If you’re a pet rabbit owner, you may have wondered whether or not it’s safe to give your furry friend mint leaves. Wonder no more! In this article, we’ll answer all of your questions about feeding rabbits mint leaves and provide some tips on how to prepare them safely.
What is Mint Leaves?
Mint leaves are the leafy green foliage of a plant in the Mentha genus. These plants typically have a strong, sweet aroma and are often used to flavor tea, candy, chocolate, and other foods. Whether your house smells like English mints or like peppermint gum depends on which mint plant the leaves came from!
How Often Should I Give My Rabbits Mint Leaves?
You should only give your pet rabbits one or two mint leaves per day. This way, you can tell that they aren’t getting sick from eating too much mint in a short period of time. Try giving them their pieces of mint with their morning and evening meals!
How Many Mint Leaves Do Rabbits Eat a Day?
In general, rabbits may try to eat between 20 and 30 grams of fresh vegetation every day.1 However, don’t give your rabbits the whole package of mint leaves all at once! You can spread out their intake by giving them a few pieces during multiple feedings.
What Is Your Experience Feeding Mint Leaves to Rabbits?
I have a half-Rabbit, half-Guinea pig furry friend named Cleo. I’ve been feeding her mint leaves since she was a baby and have never had any problems!
Are Mint Leaves Bad for Rabbits?
Mint leaves are safe for rabbits in moderation. However, their safety and nutritional content depends on the variety and freshness of the plant. For example, older or wilted mint leaves may not smell very good. They may even contain mold, which your rabbits should not eat.
Is It Safe to Feed Mint Leaves to Your Pet Rabbits?
Yes. Because mint leaves are safe for rabbits, it’s okay if they get a little obsessed with them. Rabbits are herbivores, so they’re used to munching on plants all day! They may even try to eat your mint plants or your garden herbs. Try growing some of these plants specifically for your rabbits!
Where to Get Mint Leaves for Pet Rabbits
You can buy mint leaves from a grocery store, herbal store, or other retailer that carries fresh plants. If you want to grow them yourself, check out some online gardening forums and ask whether other members have luck growing mint in your area.
What to do if Your Pet Rabbits Are Sick from Eating Mint Leaves?
If you give your rabbits too much mint and they show any sign of digestive upset (like diarrhea or gas), call a rabbit-savvy veterinarian immediately. If the stomachache goes away after a few hours, try reducing the amount of mint your rabbits get the next time.
Do rabbits like mint leaves?
Yes! Pet rabbits enjoy both spearmint and peppermint. If you want to use mint leaves as a treat, chop them into small pieces so they are easy for your rabbit to chew.
Can Rabbits Eat Mint Leaves?
Yes! Your pet rabbits can eat mint leaves. Just keep in mind that they are safe in moderation. Rabbit digestive systems are quite sensitive, so too much of anything may cause stomach upset.6 For this reason, it’s important to limit the amount of mint leaves your pet rabbits eat.
Food Family of Mint Leaves
Mint leaves come from a large family of plants. There are about 20 different varieties, but we’ll just focus on two: peppermint and spearmint. Peppermint is more common than spearmint and has an intense smell, while spearmint has a lighter, sweeter scent.
4 Good Substitutes for Mint Leaves
If you’re unable to buy or grow your own mint leaves, there are some other plants that rabbits can eat that may provide similar benefits.
Just be sure that the plants are fresh, safe, and have not been treated with pesticides.
- Catnip is a member of the mint family. It has a strong smell that even cats love! Rabbits may enjoy it too. You can grow catnip indoors or out.
- Clover is another herb in the mint family. It’s a bit easier to find than catnip and is a low-growing plant with little flowers that rabbits enjoy. Make sure the clover you use for your rabbits has been grown without chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
- Dandelion leaves are good for rabbits as long as they haven’t been treated with chemicals. But even if they are, dandelion is easy to find at local grocery stores or farmers’ markets.
- Borage leaves are a good substitute for mint leaves. They have a strong smell that some rabbits enjoy. Just be sure they haven’t been treated with pesticides!
