Cilantro or coriander is a popular fragrant herb used to flavor traditional dishes and fresh salads. It is also the herb that many people love or despise.
While some herbs are toxic for rabbits to eat, can your pet rabbit eat cilantro? The quick answer is yes, cilantro is a safe herb to feed your rabbits. It also has excellent health benefits for your bunny.
This article will discuss the benefits and potential risks of cilantro for your beloved pet rabbit. We also look into the nutritional value of cilantro and answer your questions.
Do Rabbits Like Cilantro?
Some rabbits, like humans, adore cilantro, while others dislike it. Cilantro is one of the safest and most frequently suggested leafy greens for rabbits. Because of its rich vitamin and mineral content, this fragrant herb could be beneficial to your rabbit’s health.
How Much Cilantro Can Rabbits Eat?
Because it is low in oxalic acid, rabbits may consume cilantro regularly. One packed cup per two pounds of body weight per day is the recommended feeding.
Add a cup of cilantro along with a variety of leafy greens if your rabbit does not experience any digestive issues. Leafy greens can be offered to your rabbits once per day or in numerous feedings throughout the day.
If it’s your rabbit’s first time eating cilantro, start with a small portion. For the following 24 hours, keep an eye on your rabbit to see if it has a reaction. Avoid giving your rabbit cilantro if they have diarrhea or has a soft stool.
Can Baby Rabbits Eat Cilantro?
Rabbits seven months and younger should refrain from eating cilantro. Because a baby rabbit’s intestinal flora is sensitive and still growing, they require a lot of dietary fiber to avoid digestive issues.
Avoid Spoiled Cilantro
Ensure to wash the leaves thoroughly and stems to remove any pesticides or harmful bacteria that could make your rabbit sick. Wet leaves make them easier for your bunnies to chew.
Keep in mind that the leaves must be consumed as soon as possible. When cilantro leaves are removed from their stalks, they deteriorate quickly, and a rabbit is far more vulnerable to soiled foods than we are. Make sure that only fresh cilantro is served to your rabbits at all times.
Rabbits should not be given spoiled cilantro leaves that have lost their color. Throw out cilantro if it starts to lose its appearance, smells bad, or feels sticky and mushy to the touch. Cilantro that has gone bad might make your bunnies sick.
Can Rabbits Eat Cilantro Stems and Roots?
Rabbits can eat cilantro stems and roots. Ensure to wash the leaves thoroughly and stems to remove any pesticides or harmful bacteria that could make your rabbit sick.
Although cilantro roots are okay for your rabbit to eat, most bunnies dislike the flavor. The flavor of the roots is much stronger than the plant itself, so don’t be concerned if your rabbit is wary of it. It’s simply a matter of your rabbit’s tastes. Refrain from feeding your rabbits cilantro roots if you notice they dislike the herb.
Can Rabbits Eat Cilantro Seeds?
Your rabbits should not be fed cilantro seeds. They can become stuck between your rabbit’s teeth and are a choking hazard. Cilantro or coriander seeds are equally detrimental to a rabbit’s health. Cilantro seeds include a lot of carbohydrates and fats.
Seeds are rich in fat and carbohydrates that are typically essential for animals overwintering. However, your domestic rabbit has no such requirement; in fact, the National Research Council suggests that domestic rabbits consume no more than 1.5 percent of their calories in the form of fat.
Health Consequences of Feeding Rabbits Seeds
High-carbohydrate diets will overburden your rabbit’s cecum microbiota, resulting in enteritis, digestive issues, diarrhea, or obesity due to the high caloric content.
The metabolism of rabbits is optimized for a low-fat diet, and any fat that is not burnt is accumulated as body fat. Rabbits are far more sensitive to fat. An excess of fat can build up in your rabbit’s arteries and liver, leading to fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis, which is fatal to rabbits.
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Health Benefits of Cilantro
Fresh cilantro offers a wealth of nutritional benefits for rabbits.
Relief From Indigestion
Cilantro can assist your rabbit if they have moderate indigestion, like relieve gas and bloating after eating cabbage, broccoli, or any cruciferous veggie that produces gas.
Immune Booster
Cilantro is high in vitamin C and vitamin A. Both of these vitamins are necessary for rabbits to keep healthy. Vitamin C keeps rabbits safe and healthy by strengthening their immune system and keeping them protected from diseases. Cilantro may aid in the reduction of blood glucose levels in animals’ bloodstreams.
