Can Rabbits Eat Cilantro?

Cilantro gives a touch of fresh taste to a variety of foods.

Just like any other spices, cilantro also carries antioxidants that can remove dejected and unwanted metal particles in our bodies. It has also been proven that cilantro carries an element that can fight off Salmonella. Thus, providing its partaker a more salutary digestive system.

The fiber that it carries will aid in the excretion of waste of your rabbit as well. Another way cilantro aids in digestion is that it stops urinary infections. Too much exertion of intestinal gas can also be handled by simply consuming a moderate amount of its leaves.

The vital oil and strong aroma found in freshly picked cilantro work as an exceptional appetizer. By the cilantro’s smell alone, it can stimulate the digestive fluids and enzymes in our stomach. Its essential oil also carries antimicrobial agents that can fight off common diseases.

In addition, cilantro can aid in the rise of high-density lipoprotein and lower triglycerides in the system. Simply speaking, it raises the amount of good cholesterol in the body and decreases bad cholesterol that is obstructing the arteries and veins. As such, a healthy serving of cilantro in your rabbit’s diet can prevent it from being overweight and having a diminished chance of encountering a heart attack.

Others are genetically biased when it comes to disliking cilantro. If you’re one of these people, you might believe that this popular herb might really taste like soap!

Luckily, we’re not here to talk about a human’s food preferences. Instead, we’re going to connect cilantro for rabbits.

Can rabbits eat cilantro? If so, what is the amount that they can eat at once?

Well, you can. But we suggest that you keep on reading to learn more.

What is Cilantro?

Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is a seasonal herb that comes from the Apiaceae family. This herb is also termed coriander or Chinese parsley. These herbs are widely cultivated throughout the world, but most of them can be found in southern Europe and western Asia. It is used for culinary purposes all around the world, and you can eat all the parts of this herb. 

Fresh cilantro leaves and dried seeds are commonly used in cooking. It is also the most used ingredient in Mexican cooking, in Chinese dishes, as well as several South Asian dishes. The heat can reduce the flavor of cilantro leaves, so they are usually added to a dish directly before serving.

Cilantro is added to salads most of the time and is always eaten raw. The dry fruits of cilantro are known as seeds, and they usually provide a lemon citrus flavor. These seeds are blended and ground to be used as a spice. While roasted cilantro seeds can be served as a snack. 

Cilantro is an herb that carries several health benefits for people. Now, let’s see the result that coriander has on a rabbit’s health.

Do Rabbits Like Cilantro?

Yes! Most rabbits love to eat cilantro, and the good news is that they can consume quite a bit of it on a fairly regular basis.

Is Cilantro Good For Rabbits?

Cilantro can be a big help to your bunny if you get a case of mild indigestion if they’re a bit bloated after feeding on cabbage, broccoli, or another cruciferous veggie that can produce gas. The nutrients found in cilantro are perfect for your pet rabbit’s health, too!

Health Benefits of Feeding Your Rabbit Cilantro

Cilantro can be a healthy food for your pet rabbit. This delicious herb is not just a safe treat, but a great dietary addition. Most herbs are packed with antioxidants, but they all work to help the body fight free radicals.

For as long as you’re alive, you can’t escape from free radicals. They grow from environmental toxins, unhealthy diets, exercise, and even common functions like digestion and breathing. 

Several free radicals are highly stimulated particles, which indicates that they will react with several of the other particles they come into connection with; this involves the particles that make up your bun’s entire body cells. Free radicals create damage to cells and DNA, which ends in genetic mutations that can direct to disease over time.

Free radicals are considered by several to be one of the main causes of the physical and psychological deterioration associated with aging. There is no way to defeat free radical harm, but eating foods carrying antioxidants can help reduce it. Antioxidants offset free radicals in the body. So, the more antioxidants you and your bun eat, the fewer free radicals will destroy your body cells.

An important thing to remember: It may seem that the natural antioxidants that can be found in entire plant foods are helpful to the body, whereas synthetic ones are not or even fatal. Do not provide your rabbit pills carrying synthetic antioxidants! Combining healthful foods like cilantro into their food is already enough.

Cilantro also has a couple of other tricks up its sleeve. The trait of cilantro for being fiber-rich, low-calorie suits perfectly into the rabbit diet. The fiber content of cilantro will help the food flow properly through the cecum and intestines, and its low caloric component can prevent obesity.

This herb can also be served to help treat gas and bloating, which may be beneficial to bunnies who are likely to produce excess gas after consuming cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage.

Cilantro even appears to possess some antimicrobial advantages, which can lessen your rabbit’s chance of infection. Some studies even imply that it can get rid of Salmonella—but, if you observe that your rabbit is encountering salmonellosis, take them to the vet as quickly as possible! Cilantro may be a helpful preventative step, but it cannot handle foodborne illnesses.

