Do you have a pet rabbit? If so, you may be wondering if it’s safe to give them wood to eat. In this blog post, we will answer all of your questions about feeding wood to pet rabbits! We’ll cover what wood is, whether or not rabbits like it, and how much they should eat each day. We’ll also provide some helpful tips on how to safely feed wood to your pet rabbits.
What is wood?
Both rabbits and humans belong to a food family of animals called the “herbivores”, which means they eat plants/vegetation, such as grasses, mosses, and twigs. One of the main foods that these kinds of animals eat is wood. In fact, most animals eat wood in the wild. That’s right–wood isn’t just safe for you to chew on; it’s also safe for your pet rabbits!
How often should I give my rabbits wood?
Rabbits can safely eat wood every day, though it’s important to vary which kind of tree you feed them. It’s also a good idea to make sure they have plenty of fresh branches available to them.
How much wood do rabbits eat a day?
Pet rabbits should eat different types of wood, including twigs/branches, every day.
What is your experience feeding wood to rabbits?
I have personally fed my pet rabbits both pine and apple wood. They love it! I also give them fresh, healthy branches that they can munch on anytime they want.
Is wood bad for rabbits?
No! Wood is not bad for rabbits. It’s actually quite healthy–it contains important nutrients like fiber and cellulose.
Is it safe to feed wood to your pet rabbits?
Yes! Pet rabbits can safely eat wood just like humans do. There are several different types of trees that contain different nutrients, so it may be necessary to vary which kind of tree you feed your bunnies.
What to do if your pet rabbits are sick from eating wood?
In rare cases, a rabbit can become sick from ingesting too much of a certain type of wood. We recommend consulting with your veterinarian in case your pet rabbit suddenly starts refusing the wood you give them. One common cause for wood-related sicknesses is specific types of pine.
Do rabbits like wood?
Yes! Pet rabbits like eating wood (and twigs/branches). They will often chew on it or try to bury things in it. You can also encourage them to eat it by making sure there’s plenty of fresh, healthy branches available for them.
Can pet rabbits eat wood?
Yes! Wood is safe for your pet rabbits to eat. This includes both the bark and the rest of the tree, such as twigs and branches. Different types of trees contain different nutrients, and so sometimes it may be necessary to vary which type of tree you feed your bunnies. For example- apple tree branches are not safe because their leaves and bark contain cyanide.
3 good substitutes for wood.
Apple tree branches, grape vines, and grape leaves are all safe for rabbits to digest. We recommend only feeding your bunnies small amounts of these substitutes at a time, since too much can cause illness or even death in some cases.
5 steps to prepare wood for rabbits.
Before you give your pet rabbits wood (or any other kind of wood), make sure these steps are followed.
- Make sure the tree you are giving your pet rabbits is not poisonous.
- Wash off any dirt, dust, or grime from the wood before feeding it to your bunnies. You can use soap and water for this task if needed.
- Make sure there are no bugs in the wood before you give it to your bunnies. If there are, use a bug spray made for house plants to get rid of them
- If the tree was sprayed with chemicals, wash off the branch/wood before giving it to your bunnies. You can use soap and water for this task if needed.
- If you plan to store the wood, keep it in a cool, dry place (but not in the fridge) until you are ready to feed it to your pet rabbits.
6 health benefits of wood for rabbits.
- Rabbits eat different kinds of wood because they need to. Different types of wood contain different nutrients, and so sometimes it may be necessary to vary which type of tree you feed your bunnies.
- Apple tree branches are not considered safe for rabbits to eat, since their leaves and bark contain cyanide. Other trees that are unsafe for rabbits include cedar, holly, sweetgum, and willow.
- Rabbits can eat wood just like humans do because it’s good for them! Different trees are filled with different nutrients, so be sure to vary which type of tree you feed your bunnies.
- Wood is not bad for rabbits at all! It’s actually quite healthy (and it doesn’t cause illness or disease).
- Wood contains fiber and cellulose, which is very good for rabbits.
- Rabbits need different types of wood because they contain different nutrients and chemicals.
7 Possible concerns when feeding wood to rabbits.
- Not all wood is safe for your bunnies to eat. Please make sure you don’t feed your pet rabbits any type of wood that is listed in the ingredients section as being unsafe.
- If a small amount of pine wood suddenly makes your pet rabbit sick, try using a different kind of wood for a few days and then slowly reintroduce the type of wood that made them sick into their diet.
- It is always best to feed freshly cut branches/wood, but if you cannot do this, store the wood in a cool dry place (but not in the fridge) until you are ready to feed it to your bunnies.
- Wood may cause illness or disease because of chemicals that can be present on the branch/wood. Make sure the branch is washed and bug free before giving it to your bunnies.
- Wood can cause intestinal obstruction, so be very careful when feeding your pet rabbits any type of wood (especially pine).
7 Tips before giving wood to rabbits.
- Make sure you give different types of wood to your pet rabbits.
- Make sure you give freshly cut branches/wood to your pet rabbits.
- Wash off any dirt, dust, or grime from the wood before giving it to your bunnies. You can use soap and water for this task if needed.
- If the tree was sprayed with chemicals, wash off the branch/wood before giving it to your bunnies. You can use soap and water for this task if needed.
- If you plan to store the wood, keep it in a cool, dry place (but not in the fridge) until you are ready to give it to your pet rabbits.
- Wood is not bad for rabbits at all! It’s actually quite healthy (and it doesn’t cause illness or disease).
- Wood contains fiber and cellulose, which is very good for rabbits.
5 signs pet rabbits are sick from feeding wood
1. Intestinal Obstruction
If a small amount of pine wood suddenly makes your pet rabbit sick, try using a different kind of wood for a few days and then slowly reintroduce the type of wood that made them sick into their diet.
2. Gastroenteritis
Rabbit may exhibit signs such as eating less than usual or lack of appetite, diarrhea, and lethargy.
3. Intestinal foreign body
If a small amount of pine wood suddenly makes your pet rabbit sick, try using a different kind of wood for a few days and then slowly reintroduce the type of wood that made them sick into their diet.
4. Gastrointestinal stasis (otherwise known as “the runs”)
Rabbit shows lack of interest in eating and may not defecate for a whole day.
5. Enteritis (otherwise known as “the flu”)
The rabbit exhibits signs such as lethargy, anorexia, depression, glazed eyes, sunken eyes, fluid filled abdomen or swollen joints, lack of appetite, diarrhea, and rectal prolapse.
To Bring Things Together
We hope you enjoyed this post about the basics of feeding wood to pet rabbits. Please comment below and share your thoughts with us!