Controls Cholesterol
Cilantro raises healthy cholesterol levels in your bunny’s body while lowering bad cholesterol levels that clog arteries and veins. As a result, a moderate amount of cilantro in your bunny’s diet can help it avoid gaining weight and minimize the risk of a heart attack.
High in Anti-oxidants
Cilantro is abundant in iron, potassium, calcium, and other nutrients that your rabbit may require. Antioxidants can be found in the plant as well. Antioxidants protect your bunny’s body from free radicals. As a result, the more antioxidants you provide your rabbit, the fewer free radicals will injure its bodily cells.
High in Fiber
Cilantro is high in fiber and low in calories, making it ideal for rabbits. Cilantro’s fiber content will aid normal food movement through the cecum and intestines, and its low-calorie level will assist avoid obesity.
Could Prevent Salmonellosis
Cilantro contains antibacterial properties, which can reduce the risk of illness in your rabbit. Some studies even suggest that it can help your rabbit with Salmonellosis—but if you notice your rabbit has Salmonellosis, bring them to the vet as soon as possible. Salmonellosis, although an uncommon disease, in rabbits is fatal.
Risks of Cilantro for Rabbits
While cilantro is healthy and nutritious for rabbits, it does pose certain dangers if overfed. That’s why, if it’s their first time eating it, you should restrict the quantity you give them and introduce it carefully.
Gastrointestinal Stasis
Following the correct diet is vital to the overall well-being of your rabbits. Feeding cilantro to your rabbits instead of hay is not enough to meet their daily fiber intake. A lack of fiber in your rabbit’s diet can create Gastrointestinal Stasis.
In rabbits, gastrointestinal stasis is a potentially dangerous disease in which stomach and intestine muscle contractions are decreased, and typical microorganisms in the digestive tract get out of balance.
Rabbits suffering from GI stasis might become lethargic and show indications of discomfort, such as teeth grinding and a stooped posture. They may also start producing a lot of gas, as well as mushy stool or diarrhea. Severe instances of GI stasis can be deadly if left untreated.
Symptoms to look out for are:
Rabbits suffering from GI stasis might become lethargic and show indications of discomfort, such as teeth grinding and a stooped posture. They may also start producing a lot of gas, as well as mushy stool or diarrhea. Severe instances of GI stasis can be deadly if left untreated.
Stress, dehydration, and anorexia from various underlying medical problems and gastrointestinal obstruction are all possible causes of GI stasis.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea can also occur when rabbit owners overfeed their bunnies excessive amounts of cilantro too quickly. Always start your rabbits on a new diet gently.
Uneaten Cecotropes
When rabbits consume a lot of cilantro instead of hay, they might get soft uneaten cecotropes. Due to the absence of fiber, this might result in softer cecotropes.
Why Are Herbs and Greens Important to a Rabbit’s Diet?
Greens are an essential component of your pet rabbit’s diet. They give vital nutrients, increase water intake, and assist in keeping your pet’s diet interestingly varied. We recommend providing 1cup of greens for two pounds of body weight each day. If your pet isn’t used to eating greens, you should introduce it to them. To avoid diarrhea, introduce them gradually.
Cilantro is a low oxalate plant, so you may feed it to your bunnies without fear of them developing calcium or bladder stones. Adding and rotating greens, like cilantro, will offer diversity to your rabbit’s diet and help avoid the development of urinary tract illness.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Feed My Rabbit Cilantro Every Day?
Although feeding your bunnies cilantro on a regular basis is healthy, it should be done in moderation. The best choice is to feed your rabbit a mix of leafy greens to avoid monotony.
My Rabbit Dislikes Cilantro. What Is a Good Alternative?
Consider dark leaf lettuce, asparagus, parsley, basil, dill, mint, spinach, and celery. These are all nutritional leafy greens to add to your rabbit’s diet. They should be no more than one inch long to avoid particles becoming caught between your rabbit’s teeth.
Can Rabbits Eat Cilantro Flowers?
It is safe for rabbits to nibble on cilantro blossoms. Just make sure you’re just providing little amounts of cilantro and stay away from any cilantro blossoms that have been treated with hazardous pesticides.
Cilantro, Love It or Hate It
Cilantro is one of the safest herbs to offer to your pet rabbit. Always stick to the suggested feeding schedule. For every two pounds of your rabbit’s body weight, use one cup of cilantro.
The secret to using cilantro safely is to use it in moderation. Mix dark lettuce, which has the greatest nutrients, parsley, mint, and arugula with your rabbit’s leafy greens.
If your rabbit doesn’t like cilantro, don’t worry. They either like it or detest it, much like us humans.