Cilantro Nutrition Stats

If you fancy eating cilantro, you’ll be glad to hear that you can nibble this herb as much as you like.

A quarter of a cup of cilantro provides approximately:

• 1 calorie
• 1 gram of fiber
• 1 gram of carbohydrates
• 0 fat

Cilantro Nutritional Facts

Even though cilantro doesn’t carry a high amount of calories, it is still a great source of antioxidants and interestingly, it has been researched for its ability to aid in removing toxins from the body.

A ¼ cup of cilantro carries:

• 1 mg of vitamin C
• 270 IU of vitamin A
• 8 mg of potassium
• 4 mg of iron
• 4 mcg of folate
• 1 mg of vitamin E
• 4 mcg of vitamin K

How Much Cilantro Can A Rabbit Eat?

This is great news for bunnies who enjoy savoring flavorful treats. Cilantro is something that’s very fun to munch on. It can be eaten on its own or can be added to mixed greens.

Here’s the amount of cilantro you can feed to your rabbit:

Age	Amount
Baby rabbit	None
Adult rabbit	1 handful of cilantro

Cilantro may seem to be good for rabbits, but you’ll want to add it slowly instead of giving it all at once. Try to give your rabbit about half the suggested amount and observe for signs of diarrhea over the next 24 hours.

If everything went well, you can provide your bunny rabbit a whole serving of cilantro the next day.

How to Feed Cilantro to a Rabbit?

When you serve cilantro to your pet rabbit, make sure that you completely wash its leaves first. This is a must to wash off any pesticides left on the leaves. Even if it is purchased from an organic farm, there is still a chance that your pet rabbit might catch any harmful bacteria like E. coli. 

Washing can make the leaves wet, making them even easier to chew. Wet leaves are very suitable for eating since they develop the liquid component of your rabbit’s diet. By doing so, the digestive flow of your pet rabbit will work perfectly, thus making the rabbit healthy and always happy.

Keep in mind that it is important to consume the leaves immediately. Cilantro leaves can get spoiled quickly when separated from its stalk, and a rabbit is much more susceptible to spoiled food than us. So, be sure to give extra caution when feeding cilantro leaves to your pet rabbit.

Smell everything first before giving it to your furry friend. If it already produces a stale odor, then do not even think of serving it to your pet rabbit. 

On the other hand, your rabbit will surely not pay much attention if you serve dry leaves due to their undesirable appearance.

You should also understand that mature rabbits are required to consume at least four cups of varied vegetables each day. Its food should be provided in intervals so they won’t feel bloated.

More often than not, the introduction of cilantro in a rabbit’s diet will be well-received. Cilantro produces a strong smell and this feature will make your rabbit interested enough to try it. However, if you feed it with the same thing on and on, then they would easily get tired of it if.

Another reason cilantro should not be the only plant to be added to your rabbit’s diet is the nutrients that cilantro cannot give. A perfect combination of leafy ingredients in your rabbit’s diet may comprise dark leaf lettuce, asparagus, parsley, basil, dill, mint, spinach, and celery. They should be sliced thinly, no more than one inch, to avoid any particles getting stuck on your rabbit’s molars.

Ideally, your rabbit should not live with just vegetables but also hays and pellets. Rabbits in general love to munch on hays. Hay can be fed in immense amounts. Though pellets carry vitamins, minerals, and trace nutrients, the fibers that come with hays are much more essential because they control the intestinal health of your rabbit.

Ways of Feeding Cilantro To Rabbits

Feeding cilantro to a rabbit comes in several ways. This is what rabbit owners should be doing before serving cilantro to rabbits.

A handful of cilantro is the perfect amount that you should be feeding frequently. And lucky for you, rabbits like cilantro. And it’s okay for them to consume an ample portion of it regularly.

Wash it thoroughly

Unwashed cilantro leaves may harbor dust, small stones, and mud. Some even accommodate chemicals that are not totally washed away. You can employ a strainer or try to wash the cilantro while running with your bare hand. Just make sure that the leaves and stalks are free of chemicals, mud-free, and totally dry after washing them.

You must always eliminate the growing purplish flowers that some leaves have. They may harm your rabbit’s tummy and cause vomiting, diarrhea, and gas.

Once the cilantro is thoroughly cleaned and dried, you can start feeding a small amount.

As garnish

The most reliable way to guarantee that your rabbit doesn’t overeat cilantro is serving control. It’s essential to provide your rabbit with a variety of foods to consume. And supplementing herbs as a garnish on top of their main food is a great way to get your rabbit to eat.

Chop the cilantro into small bits then sprinkle them straight into your rabbit’s food bowl. The flavor and texture it provides should attract your rabbit to consume all of his or her meals sooner.

