Can Rabbits Eat Granola?

Can Rabbits Eat Granola?

One of my little grandsons was eating a granola bar as we strolled down to the rabbit hutch to check on the rabbits and he asked if he could feed the rabbit some of his granola bar. 

The quick and best answer is: No, your rabbit should not eat granola.  Most granola mixes found at the grocery store are both too sweet and too salty, and contain foods that are not natural for rabbits. 

The only granola that is okay for your bunnies to try are those that are unsweetened, unflavored and unprocessed pure grains. So, until you know what is in the granola mix, it is safest to avoid feeding granola to your bunnies.

Why is most granola not healthy for your rabbit?  This certainly is worthy of further elaboration and discussion. In this post, we will take a closer look at “granola” and discuss why the typical ingredients found in granola are unhealthy for rabbits.

You might find the information and embedded video about Cecal Pellets interesting!

What is Granola?

Traditionally, granola is a common term for a breakfast and snack food that many people enjoy.  Granola is a food that usually includes various grains, nuts, seeds, sweeteners, and dried fruits and berries.  These grain and nut mixtures are typically salted, baked and/or toasted with sweeteners typically added to the mix.

Additionally, today’s grocery stores sell granola mixes that include extra treats such as chocolate chips, “m&m” candies, yogurt covered raisins, pretzels, and more. Overall, today’s consumer has the choice of many different varieties of granola but this sweetened, toasted and processed granola is not for your rabbits.

For example, here is a link to a popular Granola Recipe that is healthy for most humans but is not healthy for rabbits.  It is unhealthy for rabbits primarily due to the broad range and magnitude of nuts, seeds, various sugars (both natural and refined), oils, spices, and salt that it contains. 

Are Grains, Nuts and Seeds Healthy for Rabbits?

Nuts and seeds do provide nutrition but they are generally not healthy for your rabbits. A rabbit’s digestive system is simply not designed to breakdown and process a significant number of nuts and seeds. In fact, nuts and seeds can cause serious gut trouble and digestive issues in rabbits.

However, some grains may be offered to your rabbit as a smaller part of your rabbit’s grass and hay- based diet.

Typical nuts that may be found in Granola are:

  • Almonds
  • Peanuts (or Monkey Nuts)
  • Walnuts
  • Cashews
  • Pecans
  • Pistachios
  • Macadamia Nuts

Typical seeds that may be found in Granola are:

  • Sunflower
  • Pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
  • Flax

Typical grains that may be found in Granola and are:

  • Oats
  • Barely
  • Rye

While the nuts and seeds may not be a good idea to offer your rabbits, these grains may be eaten by rabbits in small amounts as a supplement to their grass and hay-based diet.

You may introduce small amounts of these grains into your rabbit’s diet because they are a natural grain that many wild rabbits come across while foraging. If you choose to feed these grains to your bunnies, we recommend that you observe your rabbit closely and contact your veterinarian if your rabbit seems at all ill or stressed after eating them!

Remember, with rabbits and their sensative digestion it is key to always introduce new foods a little at a time, allowing the rabbit’s digestive system to slowly adapt.

Are Dried Fruits, Berries and Other Sweeteners Healthy for Rabbits?

Granola sounds healthy, but if it includes an abundance of natural sugars or processed sugars, then it is not healthy for rabbits. Dried fruits and berries do provide nutrition, but more than a nibble or two of fruits and berries is generally not healthy for your rabbits.

Why is that? Because a rabbit’s digestive system is not designed to breakdown and process more than a bite or two of fruits and berries (high sugar foods) on any given day. Dried fruit is even MORE sugary than its fresh counterpart and is a big no for rabbits. A rabbit’s digestive system can become very stressed when it must breakdown and digest a significant number of fruits and berries.

Typical dried fruits and berries that may be found in granola are:

  • Mangoes
  • Raisins
  • Banana Chips
  • Papaya
  • Cherries
  • Strawberries
  • Pineapples
  • Kiwi
  • Blueberries
  • Raspberries
  • Cranberries
  • Apricots
  • Coconut Flakes
  • Citrus Zest (small shavings from the rind or outer skin of the fruit such as lemon, orange, lime).
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Are Salted Foods and Sweeteners Healthy for Rabbits?

