Can rabbits eat date?
Quick verdict
Unsafe
Key risk
The very concentrated sugar can cause serious digestive upset and obesity.
Why
Dates are too sugary for rabbits and should be avoided.
Can rabbits eat date, and why?
Dates are too sugary for rabbits and should be avoided. The very concentrated sugar can cause serious digestive upset and obesity.
Rabbits are herbivores: roughly 85% of their diet should be good-quality hay or grass, plus a daily handful of leafy greens, with only small amounts of other veg and tiny occasional fruit. They have a sensitive hindgut that depends on constant fibre — sudden changes, sugar or starch can trigger dangerous gut stasis and bloat.
Warning — what to watch for
The very concentrated sugar can cause serious digestive upset and obesity.
If your rabbit has eaten date, don’t wait for symptoms — contact your vet immediately, or call the Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 (24/7, UK). Signs of a problem can include vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, lethargy, tremors or loss of appetite.
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Frequently asked questions
Can rabbits eat date?
Unsafe. Dates are too sugary for rabbits and should be avoided.
What happens if my rabbit eats date?
The very concentrated sugar can cause serious digestive upset and obesity. If your rabbit has eaten date, contact your vet or the Animal PoisonLine (01202 509000) straight away — don’t wait for symptoms.
Is date poisonous to rabbits?
Unsafe. Dates are too sugary for rabbits and should be avoided.
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