Cymbopogon, the scientific name for Lemongrass, serves medicinal and culinary purposes to humans. However, can the same be said for rabbits? Can Rabbits eat Lemongrass? Or is it harmful to their health? It is not enough to know the answer to this question. One must also know how lemongrass acts in the system of a rabbit, the appropriate amount to give a rabbit, and many more. All these will be given appropriate attention in this article. We take a look at the following questions:
- Is lemongrass toxic to rabbits?
- How Much Lemongrass Should You Feed Your Rabbit?
- Can rabbits eat lemongrass stalks?
- Can rabbits eat lemongrass leaves?
- Can baby rabbits eat lemongrass?
- What kind of lemongrass should you feed your Rabbit?
- What should you look out for before feeding lemongrass to your rabbit?
- What are the diseases associated with eating too much lemongrass?
- What are the alternatives to lemongrass?
Is Lemongrass Toxic To Rabbits?
Lemongrass has no adverse effect on rabbits. On the contrary, it is essential for some of their biological processes. When rabbits consume lemongrass, they are fortified with at least 7 nutrients: Carbs, Manganese, Vitamin A, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, and Calcium. Carbs provide energy. Manganese kickstarts some important chemical reactions in the body by activating the enzymes which would initiate and speed up such reactions.
An example of those reactions is the formation of proteins from amino acids. Manganese boosts brain function and hence, can prevent epileptic seizures in rabbits. It is also an antioxidant. For a rabbit’s wound to heal, it needs to produce collagen. Proline is the Amino acid from which collagen is produced and manganese is used to make proline. Iron is necessary for blood formation and Oxygen circulation. It is a constituent of hemoglobin that is used to make red blood cells.
Oxygen inhaled by a bunny is trapped by the iron in the hemoglobin and it is distributed around the body by the blood. An iron deficiency could lead to your rabbit suffering from anemia. Vitamin A is the reason why rabbits can see in dim light. It does that by creating a light-absorbing protein called Rhodopsin which is found in the rod cells of the eyes. It also reinforces their immune system. Potassium ensures that the fluids in the body cells are at equilibrium (balance) with the fluids outside them. It acts as a bridge through which information is passed from one nerve to the other.
Calcium is needed to produce and strengthen bones. The Calcium content of the bone is regulated by Manganese. If there’s too much Calcium and a deficiency of Manganese, your pet will experience bone pains. It also has the functions of helping blood clot and causing muscles to contract. Note: Lemongrass also contains Vitamin B3 (Niacin), B9 (Folate), and Vitamin C. However, these nutrients are naturally produced in the bodies of rabbits so they do not need them.
How Much Lemongrass Should You Feed Your Rabbit?
When it comes to this question, there are 3 kinds of rabbits to consider: Pregnant rabbits/breastfeeding mothers, sick rabbits, and healthy, normal ones. A cup or 128 g of Lemongrass per 2 pounds is okay for a normal bunny. The same measurement applies to pregnant rabbits and breastfeeding mothers but you must feed them lemongrass once every 2 days. This is because this group of rabbits has a higher protein demand than the normal ones.
Lemongrass isn’t a protein source so it needs to be limited in their food. The sick ones will either consume more or less than normal depending on the nature of their condition. For instance, a rabbit suffering from diarrhea has no business eating this plant while one with a Manganese deficiency will need to take in a lot of lemongrasses. If your rabbit has not been eating lemongrass before, you should start adding it to its diet in small amounts because rabbits take a while to adapt to new things. If it exhibits weird symptoms like soft stools, you should cut lemongrass from its diet and take it to a Vet.
How Often Should You Give Lemongrass To Your Rabbits?
Unlike some vegetables, Lemongrass isn’t a once-in-a-while treat, you can feed it to your rabbit every day as long as it’s not sick, pregnant, or lactating.
Can Rabbits Eat Lemongrass Stalks?
Rabbits generally feed on the stalks of plants, lemongrass inclusive. The stalk is very strong and rabbits chew on it to exercise their teeth.
Can Rabbits Eat Lemongrass Leaves?
The leaves of lemongrass are fit for rabbit consumption since most of the nutrients are stored in them.
Can Baby Rabbits Eat Lemongrass?
Baby Rabbits should not be fed lemongrass. Their underdeveloped stomachs lack the bacteria necessary for digesting lemongrass. Hay and water should be their only meal. Wait till your rabbit is at least 12 weeks old before you feed it herbs like this one.
What Kind Of Lemongrass Should You Feed Your Rabbit?
