Rabbits are herbivores. This means they can feed on plants and flowers. Plants and flowers are important diet components for rabbits. However, not all plants are safe for your furry friend to consume. As a passionate rabbit owner, you might be interested in knowing if the Lavender plant is safe for your bunny to eat. If this is a thing of concern to you, the simple answer is yes, the lavender plant is safe and harmless to rabbits when consumed. And you can go ahead and incorporate this plant into your bunny’s meal.
However, before you start feeding your rabbits with a lavender plant, you must know the health benefits and risks of feeding this plant to your rabbit. Generally, lavender is a plant with a strong soothing scent. This plant has essential oils that are good for calming the body. While this may be safe for rabbits to eat, however, not all rabbits can eat the lavender plant. This is because of the plant’s strong scent. Some rabbits can be so sensitive to this smell that it puts them off immediately when they come close to the plant. That’s why it is important to study the behavioral pattern of your rabbit when they come in contact with this plant to decide if it is safe or not.
While this plant may put some rabbits off, other rabbits may enjoy eating the plant. In this article, we will explain all that you need to know about the safety of your furry around this plant.
Can Rabbits Eat Lavender?
Naturally, rabbits are herbivores. This means they derive pleasure in eating grasses, flowers, weeds, and plants like lavender. Lavender is not harmful to rabbits especially when it is in moderation. Not all rabbits can eat lavender. While some are comfortable eating this plant, others are easily put off by its strong scent.
There is no better way to serve lavender to your rabbits. It can be served fresh or dried. Either way, it still maintains its nutritional components which are highly essential to the overall well-being of the rabbits. As it is with humans, rabbits’ diet must be moderate. It is advisable to speak with a veterinarian to know the best way you can incorporate this plant into your rabbit’s diet.
What Part of Lavender Can Rabbits Eat?
Lavender is safe and harmless to your rabbit. But that doesn’t mean you can just serve any part of the plant to your furry. You should know the part of the plant that is good for your bunny friend to eat. Let’s get into it.
Leaves
The lavender leaves are part of the plant that is good and harmless for the rabbit to consume. These leaves consist of a considerable amount of calories which is just about what the rabbits need. It is also rich in fiber. Serving your rabbits with lavender leaves can help boost their digestive system. However, you must exercise caution when feeding your fur as too much of it can lead to digestive problems.
Flowers
The flowers from lavender are also good for the fur, being good sources of vitamins and rich in calcium and iron. These vitamins and minerals aid the digestive system of the rabbit and help it function well. However, when the rabbit’s food is made of too many flowers from a lavender plant, it can lead to indigestion.
Stems
Lavender stems have essential fiber which is a good component of a rabbit’s diet. However, it must be served in the right proportion because too much of it can lead to indigestion.
In summary, lavender plants are harmless and safe for your fur to consume. Rabbits can eat the stem, flowers, and leaves from the plant. They are rich in fiber, calcium, minerals, and vitamins all of which are essential food components for good health. However, the focus is always on moderation. That’s why it is highly important to speak to a veterinarian to know the best way to serve this plant to your furry.
Can Bunnies Be Around Lavender Scent?
The lavender plant is a member of the mint family. It has a strong scent. Some rabbits don’t eat the plant due to its strong smell. If you are a passionate owner of a rabbit, you may want to further know if the scent from the lavender plant is safe for your bunny. The simple truth is, yes it is safe. There has never been any proof that suggests that the scent of the lavender plant is harmful to rabbits. Lavender scent is the attraction some rabbits have to the plant.
However, all rabbits don’t react to the scent of lavender equally. While some find it attractive, the scent puts others off immediately. The best way you can ascertain if your rabbit is cool with this scent is to study how it react to it. If they react negatively, you mustn’t include lavender in your bunny’s meal. Also, you should not use any lavender-related products for your bunny.
Is Lavender-Scented Bedding Safe for Rabbits?
Lavender has a soothing scent and it is mostly used as a fragrance for certain bedding for pets like rabbits and others. You should not just assume that because lavender has a nice scent, it is safe to be used for bedding products for your rabbit.
Lavender-scented bedding is good and safe for rabbits but not all. Just as humans react differently to things, rabbits also react differently to things. If you notice that your rabbit is reacting negatively to the scent of lavender, you shouldn’t continue to expose them to the scent. Some rabbits may develop respiratory problems when they are exposed to strong smells such as lavender. That’s why you should tread with caution when using scented bedding products for your furry. At the slightest sign of discomfort, you should stop using the problem.
Additionally, if you will continue to use scented bedding products, ensure you have them checked before exposing them to your rabbits. Some products are made with chemicals that are dangerous to your furry. To be in safe hands, ensure that your rabbit’s living space is well-ventilated to avoid any respiratory problems. It minimizes the effect of the products on your rabbit.
Rabbit Food Alternatives To Lavender
If you notice that your rabbits feel discomfort around lavender and you don’t want to feed your rabbit with this plant, there are several other alternatives you can try out.
Timothy Hay
Timothy hay is a safe plant for rabbits to eat. It is rich in crude fiber and crude protein which are highly essential. You can serve it fresh or dried. However, the fried leaves are softer and easy to digest for the rabbits.
Lettuce
Lettuce is an edible vegetable for your rabbit. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. This type of vegetable keeps the digestive system of your rabbit healthy. And it is a safe choice of meal if you don’t want to feed your rabbit with lavender.
Carrots
Carrots are a healthy vegetative choice for your rabbit. They are rich in sugar and easy for the rabbits to munch. Preferably, you can add this to their meal twice weekly. This is because rabbits are easily attracted to sweet meals but too much of it can upset their digestive system. So it is up to you to give it to your rabbits moderately.
Kiwi
Kiwi is a nice treat for your rabbit. It has the essential fiber and considerable iron and calcium that your rabbit needs to stay healthy. You can incorporate this into your bunny’s meal weekly.
Conclusion
Conclusively, lavender is a safe and healthy plant you can add to your rabbit’s diet. It is rich in minerals, calcium, and vitamins which can improve the overall health of your furry. Although it has a very strong scent that often puts some rabbits away, it is still a great diet when administered moderately.
As a rabbit owner, you owe your furry a duty of care. That’s why you must take time to observe your rabbit’s reaction when they are exposed to lavender-related products. Some rabbits could be highly sensitive to this plant while others may find it pleasing. And since your rabbit can’t speak, it is up to you to find out how exactly they feel when lavender is added to their diet.
We strongly advise that you speak to your veterinarian about the possibility of introducing lavender to your rabbit’s diet. The veterinarian can give you professional advice on how best you can do it without causing harm to your bunny friend.