Rabbits get most of their nutritional needs filled by timothy hay. The idea of eating nothing but hay might sound a bit tedious for us, but hay is the most optimal food for rabbits. However, rabbits can still eat a little bit of fruits and vegetables on the side.
Tomatoes are one of my favorite fruits. They are good sources of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B-6 as well as potassium and antioxidants. If you happen to like tomatoes too, then you might want to share a little bit with your pet rabbit. But can rabbits even eat tomatoes?
Can Rabbits Eat Tomatoes?
Quick answer: Rabbits can eat tomatoes, but only in small amounts.
I would not recommend to feed your rabbit more than a few slices of tomato in a day. Tomatoes are acidic and contain a lot sugar, that’s why it’s only okay for rabbits to have a very small amount of this fruit.
Eating a larger amount would cause problems in your bunny’s stomach. Your pet might get a stomach ache and experience bloating, diarrhea and constipation. So, it’s definitely for the best not to give your bunny more than a slice or two.
No Tomato Plants for Your Bunny!
Now that you know that tomatoes can only be fed to bunnies in very small amounts, you be thinking about giving your rabbit tomato plants instead, but don’t. Tomato plants contain poisonous solanine, which, if consumed in large amounts, can cause very serious health problems for your pet rabbit and other animals as well.
By the way, green parts of potatoes also contain solanine, so be careful not to feed your rabbit any green parts of potatoes as well.
Feeding Tomatoes to a Rabbit: Other Things to Consider
Just like you wouldn’t eat a dirty or rotten tomato yourself, don’t give one to your pet rabbit as well. Carefully washing a tomato before giving a slice or two to your rabbit is important in order to get rid of any pesticide residue. Rotten fruits should be discarded because they are very like to cause diarrhea or other digestive issues.
Never give your rabbit ketchup or tomato sauce. These products contain a lot of added sugar and food preservatives, which would be very bad for your bunny.
You also shouldn’t give your rabbit canned or cooked tomatoes as they are even more acidic than raw tomatoes and wouldn’t agree with your rabbit’s stomach.
In Conclusion
Rabbits can eat a few tomato slices, but make sure that you carefully wash the tomato before cutting a slice for your pet. Also, don’t forget that fruits and vegetables can only be given to bunnies as occasional treats, good quality timothy hay should still be the basis of her diet.
As you said rabbits can eat tomatoes but they don’t really need to, as we humans do. It’s a fascinating fact how rabbits can produce vitamins and antioxidants on their own (in their cecum) only from hay. 🙂