Can Rabbits Eat Grapes? How Many and How Often

Yes, a rabbit can eat grapes as a very small treat. The San Diego House Rabbit Society gives "one grape (cut in half)" as its example of a very small piece of fruit, offered once or twice a week. Grapes are not a daily food.

Caring for a rabbit comes with a long list of food questions, and grapes are one of the most common.

How many grapes can a rabbit have?

The House Rabbit Society says all fruits are treats and that fruit should be less than 5 percent of a rabbit's daily diet. Its advice is to limit treats to "a very small amount once or twice per week." It names grapes together with bananas as "high glycemic fruits" that should be used "only as occasional treats."

The San Diego chapter puts a size on a treat. It says fruit needs to be "limited to very small piece: one grape (cut in half), 1/4” slice of banana, a 1-inch cube of apple or carrot, etc." PDSA lists grapes with apples, pears, plums, and strawberries as "safe for your rabbits in small amounts," gives "1/8th of an apple or pear" as its example, and says fruit "shouldn’t be part of their daily diet."

The limit covers all fruit together. The House Rabbit Society puts carrots in the same category as fruit, and its once or twice a week limit is for that whole category. The Sacramento House Rabbit Society lists grapes among its special treats, next to apple, banana, blueberries, melon, and strawberries.

Do rabbit groups agree on the amount?

They agree that grapes are an occasional treat and differ on how to size it. The national House Rabbit Society and the San Diego chapter give a weekly limit. The Indiana House Rabbit Society says to limit fruit to "1-2 tablespoons per 5 lbs. of body weight (none if dieting)" and that "Sugary fruits such as bananas and grapes should be used only sparingly, as occasional treats." The Sacramento chapter's diet page, last updated in October 2010, gives mature adults a daily fruit ration of "no more than 2 oz. per 6 lbs. body weight."

The smallest of these is the San Diego example of one grape, cut in half, once or twice a week.

Why is fruit only a treat for rabbits?

Sugar is the reason. The House Rabbit Society says all fruits are considered treats "because of their high sugar content," and that bunnies "have a sweet tooth and, if left to their own devices, will devour sugary foods to the exclusion of healthful ones."

In its article on treat foods, Susan Smith, PhD, explains where the extra sugar goes: "excessive sugar is converted to fat, or will pass into the cecum where the bacteria will use it for energy and then rapidly overgrow, possibly leading to bacterial imbalance and gi stasis. The same can occur after feeding too much fruit."

The San Diego chapter adds that "too many sweets will cause your rabbit to become obese and can cause soft stools and diarrhea, and dental problems." It also says "Vet bills pile up due to intestinal problems that result from too much sugar intake."

What should a rabbit eat every day?

Hay is the base. The House Rabbit Society says large, unlimited amounts of fresh hay should be offered daily, and that adult bunnies do best on a mix of timothy hay and other grass hays, which are lower in calories and calcium than alfalfa. Just Rabbits lists the popular hay types on its page about grass hay or Timothy hay. Save a Fluff has a page on hay as well: 80 percent of all fresh foods.

The two groups split the rest a little differently. The House Rabbit Society's breakdown is 80 percent hay, 10 percent vegetables, 5 percent pellets, and less than 5 percent fruit and treats. The RSPCA says a rabbit's diet "should consist mostly of fresh hay and grass (85%), with some leafy greens (10%) and a few pellets or nuggets (5%)," and that certain fruits and vegetables "can be given in moderation as an occasional treat."

Most of the fresh vegetables are leafy greens. The House Rabbit Society says leafy greens should make up approximately 75 percent of the fresh vegetables fed daily. Our guide lists the leafy green variety that rabbits can eat, along with the greens that carry a limit.

Can rabbits eat grape seeds?

Take the seeds out first. Fruit seeds and pits are on the RSPCA's list of foods to avoid, and the San Diego House Rabbit Society lists seeds under foods to never feed a rabbit. The RSPCA also says apple pips are poisonous to rabbits.

