Yes, your bunnies can have oranges as a treat. Oranges are full of health and can be a healthy treat for your rabbits. Introducing treats like fruits is a great way to add a variety of food to your rabbit’s meal. Can bunnies have oranges? Yes, they can have, however, you need to consider the moderation factor to give oranges to your bunnies.
According to a study, ‘upto a 20% of orange fruit meal can be given as a substitute to grower rabbits.’
Oranges are a great supplier of natural antioxidants, Vitamin C, and hydration.
Do Rabbits Eat Oranges?
Yes, rabbits eat oranges. Some love oranges, while many don’t like citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, tangerines, clementines, etc. Oranges are a healthy food source and offer great variety to the meals of your bunny’s diet.
Oranges offer water content, vitamins, fiber, and minerals for a healthy, regulated body. They also help your rabbit’s digestive system.
Moreover, if your elderly rabbit has dietary needs and sludgy urine, Oranges can be a great source of citric acid to work on the urinal tract and kidneys.
They can be proven to be an excellent natural and healthy alternative to commercial potassium citrate, as they contain a significant amount of potassium.
Given the nutrient facts, a moderate amount is healthy. Your bunny can suffer digestive and other health issues if the amount exceeds.
How Many Orange Slices Can a Rabbit Eat?
Keeping a moderate amount is crucial to gaining the best health essentials from oranges. If you don’t keep quantity in check, it can become a health challenge for your little bunny. Too much of it can disrupt the digestive system and pose many other health issues.
It’s crucial to consult your rabbit’s veterinarian before introducing it to your bunny.
Restrict the amount to 20 percent of the diet, says the research. In general, you can give less than ¼th of the orange. You can give it once a week for a healthy intake or a treat.
Benefits of Oranges for Bunnies
Eating oranges for your pet rabbits has numerous benefits, which help in a healthy and vibrant life. It is rich in fiber and antioxidants, which support the overall well-being of your rabbit.
Boosts Vitamin C
Although rabbits synthesize vitamin C naturally, a small amount of oranges are not toxic. However, an additional vitamin C content can be beneficial if given in a limited quantity.
Moreover, if your bunny has medical needs, an external source of Vitamin C is a savior. Additionally, it helps in regulating the healthy immune system of your bunnies.
Vitamin C and other supplements significantly prevent heat stress for rabbits.
It also helps improve gut health and digestion, according to a study.
Hydration
Water is one of the essential components of orange. One orange has 86.8 g of water, which helps to keep your rabbit hydrated and helps regulate their urinary system.
In rare conditions, excessive loss of water can lead to Hypernatraemia.
Digestive Health
Combining the water composition content and fiber, oranges are a great source of digestive health for rabbits. They improve the gut health and better absorption of nutrients.
Antioxidants
Due to the high amount of Vitamin C in its composition, oranges play a significant role as antioxidants. It provides a barrier to fight against harmful, infectious inflammatory radicals and a cell protection wall..
Lowers Acidity in Urine
A concentrated amount of orange can help your bunny lower the urine acidity risk. Given the composition of potassium (232 mg), orange can be a great source of potassium citrate.
Potassium citrate helps regulate the urinary tract, prevents the formation of kidney stones, and reduces the risk of urine acidity in rabbits.
A restricted amount of orange juice can be a great natural alternative to medicinal potassium citrate for an elderly rabbit. However, must consult your bunny’s doctor before giving it to him.
Regulate Blood Cholesterol level
Orange has a soluble fiber, pectin. Pectin helps regulate cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, and heart rate.
Good Eyesight
Given the nutritional value of Vitamin A, an orange helps maintain good eyesight in bunnies.
Healthy Bones
An orange contains tremendous calcium and proteins that help maintain strong and healthy bones. However, a deficiency of calcium leads to weak bones and poor mineralization of bones in rabbits.
Binding Toxins
An orange has binding toxins, which help lower digestive risks, prevent hairball formation in their guts, and bind with a specific toxin to help them be eliminated from your bunny’s body.
Nutritional Value of Orange for Bunnies
Oranges contain various nutrients, from carbohydrates to minerals, that a healthy body needs to regulate. One orange has 140 grams and has enough servings for daily value.
The table below shows the nutritional facts of oranges.
| Water | Calories | Protein | Vit C | Fiber | Sugars | Calcium | Fat | Carbs | Potassium |
| 86.8 g | 73 | 1.3 g | 82.7 mg | 2.8 g | 12g | 60.2 mg | 0.2g | 16.5g | 232mg |
Risks of Overfeeding Oranges to Rabbits
Although oranges are safe treats for your rabbits. As discussed above, you can give oranges in moderation. However, there are high-risk factors if you do not monitor the amount of orange. Oranges can disrupt your bunnies’ healthy digestive system, posing sugar spikes.
Sugar spikes
The high sugar content in oranges can cause sugar spikes, high sugar levels, obesity, and digestive problems in your rabbits.
Excessive Calcium deters health
While calcium deficiency can lead to poor mineralization of bones, excessive calcium can lead to urinary and renal infections.
Excessive calcium in the diet leads to the deposition of large amounts of calcium carbonate, posing urine, kidney, cystitis, and other health challenges in rabbits since calcium levels are already higher in rabbits than in any other mammals.
Dental problem
Sugars and acid not only cause obesity, but they also pose dental problems in your rabbits.
So limiting the consumption of oranges in the diet is essential.
Excessive Vitamin C causes health issues
As you may already know, rabbits produce Vitamin C within their body. Excessive and additional Vitamin C in the diet can pose health challenges such as gastrointestinal problems, digestive issues, and urinary infections.