Most granola mixes include salt and sweeteners to enhance their flavors for humans. The amount of salt and sweeteners found in most granola mixes is too much for rabbits and therefore is not healthy for the rabbits. 

Again, the rabbit’s digestive system is not designed to breakdown and process more natural salt and natural sweetener than is found in its plant based, indigenous diet. 

Typical salt and sweeteners that may be found in granola are:

  • Salt
  • Honey
  • Maple Syrup
  • Corn Syrup
  • Brown Sugar
  • Processed Cane Sugar
  • Vanilla Extract

Are Spices and Oils Healthy for Rabbits?

You may love fragrant and spiced granola, but if it includes an abundance of spices or oils, then it is not healthy for rabbits.  A rabbit’s sensative digestive system cannot porperly or safely handle exotic and strong spices!

Typical oils that may be found in granola are:

  • Coconut Oil
  • Macadamia Nut Oil
  • Olive Oil
  • Vegetable Oil  

Typical spices that may be found in granola are:

  • Cinnamon
  • Ginger
  • Pumpkin Spice blends

How Sensitive is the Rabbit Digestive System?

A rabbit’s digestive system is very sensitive, much more sensitive than the typical human digestive system.  This means that the kinds of foods that a rabbit can process and digest are fairly limited compared to the kinds of foods that humans can process and digest.

For example, rabbits cannot properly digest meat or an abundance of sugar, salt, grains, nuts, spices, or oils. In particular, a rabbit’s digestive system in not designed to digest processed foods. 

Rather, thousands of years of evolution has resulted in a highly specialized digestive system focused on a narrow range of raw, high fiber foods that are best limited to grass or hay, leafy green vegetables, and water. Rabbits receive their vitamins, trace minerals and other required nutrients from this food.

Some pellets that are manufactured and designed for rabbits may be used to augment a rabbit’s primary grass and hay-based diet, but trying to digest other foods that are high in fats and carbohydrates stresses the rabbit’s system.   

Can Rabbits Eat Granola?

Why Should Rabbits Not Eat Granola?

We’ve established that the typical granola mix includes several types of grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, berries, sweeteners, salts, and oils. As stated, these types of foods are not common for the rabbits and are items that they cannot properly digest nor metabolize.  

Eating these kinds of foods will cause an imbalance in the rabbit’s digestive system. This may cause loose or mushy poop which can lead to other problems including dehydration. In addition, if a rabbit eats granola it may cause a blockage in the rabbit’s digestive system which can result in GI Stasis and death.  

And to compound matters for a sick rabbit: if the rabbit’s digestive system is fouled up then the very important process of producing cecal pellets will not function correctly. Cecal pellets or cecotropes are naturally produced by the rabbit and excreted during the night.  They eaten again and are very nutritious for the rabbit. Here is an article that does a nice job of explaining Cecal Pellets.

Additionally, this 14 minute YouTube video about Cecal Pellets and GI Stasis does a really nice job of explaining the rabbit’s digestive system, why rabbits need so much fiber, and therefore why the typical granola mix is not healthy for rabbits!

 

Lastly, we know that some rabbit owners deliberately add a grain mix to their rabbits’ diet of hay, grass and leafy green vegetables.  A proper grain mix is okay for your rabbits and is not representative of granola.

Final Thoughts On Can Rabbits Eat Granola

This Can Rabbits Eat Granola post is part of our larger post about What Can Rabbits Eat? Please click and give it a read! It is full of great information and I guarantee you will learn something valuable.

As we discussed throughout this article, most granola mixes contain nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and dried berries, along with sweeteners, salt, spices, and oils and it is best for your rabbit to avoid these foods. However, if your rabbit eats a small amount of granola by accident, it is probably safe. 

These common granola ingredients are likely to upset the rabbit’s digestive system, possibly leading to serious health problems including Cecal Dysbiosis, GI Statis, dehydration, or death. However, you may slowly include some local and unprocessed grains in your rabbit’s diet as an augmentation to a grass and hay-based diet.  

Most importantly, always observe your rabbit when introducing new foods!  If the rabbit shows any signs of illness or stress, then you may prefer to call your veterinarian for expert advice and care.

Another treat that Rabbits should not eat is Chocolate! Chocolate is poisonous to Bunnies!
Find out more at Can Rabbits Eat Chocolate?

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