Rabbits are one of the most popular pocket pets in the United States. Who can say no to feeding a cute little rabbit a sweet treat like a juicy pepper piece? But be cautioned…not all foods are safe for rabbits! Can rabbits eat peppers?
Dr. Jess explains the answer below:
What Are Rabbits?
Rabbits and bunnies are small mammals that hop around from place to place.
They are commonly seen as pets with their sweet eyes, floppy ears, furry faces, and cute whiskers.
Rabbits come in many colors, shapes, and sizes, most commonly seen in shades of white, brown, black, and patches or combinations of those colors.
They can be seen with a large ear for their body size and even have long-eared varieties with even larger drooping ears.
Rabbits have long incisors (front teeth) that are constantly growing and needing to be filed either naturally or by the help of some intervention, both discussed further into this article.
What Do Rabbits Need From a Healthy Diet?
A well-balanced rabbit diet will need to deliver a multitude of things to the bunny ingesting it.
Just like humans, rabbits need the right combination of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and water to keep their organs working and functioning properly.
However, the daily nutritional requirements for a rabbit differ quite greatly from that of a human, and that is reflected in the common diet that most healthy and happy pet rabbits eat.
What Does a Typical Rabbit Diet Consist of?
An adult rabbit’s main source of food in their diet should come mostly from high-quality hay.
Hay is a forage that is low in calories and high in fiber, easy on the rabbit’s digestive system.
Other pieces of the rabbit’s diet may include commercial pellets and/or treats and snacks such as fruits and vegetables.
However, not all fruits and vegetables are safe for your bunny to have.
Let’s Talk About Peppers:
There are many different types of peppers out there, so I will cover a couple common types of peppers that you may encounter here in the United States.
Bell Peppers:
Bell peppers are also known as sweet peppers. These peppers are actually a fruit, but are typically treated as a vegetable in many American dishes because of its flavor, texture, and look.
They have a very mildly sweet taste and a jucy, crisp texture.
They come in 4 main colors in the grocery store, red, yellow, orange, and green.
Chili Peppers:
Chili peppers are smaller in size than a bell pepper and their shape is more like that of a banana. Most chili peppers found in stores have a thick glossy outer skin, that is green in color when immature and turns to a bright red when ready to eat.
They are also a fruit, but mainly used as a vegetable or spice in United States kitchens. They are used in many recipes as a spice to add heat to dishes that need more pizazz.
Chili peppers have much more of a spicy heat to them than the mild bell pepper with no spicy heat.
There are many different types of chili peppers available. One very common type of chili pepper available is the jalapeno pepper.
The capsaicin found in chili peppers is used for medicinal purposes and in pepper sprays across the world.
Pepper Health Benefits:
According to a recent Healthline article regarding the health benefits of bell peppers,
Bell peppers are rich in many vitamins and antioxidants, especially vitamin C and various carotenoids. For this reason, they may have several health benefits, such as improved eye health and reduced risk of several chronic diseases. All in all, bell peppers are an excellent addition to a healthy diet.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/bell-peppers
Low Calories:
Bell peppers are low in calories. This is a good thing for your little rabbit who may very well be prone to gaining weight and everything that comes along with obesity.
High Water Content:
Bell peppers can contain up to 92% water [source]. This could help your little pal stay hydrated.
Vitamins and Minerals:
Bell peppers are exceptionally rich in vitamin C as well as other vitamins and minerals, such as A, B6, E, K1, folate, and potassium.
Antioxidants:
Bell peppers are also rich in other antioxidants besides vitamin C.
Are Peppers Healthy For Rabbits to Eat?
A pepper contains a low amount of calories and fat so it a better snack if your pet is overweight or has diabetes than other treats with higher caloric content.
Peppers also have a high water content to help keep your little friend hydrated.
As mentioned in the nutritional content of peppers section, peppers have a high amount of vitamin A, B, C, E, K, etc. in it – vitamins that help with the protection of important body systems that keep the body running and functioning appropriately.
A pepper is packed with a multitude of minerals and other nutrients which are great for the health of your pet bunny…. in the proper amounts! There is such thing as too much of a good thing!
Can Rabbits Eat Peppers?