When lemongrass is subjected to intense heat, such as when cooking, microorganisms start to break it down in a process called fermentation. Any rabbit that eats it will have stomach problems. The best kind of lemongrass to feed your pet bunny is the fresh, natural kind that is free of sprayed chemicals like herbicides. You can find it in grocery shops, supermarkets, or better still, you can just grow it in your backyard. Always ensure to wash it thoroughly before serving it to your rabbit. Also, lemongrass shouldn’t be the only vegetable your rabbit eats. You could combine it with other edible herbs.
What Should You Look Out For Before Feeding Lemongrass To Your Rabbit?
Here are things you should look out for before feeding lemon grass to your rabbit:
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Parasite
Every plant stands the risk of harboring insects that could cause stomach upsets if ingested by your pet. Ensure the plant you’re feeding your rabbit is free from parasites like fleas, mites, ticks, tapeworms, etc. You should also look for eggs and get rid of them.
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Yellow Grass
While Fresh Lemongrass has a Characteristic Green color, wilted grass is yellow. Not only does it lack nutrients, but it also contains chemicals that could make your bunny sick. If you notice such in your garden, get rid of it immediately before your rabbit eats it.
What Are The Diseases Associated With Eating Too Many Lemongrass?
If you let your rabbit crunch on more lemongrass than it needs, there are at least 3 diseases it could contract:
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Obesity
Normally your rabbit’s diet should be a balance of Carbs, proteins, and fiber. Lemongrass is high in Carbs but has little to no amounts of the other two. Hence, too much can make your rabbit overweight which is a sign of obesity.
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Diarrhea
A low fiber, high carbohydrate content in your rabbit’s stomach means it will no longer be able to digest food properly and will start passing soft stools.
How to treat diarrhea in your rabbit
When it comes to diarrhea, quick action is necessary. The first thing to do will be to take your rabbit to an experienced veterinarian. Take along with you some feces samples if possible. The doctor will need it to properly diagnose your rabbit. The vet will prescribe some drugs. For the sake of your pet bunny, adhere strictly to the instructions.
You need to work on your rabbit’s diet too. Get rid of every food that is not high fiber grass hay. If its main meal is hay in the form of pellets, you can slowly introduce it to natural hay. The essence of giving it only hay is to ensure its digestive system is functioning properly again. Hay has high indigestible fiber content. When your rabbit has fully recovered and is releasing normal droppings, you can resume adding supplements to its meal again.
Ensure to keep your pet bunny hydrated as well.
Clean up the feces from its body by bathing it. It could be a wet bath with shampoo and water or a dry bath with baby cornstarch powder.
Take your rabbit for frequent checkups as well. The doctor will assess its progress and let you know if there’s any other thing you need to do.
Ensure your rabbit is kept in a quiet place. Noise stresses bunnies and stress will delay your pet’s recovery.
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Gastrointestinal Stasis
Too much Lemongrass can stimulate the mass production of gas-producing bacteria. This is a very unpleasant experience for rabbits because most of the gas will be trapped in their bellies.
How to know if your rabbit has GI stasis
You must detect this disease in your rabbit fast. It’s so deadly it can kill the bunny within 24 hours if not given proper attention. If your rabbit has gas, it would display the following symptoms:
- Loud stomach noises
- Low Body Temperature (below 100 degrees Fahrenheit). This is an indicator that your rabbit has entered a state of shock.
- Inactivity
- Doesn’t fart or defecate
- Stomach Bloat
- Resting in an unusual posture
What to do when your rabbit has Gas
These are the things you need to do quickly when your rabbit has Gas:
- Raise your bunny’s body temperature by placing it in a hot environment: a heating lamp, a warm water bottle, etc. You can even place it right next to your body. Check its temperature every 30 minutes to ensure it stays warm.
- Give it a massage by gently rubbing both sides of its stomach at the same time.
- Administer over-the-counter drugs containing simethicone to your rabbit. A good recommendation is Mylicon. 0.3 ml is for small bunnies while 0.5 ml is for the large ones. Drugs should be given every 4-6 hours. This would help your rabbit release the gas.
- Treat dehydration by giving it fluids to drink such as Benebac and acidophilus.
- Provide food for your rabbit and make sure it eats from the food at least. A diet high in fiber and low on carbs will be preferable.
If the symptoms persist, take your rabbit to a veterinarian.
What Are The Alternatives To Lemongrass?
If Lemongrass isn’t favorable for your rabbit, here are some other herbs you could substitute for it:
- Green Beans
- Parsley
- Bok choy
- Dandelion flowers
- Zucchini
- Asparagus
- Clover
- Escarole
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Watercress
Conclusion
Lemongrass is just as edible for rabbits as it is for humans. It is necessary for chemical reactions, which aid life processes in the rabbit. You can give it to your rabbit every day as long as it’s healthy. Ensure to stick to the recommended amounts.