Is Grass Seed Harmful To Rabbits? Which Grass Are Not Safe For Rabbits?

by Lee Safin

You can get attracted in a blink to these cute creations of GOD ALMIGHTY. However, rabbits are the second most popular pet around the globe. There are a few people who do not like rabbits and if you are one of them, this article is nothing but a waster of time for you.

So, our principal question was, is grass seed harmful to rabbits?

No! most of the grass seeds are not harmful to rabbits. But that does not mean you can use grass seeds as a regular diet for your rabbit. However, grass seeds won’t harm a rabbit’s digestive system at all.

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Is Grass Seed Harmful To Rabbits? Which Grass Are Not Safe For Rabbits?
Is Grass Seed Harmful To Rabbits? Which Grass Are Not Safe For Rabbits?

Is Grass Seed Harmful To Rabbits?

As we already said, most grass seeds are not harmful to rabbits. But our bunnies can not have it as their regular diet. You can not give rabbits the grass seeds regularly to feed them.

If we go into details then we must say, most of the seeds (all types) are not good for rabbits but grass seeds are not so harmful to the bunnies.

So there is another question, what happens if a rabbit eats vegetable seed?

It goes to its stomach and the pancreas secrets its digestive juice which got mixed with the HCL and tries to digest the seeds. However, the amount of pepsin that gets secreted is not enough to make a mould of the seeds. So the seeds remain un-digested. 

What is the best grass seed for overseeding which are pet friendly? Check our latest article –

Best Grass seeds for overseeding

Can Your Rabbit Eat Grass Instead of Dry Grass (Hay)?

Can Your Rabbit Eat Grass Instead Of Dry Grass (Hay)?
Can Your Rabbit Eat Grass Instead Of Dry Grass (Hay)?

Yes! your rabbit can eat green grass instead of hay but it’s not good for most of them. The digestive system of most rabbits can not tolerate green grasses. Their digestive system can easily break down the dry grasses (Hay).

However, the bottom line is, if your rabbit can tolerate green grass then you can add it to their diet but if it cannot then you must not try to feed green grass to your rabbit.

Are Vegetable Seeds Bad for Rabbits?

Yes! some common vegetable seeds like cons, potatoes, nuts etc. are bad for rabbits. However, most vegetable seeds are bad for rabbit’s digestive system. So it’s better if you keep it away from their diet plant.

What Happens When Rabbits Eat Vegetable Seeds?

To understand the answer to the question you need to know the physiology of the rabbit. If you are a doctor or pharmacist you can check the link “rabbit’s digestive system” and can have a look.

But if you are not a professional then I am here to explain the system to you.

Rabbits Digestive System
Rabbits Digestive System

 

The “Fundus” and “Antrum” of the stomach does contain digestive juice like HCL, pepsinogen etc. But the amount of pepsinogen get produced in the digestive system of the rabbit is not enough to break down the vegetable seeds.

So the question was what happens if a rabbit eats vegetable seed?

It goes to its stomach and the pancreas secrets its digestive juice which got mixed with the HCL and tries to digest the seeds. However, the amount of pepsin that gets secreted is not enough to make a mould of the seeds. So the seeds remain un-digested. 

In the meantime, the tissues of the stomach realize that there is something that is not breaking down properly. So it releases extra HCL to crush the material. But as the HCL only cannot make the mould of the seeds it harms the stomach wall. Which is pretty similar to a human ulcer.

So the bottom line is, we can not give our bunnies vegetable seeds as their digestive system cannot break it down properly.

Can Rabbits Eat Tulsi?

Can Rabbits Eat Tulsi - Is Tulsi Good For Rabbits
Can Rabbits Eat Tulsi - Is Tulsi Good For Rabbits

Yes! Rabbits can eat tulsi which is the holy basil of Hindus. There is no complication that can affect your rabbit after eating the leave of Tulsi.

However, some expert’s says it’s better to offer your rabbit the Tulsi once in two weeks. It’s healthy for them and it can keep their stomach clean and protected.

Which Grass Are Not Safe For Rabbits?

Most of the green grass is safe for rabbits. The list is so long that we can not provide it but we can provide the list of which grass are not safe for rabbits.

Name of The Grass/Plant Is It Safe For Rabbit?
Onion, garlic, leek, and chive No
Asparagus No
Apple No
Cassava No
Rhubarb No
Grape No

Can Rabbits Survive on Grass?

