Yes, Rabbits Can Eat Radishes! But Follow These 7 Tips

Almost everyone knows how much rabbits enjoy grazing in a vegetable garden. They seem to love nibbling on leafy greens and the occasional carrot or turnip. But what about radishes? These root vegetables can have quite a bit more spice. Can rabbits eat them, too? Yes, as a matter of fact, rabbits can eat radishes. These pretty pink and red veggies can add variety to a rabbit’s diet, as well as several important nutrients. However, rabbit owners should follow these helpful tips when offering radishes to their pets.

Offer Radishes in Moderation

Your pet rabbit’s diet should consist of approximately 80 percent hay and hay pellets once they reach adulthood. Rabbits can eat large volumes of hay every day. You can also feed them a variety of vegetables each day to supplement their diet and add interest and flavor. Rabbits enjoy many sorts of leafy greens, as well as a variety of other vegetables and even the occasional fruit. Rabbits can eat all the parts of radishes, just like carrots, including the roots, stems and leaves. However, too many spicy radishes can cause digestive issues, so it may be best to limit them to once or twice a week.

Introduce Radishes Slowly

Different types of radishes may have different levels of spiciness. Most rabbits can tolerate somewhat spicy foods, such as bell peppers, but radishes may also cause problems due to their acid content. While your pet rabbit may tolerate one type of radish easily, another type may give them problems. Introduce radishes slowly, just a little bit at a time. Don’t let your rabbit eat too much until you know what effect the radishes may have on their system.

Wash Radishes Thoroughly

You should wash radishes and all other vegetables thoroughly before offering them to your pet rabbit. Wash both the roots and the tops to remove any pesticides or other chemicals before offering them to your rabbit.

Offer the Stems and Leaves

Although rabbits can eat radish roots, they may have a harder time digesting them. Consider offering the leaves and stems instead. Even these parts might be too spicy for your rabbit. If they refuse to eat them, or if they seem to have an upset stomach or loose stools, offer foods that they can handle more easily.

Do Not Cook Radishes Before Serving

Rabbits should always be offered clean, raw veggies as treats. You should not cook foods like radishes before serving them. The only thing you might need to do is cut large radishes into small pieces, or remove the roots if you only want to serve the stems and leaves.

Introduce Radishes at Adulthood

Rabbits should not receive radishes and other vegetables until they reach adulthood, sometime around 7 months of age. When you do get ready to introduce radishes or any other new food, make sure you only give your pet one food at a time. That way, you will know if any particular food causes issues.

Watch for Signs of Intolerance

Offer your pet rabbit only very small amounts of radishes to start. Watch for any signs of digestive issues or intolerance, such as loose stools or diarrhea. Most rabbits can eat at least the leaves and stems of radishes in moderate amounts without too many problems. However, you definitely should stop feeding your pet radishes and switch to other vegetables if they seem to show any intolerance.