Rabbits have hay as the main food in their diet because it brings many positive aspects to their health: it is rich in fiber, low in calories (helping them to maintain an adequate weight), it helps them keep their teeth in good condition and regulates the digestive system. Still, it is important that they eat more foods like vegetables and fruits.
To care for a rabbit properly, you need to know everything it can and cannot eat. In this way, you will ensure that it stays healthy. For example, a food that usually generates doubts is the tomato. The unknowns about whether you can give him tomatoes are understandable, so at OneHOWTO we help you solve them. Find out in this article if rabbits can eat tomato or not .
You may also be interested in: Can rabbits eat apples?
Index
- Can rabbits eat tomato or not?
- What are the benefits of tomato for rabbits
- How to give tomato to my rabbit
Can rabbits eat tomato or not?
The answer to this question is simple: tomato is good for rabbits , so YES they can eat it . It is a perfect alternative to vary their diet and also to offer it as a prize, since it is a fruit that they like very much.
However, it is important that it does not become an essential food : your rabbit should eat hay every day and occasionally vegetables and fruits, such as tomatoes. Another aspect to note is that you should only give the tomato, that is, the fruit without other parts of the plant such as flowers, stems and leaves, since they are toxic to the animal.
Another question you may have is: can I give my rabbit any type of tomato? The answer is again yes. The size does not matter, whether they are red and round, elongated or small like cherry tomatoes. The essential thing is that they are ripe, fresh, clean and free of leaves so that they cannot cause any type of damage to the rabbit.
Small or dwarf rabbits can also eat tomato: if you have one at home, there is no problem in giving it to them. Just be careful to cut large tomatoes into small pieces so you don’t risk choking.
What are the benefits of tomato for rabbits
Having clarified that rabbits can eat tomato without risk to their health, as long as it is given sporadically and not as a basis for their diet, it is important to highlight the multiple benefits that its intake has on the animal’s body. It is a source of antioxidants, potassium and vitamins A, B6 and C.
Containing these properties, the benefits of tomato for rabbits are the following:
- Helps lower cholesterol.
- Contributes to the prevention of premature aging.
- It helps expel toxins as it is diuretic.
- Reduces the risk of heart attack and helps prevent cardiovascular diseases.
- Strengthens the immune system, thus helping to prevent diseases of various kinds.
- Reduces the risk of infections.
- Contributes to the protection of the rabbit ‘s skin .
- Regulates your intestinal transit.
All the exposed benefits of tomato for rabbits are applicable in ripe and red tomatoes . It is not recommended to give green tomatoes to these animals, since due to their greenness or immaturity they can be toxic to their organism.
How to give tomato to my rabbit
Bearing in mind that you can give your rabbit red tomato and you should avoid eating it green, it is also important that you discover the best way to introduce it into its diet.
- The first thing you should do is select a good tomato, that is, one that is quite red (ripe) and wash it perfectly.
- Subsequently, remove the upper part of the tomato, that is, the area where the small fork that joins the tomato with the stem is located. If it has leaves, remove them
- Cut the tomato into small piecesaccording to the size of the rabbit: if you give it whole or in too large pieces, it will be dangerous for it to ingest them because if it does not chew them well enough or it chokes, it will risk choking.
- Rabbits can also eat tomato with skinwithout any danger. It is not necessary to peel it before giving it to him.
- You should always keep in mind that it is an occasional food for the animal, so you should offer some pieces a couple of times a weekat most.
- Avoid giving it bruised tomato parts and discard the parts that are rotten, as they can cause severe diarrhea or poisoning in your rabbit. You should always eat tomatoes that are red and in perfect condition.
- It is essential that you give your rabbit raw tomato. In no case can you give it in the form of a sauce, even if it is homemade. Nor should you give him canned tomatoes or prepared tomato sauces, since they are products that contain chemicals, preservatives, sugars and other components that are very harmful to the animal.
- As for the possibility of cooking the tomato before giving it to your rabbit, it is not a recommended option because during cooking its chemical composition changes and it becomes more acidic than raw.
Now that you know that rabbits can eat tomato and how it is best to give it to them, we encourage you to continue reading and learn more about the Vegetables that rabbits can eat and What do rabbits eat .