No! rabbit’s cannot survive on grass only. An organic body can not survive on fixed nutrition. You must feed other nutritious food to rabbits.

As you are asking the question, let me ask you something.

Can you survive on noodles? or, can you survive on rice? or bread?

Definitely not. So like that our bunnies can not survive on grass. Below we mentioned a lot of foods that are good or bad for your bunnies. So keep reading.

What is the best grass seed for overseeding which are pet friendly? Check our latest article –

Best Grass seeds for overseeding

Which Foods Are Not Good For Rabbits?

You bunnies are free to eat hay, green grass, roots etc. But there are certain foods that are proven to a killer to rabbits. The food listed below should not be eaten by a rabbit. If accidentally your bunnies eat this food then immediately contact your vet.

Name of The Foods Should Your Rabbit Eat It?
Chocolate No
Avocado No
Apple Seeds No
Tomato Plants No but if your bunnies ate it, nothing to worry.
Almonds No
Belladonna No
Foxglove No
Wild Carrots No
Ragwort No
Bracken No
Condensed Milk No

However, if you can not reach your vet then call us immediately. Our house vet is 24 hours online.

Can Apple Seeds Kill Rabbits?

No! apple seeds can not kill rabbits. But it’s not a portion of good food for rabbits. However, apple seeds can not be digested by your bunnies. So better you should avoid them.

Why Rabbits Can’t Eat Chocolate?

Chocolates contain theobromine and caffeine which is not digestible for rabbits. However, it can cause severe damage to your rabbit. Caffeine can increase the blood pressure of the rabbit at such a level that can not be controlled by the tiny heart of the rabbits.

In that case, there is a possibility of getting heart attack of the rabbits. Moreover, it can increase the rate of death of the rabbit.

The ingredient theobromine is a proven toxic agent for cats, dogs and rabbits. So it’s proven science that offering them chocolate means, you are expecting them to die.

What Can You Feed Your Rabbits Instead of Hay?

There are a lot of verities you can offer your rabbit instead of hay. A lot of people think that hays are the only good thing for your rabbit. But it’s nothing but a prejudice.

In the following list, we are going to show you the alternates of Hay that you can offer to your bunnies.

Name of The Food Is It a Good Alternate of Hay for Rabbits?
Broccoli Yes
Celery Yes
Endive Yes
Beet/carrot Tops Yes
Brussel sprouts Yes
Spinach Leaves Yes but not much
Bok Choy Yes
Asian Greens Yes
Dark Leafed Lettuce Varieties Yes but not much
Parsley Yes
Dandelion Yes
Coriander Yes
Basil/Tulsi Yes but it's not a good alternate. It should be used once in 14 days.
Dill Yes
Mint Not much, better avoid it.

So we have discussed the healthy alternates of Rabbits instead of Hay.

Is Sunflower Good For Rabbits?

Can Rabbits Eat Sunflower - Is Sunflower Good For Rabbits
Can Rabbits Eat Sunflower - Is Sunflower Good For Rabbits

Yes! sunflower is good for rabbits. However, rabbits just love sunflower foliage around them. Your rabbit can eat sunflower also it likes. There is nothing to be furious about it.

The sunflower seeds are tiny enough to be digested by the bunnies. However, every part of the sunflower is beneficial for rabbits.

People who usually have a sunflower garden have rabbits as a pet. Moreover, sunflower and bunnies are tied in an unbreakable knot.

What is the best grass seed for overseeding which are pet friendly? Check our latest article –

Best Grass seeds for overseeding

Wrapping Up

At last, we came to the conclusion. What was our primary query?

Is grass seed harmful to rabbits? We found the answer. We have also found the answer to the question “Which Grass Are Not Safe For Rabbits?”

So we know everything we need to know about the digestive process of rabbits. If you have more questions you can directly email us. Our professionals are here for 24 hours to help you.

About Lee Safin

Lee Safin was born near Sacramento, California on a prune growing farm. His parents were immigrants from Russia who had fled the Bolshevik Revolution. They were determined to give their children a better life than they had known. Education was the key for Lee and his siblings, so they could make their own way in the world. Lee attended five universities, where he studied plant sciences and soil technologies. He also has many years of experience in the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a commercial fertilizer formulator.

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