7 Steps to Prepare Mint Leaves for Rabbits
If you want to give your rabbits fresh mint leaves, make sure they are washed and ready for eating. If you want to grow them yourself, check out some online gardening forums and ask whether other members have luck growing mint in your area.
- Pick the right variety of mint. Make sure that it hasn’t gone bad by smelling it first!
- Rinse the mint and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Cut or tear apart each leaf to make sure your rabbits don’t accidently swallow any parts of the stem!
- Feed one or two pieces per day. Give them out in multiple feedings so they don’t eat too much at once!
- Store the mint leaves in an airtight container as you would with other fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Wash your hands before and after handling the mint leaves.
- Keep some on hand so that your rabbits can graze on them throughout the day!
6 health benefits of mint leaves for rabbits
- Contains Vitamin C: Mint leaves contain more than 100% of your pet’s daily Vitamin C needs!
- High in Calcium: You rabbits will get 30% of their daily calcium allowance from just one leaf.
- Anti-inflammatory Effects: Mint contains strong compounds that act as natural anti-inflammatories. This is important, as inflammation is the response to injuries and illnesses.
- Cures Bad Breath: Just feed your rabbits a few mint leaves every day to kill bad odors in their mouths!
- Helps with Upset Stomachs: Mint helps with digestion by encouraging the stomach to empty its contents naturally.
- May Prevent Yeast Infections: When rabbits lick their fur, they can develop skin tags and even yeast infections. Mint leaves are a great way to help prevent this by reducing excess saliva that causes these problems.
7 Possible concerns when feeding mint leaves to rabbits
- Rabbits sometimes eat too many of them at once! Be sure not to give your pets the leaves in huge bunches, especially if they have already been eating them for a while.
- Rabbits may eat too many, which can lead to diarrhea! Make sure not to feed your rabbits more than one or two leaves at a time so that they don’t become sick from ingesting too much mint.
- Rabbits may become constipated! Mint leaves act as a natural laxative. If your rabbits are already eating them daily, you may consider reducing the amount given every day by half to prevent excess stomach discomfort.
- Rabbits can develop an allergy or intolerance of mint. If your rabbit has created red or itchy skin after coming in contact with mint, it may be best to stop feeding them any.
- Rabbits will eat the leaves in an uncontrolled manner if they are not chopped up! Make sure that you have cut or torn apart each leaf into smaller pieces before distributing them between multiple rabbits.
- Their urine can develop a strong smell when given too many mints. Be sure to limit the number of mint leaves given every day to prevent strong smells.
- They may not eat them at all! This is especially true if your rabbit doesn’t like the taste or smell of mint. Make sure you are giving them fresh, clean leaves that have been stored properly to avoid any bacterial contamination.
4 Tips before giving mint leaves to rabbits
- If you want your rabbits to eat the leaves, make sure they taste and smell fresh before serving them.
- If your rabbits will be munching on the mint throughout the day, try chopping or tearing apart each leaf into smaller pieces for easier chewing and digestion.
- Don’t give your rabbits too much mint at once. Limit their intake of the leaves to make sure they don’t develop stomach problems from digesting too much mint.
- Make sure to always wash your hands before and after touching or feeding your pets mint leaves to prevent any harmful bacterial contamination.
7 Signs pet rabbits are sick from feeding mint leaves
- A rabbit’s nose gets dry or crusty looking when they are sick from ingesting too much mint.
- A rabbit stops eating their regular diet when they are sick from feeding too many mint leaves.
- Rabbits develop diarrhea, weight loss, lethargy, weakness, fever, sneezes, and decreased appetite when they are sick from eating too many mint leaves.
- Rabbits develop greenish, blackish or yellowish droppings when they are sick from feeding too much mint leaves.
- Pet rabbits stop eliminating when they are sick from ingesting too many mints.
- Rabbits have scaly or crusty areas around their nose and mouth when they are sick from eating mint leaves.
- Rabbits develop hair loss on their stomach, back, ear edges, tail or hind legs when they are sick from trying to digest too many leaves.
So It Seems
Comment below and share your thoughts. I want to know what you think about feeding mint leaves to rabbits? Is it a good idea or not so much? Let me know in the comments!
