frozen vegetable you can give your pet is kale. Kales, when frozen, still maintain good texture and a considerable number of fibers. If you’re concerned about having more veggies to give your bunnies, you can grow a mini-garden for a variety of leafy greens instead of freezing vegetables. Then, rabbits don’t need to eat veggies every day since it’s not their primary diet. So on days when you’re short of leafy greens, you can skip it and give them just their regular meal – hay, pellets, and water.
Can I Feed Baby Rabbits Spinach?
As a rabbit owner, if there’s something you shouldn’t do, it’s to feed your baby rabbits fruits and vegetables before they’re of age. Their diet should be strictly limited to hay until they’re about three months. Then you can slowly and steadily introduce them to spinach and other alternatives.
Can Rabbits Eat Other Varieties of Spinach?
While our primary focus is regular spinach, there are other kinds of spinach available. We have the Tree spinach, otherwise called Chaya, which is common in Mexico but is gaining popularity in some southern states. Tree spinach is safe for rabbits because it has more fiber and less water than regular spinach. This will aid digestion in rabbits.
There’s also the water spinach, also known as the Chinese spinach, popular in Asia. This type of spinach is also a suitable treat for rabbits. However, the nutrient of this veggie is distributed across every part of the vegetable. This means that the rabbit would have to eat just about every part of the spinach – stems and all – to get the proper nutrient. If they only eat the leafy tips, they might end up not eating enough fiber.
Still, no matter the type of spinach you’re feeding your rabbit, moderation is the most important thing to remember. Never overindulge your rabbit.
Bottom Line
Rabbits will eat just about anything you give to them, although some can be picky and eat only what they prefer. The point is, most rabbits will eat – and even enjoy – spinach. Sadly, these animals don’t know when to stop, so it’s your responsibility as their owner to ration their meals. Ensure they aren’t overeating fruits and vegetables. Give them more hay and high-quality pellets. This will save your pet from some health complications.
Also, not all rabbits react well to spinach, so monitor your rabbit. If it looks like the bunny is responding negatively to the vegetable, stop feeding it to the rabbit. You can also contact your vet if your pet is showing signs of illness.