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If you put cardboard around your rabbit, one of the first things that they’re going to do is chew on it! But are they just chewing on the cardboard, or are they actually eating it?
While chewing on cardboard, most rabbits will avoid ingesting the material, but some may end up eating some of it. But is this a problem? Should you do anything before putting cardboard in your rabbit’s hutch?
Chewing cardboard and other materials is an important activity for rabbits, and it should be supervised. However, if your rabbit is showing an interest in eating the pieces of cardboard or other inedible materials, remove it from their enclosure and contact your veterinarian.
We answer those questions in detail and more for you here, so you know exactly what you can and should do if your rabbit is constantly chewing on and/or eating cardboard.
Do Rabbits Eat Cardboard?
If you put a cardboard box or similar toy near your rabbit, the first thing that they may do is start chewing on it. They may also tear it apart, and some may even try to eat a bit of it, while most will be content purely with chewing on it and not ingesting any. Chewing activity in rabbits should be supervised, especially in rabbits who are prone to eating the chewed-up pieces.
One of the primary ingredients in cardboard is cellulose, the same thing found in most plant matter. However, ingestion of cardboard should be avoided in rabbits, as, depending on the amount eaten and the rabbit’s size, this can lead to severe gastrointestinal issues.
Should Rabbits Eat Cardboard?
Just because your rabbit seems to like chewing cardboard, that doesn’t mean you should let them ingest it. However, as long as you take a few precautions and only use the right type of cardboard, there are actually a few benefits to giving cardboard to your rabbit to chew on.
Firstly, it stimulates them mentally, which helps fight off boredom and keeps them happy. Secondly, chewing on something tough like cardboard helps keep their teeth at the right length. Rabbits constantly need to chew on things to keep their teeth at the right length, and cardboard is a great way for them to do that.
However, while these are all benefits of cardboard, you need to take a few precautions to ensure that you’re not accidentally putting your rabbit at risk when you give them a piece of cardboard. First, there shouldn’t be any markings or ink on the cardboard. So, cardboard with designs or logos is a no-go.
Second, ensure that there’s no tape, glue, or residue from these things on the cardboard. Glue and tape can be especially bad for rabbits.
Risks Associated with Ingesting Cardboard
While cardboard is fine for rabbits to chew on, there can be too much of a good thing. So, how much is too much? We’d love to give you a clear and straightforward answer here, but the truth is that it comes down to your rabbit. If your rabbit accidentally ingests a very small and barely noticeable amount of cardboard, it’s less likely to lead to a health issue, unlike intentional ingestion of cardboard. This can lead to serious gastrointestinal issues, gut stasis, bloat and even a blockage, all of which are life-threatening.
Rabbits are generally fine to chew on quite a bit of cardboard, but if they show any intention of eating it, it’s important to remove the cardboard from their hutch and consult a veterinarian. Sometimes, underlying health issues such as digestive and dental problems may lead to such changes in behavior and ingestion of inedible items.
The 5 Great Treats for Rabbits
If you’re looking for a treat for your rabbit, these are great choices. But keep in mind that these shouldn’t be dietary staples. Your rabbit should have a highly nutritious and balanced diet first and foremost, based on 85% of hay and grass, 10% of leafy vegetables, with some fruits in moderation, and 5% pelleted food. If your rabbit is overweight, it’s best to avoid fruity snacks and speak to your veterinarian about weight loss.
Please remember that the fruits listed here should only be provided as occasional treats in moderation, making up no more than 5% of your rabbit’s daily food intake. An excess of sugary treats such as fruits can predispose them to obesity and lead to gastrointestinal issues.
1. Apples
Apples can be great occasional treats for your rabbit, when given occasionally, in moderation. Be sure to take out the seeds and stems, as they can be toxic for your rabbit in high quantities. Apples are sweet and crunchy, which are two qualities that rabbits love.
2. Carrot Tops
What goes together better than rabbits and carrots? While carrots aren’t quite as sweet as apples and other fruits, rabbits still love crunching on carrot tops. They’re also great for their teeth, but again, as with any other fruit, offer it in moderation and respect the 5% rule.
3. Bananas
While bananas don’t have the same crunch as many of the other foods that rabbits like, they’re sweet enough that most rabbits don’t care. Just keep in mind that they’re not grinding down their teeth with bananas, so ensure that you feed them plenty of hay to help with that, while keeping the amount of offered banana as small as a slice, no more than once or twice per week, due to the high sugar content!
4. Pears
Pears are sweet treats that some rabbits can’t seem to get enough of. But just like bananas and apples, they have a high sugar content and should be offered sparingly and in very small amounts. Pears are good rabbit treats, but be sure to limit the amount that you give them to a slice or two once or twice per week.
5. Strawberries
Strawberries are sweet and rabbits love them, but they don’t grind down their teeth or meet all their nutritional needs. Still, there’s nothing wrong with giving one or two washed and sliced-up strawberries to your rabbit as sweet treats, once a week.
The 6 Foods to Avoid Feeding Rabbits
While there are plenty of great treats out there for rabbits, you can’t just feed them anything. Here are a few different food choices that you should avoid when looking for a treat for your rabbit.
1. Avocados
While avocados are delicious treats for us, they’re extremely toxic for rabbits. Avocados contain persin, which is fine for humans, but most animals, including rabbits, can’t handle the stuff. Keep avocados far away.
2. Bread, Pasta, and Other Grains
While these foods aren’t quite as deadly as avocados, they’re not good for your rabbit. Bread and similar grain-based foods are too high in carbohydrates and sugars, so do yourself and your rabbit a favor and feed them something else.
3. Iceberg Lettuce
While this might surprise you a bit, there are two reasons that you shouldn’t feed iceberg lettuce to your rabbit. First, it has little nutritional value, so you’re just feeding them filler food. Second, iceberg lettuce can contain lactucarium, which is not good for rabbits, unlike romaine and green leaf lettuce.
4. Walnuts
Walnuts won’t kill your rabbit, but that doesn’t mean you should feed any to them. Walnuts have excessive amounts of fat, and that can create indigestion. This will lead to an unhappy and uncomfortable rabbit.
5. Chocolate
Chocolate is a no-go for any pet, and rabbits are no exception. Chocolate contains a litany of harmful and potentially deadly ingredients for your rabbit, so keep it far away from them.
6. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is high in fat and provides no nutritional value for rabbits. It won’t kill your bunny in small quantities, but it’s not good for them, and there’s no reason to give them peanut butter.
Final Thoughts
If you notice your rabbit chewing on cardboard, don’t fret! It’s great for their teeth and mental stimulation; just double-check that the cardboard doesn’t have anything harmful on it. If it’s clear, go ahead and give it to your rabbit! Supervise them while chewing to ensure they don’t ingest any cardboard, in which case, you should consult your vet.
Featured Image Credit: JustynaKoniecz, Pixabay