Rinse the grape before you cut it. The Indiana House Rabbit Society says "there are many pesticides sprayed throughout the growing process, so it’s important to thoroughly clean all produce before consuming it."

Can rabbits eat raisins?

The rabbit groups disagree. Susan Smith, PhD, writing for the House Rabbit Society, says to "save the sweets for an occasional raisin or banana snack." The Indiana House Rabbit Society lists "Naturally dried fruits (1 tsp, or 1-2 raisins, Craisins, etc)" under occasional treats. The San Diego House Rabbit Society puts raisins on its list of foods to never feed to rabbits.

When the sources differ, the House Rabbit Society tells pet parents to consult "with your rabbit-savvy vet about diet needs particular to your individual rabbit."

Can baby rabbits eat grapes?

The House Rabbit Society says vegetables should be fed to baby rabbits only after 12 weeks of age, one at a time, in quantities under 1/2 ounce. It says baby bunny digestive systems "do not finish developing until around 8 weeks of age, and an upset stomach can easily cause diarrhea or fatal enteritis that requires emergency veterinary care in a baby bunny."

The RSPCA says sudden changes in diet can upset a rabbit's digestive system and asks pet parents to speak to a vet before changing what a rabbit eats.

How do you introduce grapes to a rabbit?

Offer one new food at a time. For new greens, the House Rabbit Society says to introduce only one type in a day. "Wait 24 hours to make sure there are no soft stools or gas problems before adding another vegetable," it says, and if the droppings are soft or the rabbit is gassy, to stop that vegetable. That advice is written for vegetables.

What if my rabbit ate too many grapes?

Watch the droppings and the appetite. The RSPCA says that if a rabbit "has diarrhoea, is passing soft faeces or the quantity and consistency of their poo pellets doesn’t return to normal within 24 hours," you should book an appointment with a vet as soon as possible.

PDSA says that if a rabbit stops eating it is at risk of "a life threatening problem called ‘gut stasis’," and to contact your vet immediately. The RSPCA describes gut stasis as "a slowdown or stopping of the normal movement of food through the digestive system" that needs immediate attention.

Which other foods go on the treat list?

PDSA's safe treats, "to be given in very small amounts, and avoided in overweight rabbits," include squash, apples (not the pips), bananas, kiwi fruit, melon, pears, plums, and strawberries. Orange follows the same weekly limit, and our page on oranges covers the peel and seeds.

Some vegetables are on the do-not-feed lists. Avoid vegetables like onions, leeks, and garlic. The RSPCA lists all three under foods to avoid. The House Rabbit Society's guide to the vegetables category sorts the safe greens and non-leafy vegetables into lists.

Grape FAQs

Can I use grapes as a training treat?

Yes, within the weekly limit. The RSPCA says treats can be used as "a reward, to provide variety or simply an act of kindness," in moderation and as part of a balanced diet.

Are grapes okay for an overweight rabbit?

PDSA says treats should be "avoided in overweight rabbits" and that a pet parent should adjust meal size on days with treats. If you are worried about your rabbit's weight, body shape, or diet, PDSA says to speak to your vet.

Sources

• House Rabbit Society. "Rabbit Diet and Nutrition." rabbit.org. Also "Best Vegetables for Rabbits" (rabbit.org) and "Treat Foods" by Susan Smith, PhD (rabbit.org).
• San Diego House Rabbit Society. "Providing a Healthy Rabbit Diet" (sandiegorabbits.org) and "Poisonous or Dangerous Foods" (sandiegorabbits.org).
• Sacramento House Rabbit Society. "Rabbit Diet." allearssac.org.
• Indiana House Rabbit Society. "Rabbit Greens and Vegetables." indianahrs.org.
• RSPCA. "Rabbit diet." rspca.org.uk.
• PDSA. "Feeding your rabbits." pdsa.org.uk.
• PetHelpful. "Bad Rabbit Food: What NOT to Feed Your Bunny" (Wayback copy).

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