Lettuce is an annual plant that is most often grown as a leaf vegetable, but sometimes for its stem and seeds. It is probably the leafiest and greenest of the leafy greens. Often used for salads, although it is also seen in other kinds of food. But can rabbits eat lettuce?
The short answer is yes, rabbits can eat lettuce. They absolutely can.
In fact, rabbits absolutely love lettuce, its roots and leaves. Lettuce is particularly rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and other nutrients like vitamins A and K and potassium. Which are going to do wonders for the health of your rabbit.
What Kind of Lettuce Can Rabbits Eat?
Romaine lettuce or very dark green and red leaf lettuce is just fine for rabbits in small amounts, just like everything else, it should be given in moderation.
However some types of lettuce are very bad for rabbits, like iceberg lettuce.
The iceberg lettuce is very high in moisture content, low in nutritional value, causes diarrhea, particularly in young rabbits, which can be fatal.
Other lettuces are good, not just green and red leaf and romaine but also the other varieties.
How Much Lettuce Can Rabbits Eat?
You should probably limit the amount of lettuce that your rabbit is eating. It can be tough to digest for some rabbits. Just a small amount of lettuce each week should be fine. It doesn’t need to be much.
If your rabbit has not eaten lettuce before, then don’t give them a lot of it right away. Leave it a couple of days to see how well the animal has managed to digest the lettuce.
Always make sure that you wash the lettuce completely before you give it to your rabbit. This will wash the chemicals off of it.
Ensure enough rotation of vegetables in their diet. They are widely available at any grocery, providing a variety of nutrients and a balanced diet.
Ensure these are as fresh as possible so they still include all their nutrients and minerals.