As a treat

If you want to provide a snack or something to chew to your rabbit, cilantro is a great option. You can also add the stalks of cilantro which are filled with water. And keeping your rabbit hydrated all the time must also be your prime priority.

You can feed cilantro to your rabbit in less than 2 tablespoons each time just make sure that the cilantro is fresh and produces a strong aroma. If the leaves seem brown and old, purchase fresh cilantro immediately.

As a general rule, the variation of food you provide will keep your rabbit healthy and happy.

How Often Can A Rabbit Eat Cilantro?

If your rabbit is not older than three months, you should introduce cilantro along with other green vegetables gradually.

When feeding it to your rabbit, it is best that its roots and stalk are removed because that’s where nutrients are concentrated. Add one leaf of cilantro at a time and if there is no intestinal upset, then add more during the next feeding time. 

If you want to know if your rabbit’s digestive system works fine with any food you provide, observe its excrement. A great sign that your rabbit’s digestive tract is not bothered with the cilantro is that if their stool is not runny. If it stops eating at some point or stops mingling with other rabbits for 12-24 hours, then it’s time for you to call a veterinarian immediately.

You can feed your pet rabbit with a little bit of cilantro every day along with other greens, but this doesn’t suggest that you have to serve cilantro frequently; feel free to provide other treats as well for variation.

Things to Consider

When feeding cilantro to your pet rabbit, make sure that the leaves are fresh and washed completely. This herb turns rancid immediately once the leaves have been separated.

Also, keep in mind that this food, like most leafy greens, should be provided to rabbits in moderation. Even though cilantro possesses several health benefits for bunnies, most of their diets should be made up of hay and grasses.

It is also important to alter the greens you serve your bunny every day. The variety of their food will keep them healthy and happy and would minimize the risk of developing digestive difficulties or nutritional imbalances.

If you notice that your rabbit consistently neglects cilantro in their dish until it wilts, it’s probably time to look for a new herb.

The Correct Diet is Important

Wild rabbits will surely nibble cilantro if they can find it, but that doesn’t imply it should make up the bulk of a domesticated rabbit’s diet.

Here’s what you can feed to your rabbit frequently:

• Rabbit food – Choose a nutritionally consummate rabbit food. The package will show information about how much food you can feed your rabbit.
• Fresh hay – A rabbit’s natural diet is made up mostly of grass, which keeps its digestive system moving as it should be. Your pet rabbit should have unlimited access to fresh hay, even though they can technically survive on bunny food alone. Letting your bunny nibble rabbit-safe hay is one of the easiest methods to ensure that their ever-growing teeth wear down properly rather than becoming overgrown.
• Freshwater – Clean and fresh water must also be available 24/7. Wash and refill your rabbit’s drinking container at least once each day.
• You can provide your pet rabbit with one cup of leafy green veggies for every two pounds of their body weight, plus a few crunchy treats.
• A tablespoon of seeds unless it’s already mixed into your rabbit’s food. You can apply pumpkin seeds, pepitas, and sunflower seeds.
• If you have access, provide all-natural treats including vegetables and a little bit of fruit. You should serve a very small amount of fruit – no more than about a teaspoon for every two pounds of your rabbit’s body weight.

Chewable objects should also be available at all times, as your rabbit’s teeth are continually growing, and chewing stores it at the correct length.

Provide your bunny items such as rabbit toys, hay cubes, coconut shells, untreated softwood branches, or unbleached loofah to assure excellent dental health and help counter the boredom that can transpire in an enclosed habitat.

What Are Other Healthy Alternatives To Cilantro In A Rabbit’s Diet?

Bunny rabbits can eat all types of veggies!

Here’s a list of some favorite vegetables that you feed to your pet rabbit:

• basil
• beets
• carrot
• romaine
• butter lettuce
• kale
• rocket
• spinach
• buttercrunch lettuce
• endive
• escarole
• arugula
• swiss chard
• celery
• parsnip
• cucumber
• bibb lettuce
• tomato
• green beans
• pumpkin
• winter squash
• summer squash
• bell pepper
• zucchini
• watercress
• Broccoli

While rabbits can acquire all the benefits cilantro has, it can’t be said to all veggies, some fruits and vegetables are lethal to rabbits.

Taking a few minutes to scan for data about the foods you’re thinking of providing to your pet rabbit is the best way to ensure that your rabbit lives safely and healthy.

For now, though, providing your rabbit cilantro is a wonderful way to add a bit more zing to their day.

Final Thoughts

Cilantro may not deliver the appearance of a leafy green vegetable, but it’s a wonderful herb. It also adds the leafy green factor to food. Instead of always serving your rabbit the same kind of leafy green, you can stir things up.

Cilantro is not a staple food for rabbits, nor does not give any kind of long-lasting nutrition. But it is necessary to incorporate vegetables that are. And for picky rabbits, especially, supplementing their food with cilantro makes their meal less boring.