Given the fact that rabbits produce their Vitamin C, they have a high chance of getting vitamin C-related issues. However, limiting the quantity of oranges in the diet is a key.
Risk of High Protein intake
Orange has proteins in its nutritional value. There is a significant risk of health challenges if your bunny is fed a high-protein diet.
It may disrupt healthy kidney functioning as a high protein intake also increases urea.
Are orange peels okay?
Yes, orange peels are okay and the preferred healthy treat for your rabbits. Orange peels are safe for rabbits However, they should be given in small quantities and as an occasional treat.
According to a study, orange peels are high in anti-oxidant features and antioxidant activity because of the presence of the complexes of dimethoxyl, coumarine, acetic acid, catechol, vitamin E, and others.
Orange peels contain less sugar and are four times as much fiber than the pulp. You may say they are healthier than an orange pulp meal and juice, so there is no harm if they eat orange peels.
If you are introducing it for the first time, look for the signs of digestive.
It contains a high amount of Vitamin C and flavonoids, which help in anti-inflammatory properties.
A study investigated the group of growing rabbits and found that rabbits fed with orange peels and other supplements performed better.
The summary of the study reveals that;
- Improved growth performance
- Increased weight
- Plasma levels increased
- Lowers cholesterol concentrations
- Lowers fats in kidneys, back, and abdominal
Is it safe to give Orange juice to Bunny?
Yes, it’s safe for rabbits to give orange juice, but monitored quantity is the key. You can offer bunny an orange juice, but it is high in sugar content and acids, which can spike sugar and other health challenges. Must dilute it with water before feeding it to your rabbit.
if they resist taking it, you can slip a drop of orange on their sprouts.
Due to its inherited properties of flavonoids, orange juice can be a great source to treat high LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol in blood) levels in your bunnies.
A study revealed that an experiment rabbit was fed orange juice for 3 weeks, and it was revealed that orange juice dietary intake reduced
- LDL cholesterol 43 %
- Liver cholesterol 18%
- Hepatic cholesterol 42%
- Its recommended to avoid making them drink orange juice more often.
Things to Remember before Serving Oranges to Bunnies
- Feed your bunny fresh fruits.
- Remove the peel. If giving pulp is a desire.
- Wash the peels thoroughly. As you never know it may contain pesticides.
- Feed the peel in small pieces
- Remove the seeds of the orange.
- Make sure to dilute an orange juice with water.
- Introduce oranges in small quantity
- If they are eating for the first time, let them play.
How to Serve Oranges to Your Bunnies
Remember to give your rabbit oranges sparingly and avoid the combos that can be a disaster for your them. Must balance your bunny diet with other regular food such as hay, etc.
First, introduce a small amount of the orange and look for the digestive clues. A study says you can give your bunny sweet orange pulp, replacing 20 percent of the maze in the food, to the grower rabbit.
Worst Food Combos with Orange
Remember feed your rabbit with balance diet. You must avoid any food combos with oranges, which are ;
- Citrus food
- High-sugar foods such as cherries, etc.
- Foods contain persin
- Starchy foods
- Foods Leafy green with oxalic acids are toxic to rabbits.
Safe Combos for Oranges
Rabbits can eat oranges sparingly. However, you can add a variety of fruits and veggies to your rabbits’ diet, but remember their primary diet must contain fresh veggies, hay and fresh grass, and pellets.
We recommend offer oranges sparingly as a treat or play reward. However, there are certain safe food varieties that you can use to balance your bunny’s diet.
- You can pair it with leafy green veggies. Make sure it should be free from oxalic acid.
- Herbs
- Pellets
FAQs
At what age can rabbits have Oranges?
Citrus fruits are a great source of nutrition, but you should only give them to adult rabbits. Additionally, ensure that how your bunny reacts and how the digestive system accepts it. So, introduce in little amount.
Can a baby bunny have oranges?
No, not at all, baby bunnies cannot have oranges. Baby rabbits are too young to digest fruits. Let the little furry friend be fed on mother’s milk until they grow up.
Can bunnies have clementines?
Yes, they can have clementines, but they should be served in small amounts due to the high sugar content.
Can bunnies eat clementine peels?
Yes, bunnies can eat clementine peels. However, the same formula applies to orange peels as to clementine peels. Make sure to wash them thoroughly since pesticides are sprayed on them. Serve them occasionally.
Can rabbits eat mandarin oranges?
Yes, rabbits can eat mandarin oranges and tangerines, but in small quantities. You can give them occasionally. Many rabbits like them but serve them in small portions.
Can rabbits eat orange seeds?
Eating orange seeds can be hazardous for rabbits, so it is better to avoid it. Breeders and Veterinarians discourage making them eat orange, mandarin, tangerine, and clementine seeds, as rabbits can nibble and choke themselves. Ensure giving them oranges without seeds.
Can rabbits eat tangerines?
Yes, rabbits can have tangerines, but the quantity should be strictly watched and given in moderation. Tangerines are healthy treats for your bunnies. They should be served sparingly. They are rich in sugar and Vitamin C, and giving them in large amounts can pose digestive and other health issues.
Conclusion
While oranges, clementine, tangerines, mandarine tangerines, etc., are safe and healthy treats for rabbits, giving them in moderation is vital.
Generally, oranges are suitable for rabbits, provided a little bit of orange is given. However, avoid giving them without checking medical conditions. Before introducing fruits, including oranges, you must take your bunny’s veterinarian in the loop.
You don’t need to fear when you balance your rabbit’s diet with a fiber-rich diet, fresh vegetables and hay, and grass. Must monitor sugar intake since oranges are high in sugar content. Keep your bunnies on their regular diet like carrots, and vegetables.
