Yes, Rabbits Can Eat Spinach! But Follow These 4 Tips

Decorative Rabbit on a Greens Background. Cute Fluffy Bunny Sits in Near Romaine Lettuce Salad, Cabbage, Dill, Parsley, Oak Salad, Corn, Asparagus and Spinach. Various Natural Organic Food For Vegans
Olha/iStock via Getty Images

Written by Kirstin Harrington

Published: November 20, 2023

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Whether you have a pet rabbit or you’re looking to feed some wildlife, you may be wondering if it’s safe to feed these bush-tailed beings spinach. Rabbits can eat spinach in moderation. In fact, it’s packed full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals that keep them healthy. 

Generally speaking, spinach is a superfood that is wildly beneficial to the health of many animals. Here are a few rules you should follow when giving a rabbit spinach.

1. Limit How Often You Feed Rabbit Spinach

Farmer holding freshly harvested spinach leaves, vegetables from local farming, organic produce, fall harvest

Spinach is one of the easiest greens to grow.

Generally speaking, spinach is a superfood that is wildly beneficial to the health of many animals. For pet rabbits, raw spinach should only be fed twice a week. Feeding them spinach any more often can cause irritation from the oxalates in the leafy greens.

Make sure to never give them cooked vegetables. 

2. Introduce It Slowly

best pet rabbit foods

Rabbits enjoy a wide variety of vegetables in their diet.

Just like you would when switching your dog’s kibble, it’s essential to slowly introduce spinach into a rabbit’s diet. You wouldn’t want to suddenly give them a handful of these leafy greens. When you’re serving your furry friend fresh veggies, add a pinch at a time to allow their stomachs to get used to this new food. 

3. Safe Parts of Spinach

Fresh spinach leaves in bowl on rustic wooden table. Top view.

There are three main types of spinach: savoy, semi-savoy, and flat-leafed.

Spinach leaves, particularly baby leaves, are ideal for rabbits. They taste sweeter, are smaller in size, and reduce the chance of overfeeding. While it’s completely safe to give your bushy-tailed friend spinach leaves, they’ll much prefer the stalk or stem. 

Not only does it taste better, but it’s also packed with fiber that can improve the health of your rabbit

4. Avoid the Roots

Rufus Rabbit eats a sprig of parsley on deck with sunflowers in background

Rabbits enjoy parsley and other leafy greens.

Speaking of parts of the spinach to feed your pet, let’s talk about the roots. If you grow spinach yourself, you’ll want to avoid giving your rabbit spinach roots. Although it’s not necessarily toxic, the roots are high in sugar, which serves no health benefits for them. 


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About the Author

Kirstin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering animals, news topics, fun places, and helpful tips. Kirstin has been writing on a variety of topics for over five years. She has her real estate license, along with an associates degree in another field. A resident of Minnesota, Kirstin treats her two cats (Spook and Finlay) like the children they are. She never misses an opportunity to explore a thrift store with a coffee in hand, especially if it’s a cold autumn day!

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