can rabbits eat lettuce ????

[jayne14]

i had a rabbit which was really healthy until he suddenly died, the vet told me it was a parasite caused from eating lettuce.......then i was told by another vet and pet shop owner that it is fine to give rabbits lettuce...i now have two more rabbits and i am unsure if i should give them a treat now and again by giving them some lettuce...totally confused...hope someone can help...thanks in advance x

[peanut]

I dont have an answer for that but sorry to hear about your bunny.

[Susie Strawb]

Used to have rabbits when I was a kid, I was always told not to feed them lettice becuase it could make them ill, don't know if that's right or not but to be on the safe side I wouldn't give them any.

[SueMaggie]

When I had my bunny I was told by the vet and read in several books that you mustn't give rabbits lettuce as it's largely made up of water and so the rabbit's gut can't cope with it as it has no roughage in it so can give them tummy trouble.

[PrincesAngel]

instead lettuce give them carrots. and feed them rabbit food. carrots are awonderful treat trust me i used to have but my dog ried so i had to give it away.

[bobjim1705]

A vet told me that lettuce for rabbits is the equivalent of ice cream for a human.

It's not bad for them in small quantities, or as a treat, and should only be given in moderation.

[kipchik]

We were told to give our rabbits cabbage instead of lettuce and you can get that from market stalls for nothing at end of day!

[aka estie]

OK, it depends on the type of lettuce. Lettuce is fine as long as it is nice and green - no iceberg lettuce. Make sure you wash it well. You may want to rinse with salt water or vinegar if you are concerned about parasites.

Cabbage is a huge no-no. It can cause gas and bloat and is much more dangerous than lettuce.

Carrots are ok in very small quantities. They are a treat food and should only be given in small amounts once or twice a week. They are full of sugar.

Have a look at this website for all sorts of feeding and care info: http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/diet.html

Check out the suggested veggies list. Loads of yummy food ideas :)

[jayne14]

thank you everyone for your advice...xxx