There are numerous foods in our world today and we wonder which is safe for our rabbits. An example of such foods include eggs, which are what we will be talking about in this article. If you’re one of those who wants to find out if eggs can be eaten by bunnies, why they should or should not eat eggs if they can eat raw or cooked eggs, and what quantity you should give them, then this article is for you.
In this blog post, we will be informing you of everything you need to know about feeding your rabbits with eggs. Therefore, sit back and enjoy!
Are Eggs Good For Rabbits?
An egg is one of the most popular foods in the world. You can find it precisely in every country of the world. Different eggs are laid by different animals, especially birds but the most popular egg is gotten from chicken. These eggs can be eaten in various forms, which can be either boiled or fried. Different parts of eggs majorly include the eggshell, which serves as the protective layer that protects the remaining parts of the eggs; the egg white, which is a transparent liquid that becomes opaque and white upon cooking; and the yolk, which is located in the innermost part of the egg and can either be yellowish (commonly) or white (on rare occasions).
Eggs are also commonly used in baking and the making of pastries. For humans, it has many benefits, which include serving as a good source of protein, improving the level of good cholesterol in the body, being a good source of vitamin D, helping to support heart health, etc.
We can infer that eggs are beneficial to humans. However, we cannot say the same for rabbits. This is because rabbits are very sensitive to cholesterol and eggs contain a high amount of cholesterol. Although humans, they are good cholesterol, when referring to rabbits, it doesn’t matter if the cholesterol is good or bad. Anything that will increase the level of cholesterol in the body of rabbits is dangerous for their digestive health.
Can Rabbits Eat Raw Eggs?
In whatever situation you find yourself in, make sure you do not feed your rabbits with raw eggs. The reason for this is that raw eggs contain bacteria that are harmful to the rabbit’s health and can make them fall sick. Therefore, it is not recommended to offer your rabbit raw eggs to consume.
Can Rabbits Eat Cooked Eggs?
If you still want to try and give eggs to your rabbits to consume, there is still a way to go about it. You must ensure the eggs are boiled and you avoid giving them the yolk. You can give them the whitish portion of the egg in bits and closely monitor their response to it. If you notice anything strange, you must immediately take them to the Vet. If their body seems to tolerate it without causing any problems, you shouldn’t overfeed them with egg whites because of this. Don’t give them more than one egg white per week. If you try overfeeding them, then be ready to face the consequences.
Can Rabbits Eat Egg Yolk?
Research has shown that when non-obese or young rabbits consume egg yolk, it can cause hypercholesterolemia, with cholesterol levels rising to 15 or 30 times, depending on whether they consumed one or two yolks. If this happens in non-obese or young rabbits, you can imagine what will happen if weighty and adult rabbits are fed. The digestive system of rabbits cannot break down this cholesterol and consuming them can cause an upset stomach and is capable of posing a threat to their life. Therefore, it is advisable not to give your rabbits egg yolk to consume.
Can Rabbits Eat Eggshells
As dangerous as it is for rabbits to consume eggs, consuming eggshells is not as dangerous for them. Eggshells serve as a good source of calcium and it is particularly more beneficial for young rabbits because it helps them to develop strong bones. The best way to present eggshells to your rabbits is by grinding them into a fine powder and mixing the powder with their food. When you don’t grind it, they are irritated by the smell, and they will most likely run away from the food.
It is, however, very important to know that eggshells must be fed in very small quantities to your rabbit, and they must not be frequent in their meals. Their digestive system is not capable of regulating the calcium consumed by them and consuming too much calcium can lead to infection of the kidney or urinary tract and can even lead to death. Rabbit’s digestive system is specifically designed to digest foods low in fat and high in fiber.
Risks of Feeding Your Rabbits Eggs
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Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a term used to describe loose and watery stools. When you change your rabbit’s diet rapidly or give the wrong diet, your rabbit may likely come down with diarrhea. In the case of eggs, when you feed them to your rabbits, their digestive system may not be able to digest them properly and they may come down with diarrhea.
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Hepatic Lipidosis
Hepatic lipidosis is also known as fatty liver disease. It is the accumulation of excess fat in the liver cells of the rabbit. Ideally, a rabbit’s diet should not contain more than 3% fat. When you start to give eggs to your rabbits, there is a deposition of excess fat in the liver cell, and this can cause hepatic lipidosis and cause symptoms like anorexia, dehydration, loss of weight, reduction in the size of their poop, and how often they poop, lethargy, etc.
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Gastrointestinal (GI) Stasis
GI stasis is a term used to describe reduced or absence of GI motility in rabbits, which is caused as a result of reduced levels of fiber in their diet. When a rabbit is fed a large amount of egg, there is a high intake of protein, cholesterol, and carbs. Due to the consumption of high fat and low-fiber diet, the digestive system slows down or stops working completely. When this happens, there is a build-up of bad bacteria in the intestines. This produces symptoms such as decreased motivation to eat or drink, bloating that is usually painful, etc. If not treated immediately, the content in the stomach becomes compacted and may infect the rabbit’s organs, causing organ failure and even death.
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Soft Uneaten Cecotropes
Rabbits excrete two types of fecal matter: pellets and cecotropes. They excrete the pellets during the day and the cecotropes at night. They also practice Coprophagy, i.e. rabbits eat up their feces and digest it the second time, which is normal. Therefore, if you observe your rabbits at night or early in the morning, you will discover they chew their cecotropes. They engage in this practice because they contain essential nutrients needed by the rabbits to stay healthy. However, some situations occur when these rabbits do not eat these cecotropes. In such situations, they are known as uneaten cecotropes.
Uneaten cecotropes occur when you introduce your rabbit to foods different from what they should normally eat, such as eggs. Too much egg in their diet, there is a reduction in the amount of fiber intake. This means they won’t eat their poop. Not eating their cecotropes is a course for alarm for rabbits. The nutrients needed for the digestive system to work properly are compromised.
What Should You Do When You Discover That Your Rabbit Has Eaten Eggs?
Once you discover your rabbits have eaten eggs, observe any changes in their poop. If you notice anything, you must immediately take them to the Vet for proper monitoring.
Conclusion
As a rabbit owner, understand that rabbits are herbivores and their diet must contain at least 80% Hay. You shouldn’t give them eggs to consume at all, but if so, ensure you do not give them raw eggs. Instead, give them boiled eggs in a very minute quantity. Never replace your rabbit’s food with eggs. When they consume eggs, ensure you check their poop and if you notice any changes or they mistakenly consume a large portion of an egg, you must immediately report to the Vet for effective management. This will ensure that your rabbits are safe and out of danger.