Can Rabbits Eat Beetroot? (6 Rabbits Tested!)


Beetroot is a delicious vegetable but I was never really sure if it was something I should be giving to my rabbits. I’d heard rumors it was poisonous so I really wanted to make sure it was safe before trying it, I looked into it, and here’s what I found out.

Rabbits can eat beetroot, however, as with all root vegetables, beetroot contains oxalic acid (oxalates) which are chemicals that can be harmful to rabbits. It is also high in sugar so it should only be given as an occasional treat.

For someone who enjoys giving variety in a rabbits diet the fact that I could now include beetroot was great to know, however, before I risked this tasty root vegetable I needed to know a little more.

Here are some of the other things I learned that should be considered before deciding whether or not to give a rabbit beetroot.

Chemicals in beetroot & other plants

Many plants contain naturally occurring chemicals known as alkaloids and oxalates (oxalic acid). These are mild toxins that protect plants in the wild. 

In small amounts these chemicals are perfectly safe, however large quantities over a sustained period of time can be toxic and may cause kidney damage to some animals, including rabbits.

rabbit eating dried beetroot

Levels of oxalic acid vary dependent on several factors including plant age and soil type. Most fresh vegetables have a small to zero level of oxalic acid that will not cause any harm to a rabbit, however, some vegetables naturally have a higher level and should only be given in smaller quantities.

Beetroot is one such vegetable that contains what is considered to be a high level of oxalic acid.

The root of the beetroot plant (the purple part) is fine for rabbits to eat, but the leaves of the plant (especially those that are not supermarket fresh) should only be fed in moderation as they contain higher levels of oxalic acid.

Levels of oxalic acid will also increase as the leaves mature (another reason to only ever feed your rabbit fresh foods!).

Do rabbits like beetroot?

We wanted to know this too so we decided to test our 6 resident rabbits on some beetroot, we tried them on beet greens, fresh beetroot, and some dried (dehydrated beetroot). None of our rabbits had ever eaten beetroot before, here’s what they thought followed by an overall score (ticks indicate it was eaten willingly while crosses represent flatly refused!).

Taste test

Rabbit Name Beet GreensFresh BeetrootDried BeetrootScore
Baby
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Galaxy
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Pixie
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Princess
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Snowball
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Tiny
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Taste test results summary

As you can see, fresh beetroot didn’t go down as well as we expected, our rabbits definitely preferred the dried variety. However, that doesn’t mean that your rabbit won’t enjoy it, why not try it yourself!

How to introduce beetroot to a rabbit

A rabbit’s digestive system can be very sensitive to sudden changes that can interrupt the delicate gut flora, the bacteria that play an important role in keeping a rabbits digestive system working efficiently.

For this reason, introducing new foods such as beetroot into a rabbits diet should be done carefully to give the rabbit a chance to get used to it.

Try your rabbit on a very small amount (1 tsp) and observe for a while to see how the rabbit reacts, behavioral changes could indicate gastrointestinal issues. These can include trapped wind and diarrhea.  If there are any obvious issues do not persist with the new food.

Beetroot availability

Beetroot is available year-round but most plentiful between November and April.

Benefits of introducing beetroot into a rabbits diet

  • Fat-Free
  • Good source of dietary fiber
  • Low Sodium
  • Contains Vitamin B6, Vitamin C

Negative effects of introducing beetroot into a rabbits diet

  • May turn urine red which can be sometimes confused with blood.
  • The root is starchy and may cause weight gain.
  • Risk of staining of rabbit’s fur (more noticeable on white rabbits!)

What to look out for when buying beetroot

Fresh Roots will be smooth with a firm skin and deep red color. Avoid roots with scaly areas around the top surface as they tend to be tougher. If the leaves are still attached, ensure they not wilted, they should appear bright green with pink/red veins.

Preparation of beetroot for a rabbit

Before giving beetroot or any other vegetable to your rabbit ensure that it is washed thoroughly under running water, particularly if it has come directly from a farm where pesticides may have been used.  Leaves and beet may be diced or chopped to aid digestion.

Can rabbits have canned or dried beetroot?

Canned foods should not be fed to a rabbit, as well as being starchy and full of sodium and sugar, canned foods often contain preservatives all of which may upset your rabbit’s digestive system.

Dehydrated fresh beetroot is fine for rabbits providing it’s not artificially flavored or salted, drying can be done naturally yourself at home even without a dehydrator, simply by slicing the beetroot into thin slices and leaving it out in the sun to dry. The thinner the slices, the quicker they will dry out.

Recommended use of beetroot in your rabbits diet

Rabbits should be given 1-3 cups of leafy vegetables every day, If you are giving the rabbit beetroot leaves we advise giving just one cup of beetroot leaves alongside two cups of a more low acid level vegetable such as collard greens.

For the beet itself, due to the aforementioned high sugar content, we feel that this should be regarded as a treat food in the same way that carrot should. However, due to the increased risk that oxelates pose to rabbits we suggest cutting the recommended treat portion size by half from (1 tbsp to 1 tsp).

When feeding beetroot, give no more than 1 teaspoon once or twice a week

If your interested to learn what other foods a rabbit may like you can check out our detailed post on rabbit diet .

Pro Tip

Buy vegetables from the back of the supermarket shelf (where they stock the fresh stuff) and only buy a few days worth at a time. This will help them stay fresher for longer when stocked in your fridge.

Wrap up

Although beetroot makes a tasty treat for a rabbit, a rabbit’s diet should be primarily fiber-based to keep the gut moving.  Aside from water, hay should make up approximately 80% of its food intake and an unlimited amount should be provided.

Every rabbit is different and just as we have likes and dislikes when it comes to food, so do rabbits.  There is no sure-fire way to know how your rabbit may react to any food until you test it yourself.

Above all, remember that too much of anything can be bad! Just because a rabbit’s digestive system can digest root vegetables, high sugar foods in excess can lead to issues such as obesity

Further Reading

Is Beetroot Safe For Rabbits? Rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Can Rabbits Eat Beets? Petkeen.com

Can Rabbits Eat Beet Greens and Beetroot? Petcareadvisors.com

Darren

Darren is the founder and editor at Bunny Advice and has been caring for rabbits for over a decade. He has a passion for helping animals and sharing his experience and knowledge with others.

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