Well after learning about some of the health benefits and some of the risks that the consumption of peppers brings with it, wouldn’t it be nice it you could just safely feed it to your bunny?
Well, you can fed them bell peppers…. in moderation.
That’s right, feeding a small amount of BELL pepper as a treat to your rabbit on occasion is totally fine and they will likely LOVE you for it!
“However, never feed your pet rabbit any other type of pepper. The spicy factor alone could harm them to the point of causing death. Do not feed your bunny any type of chili pepper!”
Doc Jess
Moderation = Approximately a 1-2 teaspoon-sized pieces of pepper is enough bell pepper for one adult rabbit.
If you have a smaller rabbit or a dwarf variety, cut the teaspoon on half and just give your smaller rabbit no more than 1/2 teaspoon worth of pepper per week as a treat.
If your pet does not eat all of their fruits and vegetables within 12-24 hours, then you need to dispose of it for them.
They will likely not eat it, and it will only sit in their cage and get old and eventually become unsafe to eat.
The rest of their diet, the bulk of it, should be made up of rabbit food and hay, as discussed above.
You should feed this amount no more than once per week and no two days in a row.
Can Baby Bunnies Eat Peppers?
I do not recommend feeding a baby or juvenile rabbit any pepper pieces as it can lead to some pretty big internal issues with just small bites of this fruit.
How to Serve Bell Peppers to A Rabbit?
You will need to start by using a high-quality, fresh bell pepper.
Make sure that you wash it well to remove any dirt, debris, pesticides, etc. from its surface.
Remove the core and the round, flat, white seeds.
Then cut the pepper into bite-sized pieces, so that your rabbit can easily eat it.
Remove any uneaten bell pepper pieces with 12-24 hours of offering it to your rabbit to prevent bugs and food rot.
How To Feed Bell Peppers to Rabbits
How to properly and safely feed bell peppers to rabbits.
Materials
- 1 fresh, ripe bell pepper
Tools
- cutting board
- kitchen produce knife
Instructions
- Inspect the bell pepper for rot, debris, or pests.
- Wash the bell pepper to rid it of chemical or pesticides
- Remove the core and the round, flat, white seeds.
- Slice or chop the bell pepper into bite-sized pieces.
- Give your pet one small piece of bell pepper and observe for adverse signs for 24 hours.
- Contact your vet if any signs appear.
Notes
Contact your veterinarian to discuss any changes in your pet's diet before adding or making changes to their food routine. Monitor your pet for adverse reactions and side effects - if observed, contact your local veterinarian immediately.
How About Bell Pepper Leaves?
I would just suggest to skip the leaves altogether.
Just like anything else that they can stick in their mouths, these can be a choking hazard so I wouldn’t offer it to them.
Can Rabbits Eat Bell Pepper Seeds?
Your rabbit should have no problem munching away on a fresh piece of bell pepper with a stray seed on it. However, the more seeds the bunny sticks in their mouth, the more likely they have of choking on them, etc.
There is no reason why these small bell pepper seeds can’t be quickly removed before serving pepper pieces to your pet bunny. Remove the bell pepper seeds, but don’t worry if your rabbit is exposed to a rogue seed or two.
Can They Eat Dried Peppers?
Because dried peppers contain a higher amount of sugars, I can not advise you to feed your rabbit dried pepper even if it is for a small snack.
It is unsafe to do!
Can Bunnies Eat Pepper Jam or Jelly?
Jellies and jams have added sugars, spices, and/or preservatives or additives in them.
Therefore, it is not advised to feed your little pet any type jam or jelly, including the pepper varieties.
Are Peppers Harmful to Rabbits?
Yes, they can be.
Remember that too much of any fruit or vegetable fed to these little buddies can give them side effects like an upset stomach, gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
This can lead to a multitude of problems including things like dehydration and electrolyte imbalances that could impart a trip to the veterinary clinic for your pocket pet vet to fix.
Alternative Foods For Rabbits:
Wrap up:
So weigh the pros and cons of feeding bell peppers to your rabbit before tossing them a sweet and juicy snack, and if you do decide to give them a treat, remember, it’s safe in moderation.
Never feed your rabbit any type of chili pepper. Keep it to ONLY bell pepper!
And as always, contact your veterinarian before changing any part of your pet’s diet.
The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional veterinary help.