One of our favorite activities with our rabbits is to offer them yummy, nutritious treats that they love.
Treats are a great way to reward your bunny for good behavior and are handy when training your rabbit.
However, not all human appropriate snacks are healthy, or safe, for rabbits. Potato chips in particular should never be offered to you bunnies. Potato chips are a highly processed food that can cause serious digestive issues and lead to bad eating habits.
In this post we will quickly go over just why potato chips are bad for rabbits as well as hit on some great, nutritious and delicious rabbit snacks!
Can My Bunny Have Chips
We all love potato chips. For me, it’s that crunchy and fatty, fried or baked texture that always gets me.
In fact, 100g grams of unsalted potato chips contain about 34.6g of fat alone; that’s more than one third of all nutrients within the potato chip!
And salted potato chips contain the same amount of fat plus an added 527 mg of sodium per serving.
The high fat and sodium levels of your classic potato chip is exactly why your rabbit should not be offered them as snacks.
Too Much Fat For Rabbits Is Unhealthy
Rabbits naturally require lots of high fiber plant foods such as hay. They glean essential nutrients, protein, fibers, and a small amount of fats for energy from such foodstuff.
In fact, any foods with more than 2-5% DM fat (dry matter fat) can cause health issues in your rabbits.
Vetfolio mentions that higher percentages of fats can make food more palatable and seemly tasty, but that excess fats in a rabbits diet will quickly lead to:
- Obesity
- Hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver syndrome)
- Atherosclerosis (build up of fats) in the aorta
Not to mention bad eating habits!
Rabbit’s Sodium Limits
Rabbits do not need a lot of sodium either, and should never be fed overly salty treats or be exposed to a salt block.
Bunnies need less than 5g of salt per day and easily source this needed sodium from their plant food diet.
In fact, the first case of sodium toxicity in domestic rabbits, involving seizure-like activity, ataxia (clumsy movement), vestibular-associated rolling (vertigo and bad balance), and obtunded mentation (dull and unresponsive) symptoms was recorded in 2020 due to a rabbit having access to a himalayan salt lick.
Don’t lead your rabbits down the wrong path by offering them salty, fatty potato chips!
What Snacks Are Safe For Bunnies
So if potato chips are off the table, what are some good, safe snacks and treats for rabbits?
Don’t worry, there is hardly a shortage of great rabbit snacks out there. We go over a wide range of such healthy and safe treats in our rabbit treat post: Fruits Rabbits Can Eat.
Can Rabbits Eat Raw Potatoes
Raw potato tubers are not toxic to rabbits but they are very dense in carbohydrates and starches, two substances that are quite difficult for your rabbit to digest.
You can offer your bunnies small amounts of raw potatoes if you wish, but they really aren’t the most ideal snack or treat for them.
Are Potatoes Toxic To Bunnies
Be warned that all other parts: the vines, leaves, and flowers of the regular potato plant are toxic to rabbits.
Potatoes are part of the nightshade family, which are known for having toxic plant parts.
What Vegetables Can Rabbits Eat
There are a ton of safe and tasty vegetables that rabbits can munch on.
Read more about just what vegetables are safe and healthy for rabbits to eat in our post Vegetable Rabbits Can Eat Daily.
Can Rabbits Eat Sweet Potatoes
Yes, sweet potatoes are from a different plant family than regular potatoes and can be enjoyed in small amounts by your rabbits.
However, they are quite starchy and sugary and aren’t the best snack option. Check out more on sweet potatoes for rabbits.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Can Bunnies Have Potato Chips
Can Rabbits Have Fritos?
Fritos are corn based, fried chips that are high in fats and carbohydrates. They are not healthy for bunnies and should never be offered as a treat or snack.
This video shows an example of a routine rabbit health check at a vet’s office. Consider taking your own bunnies in for routine health checks!
Final Thoughts On Can Rabbits Eat Potato Chips
If you are considering sharing your favorite potato crisps with your homestead or pet rabbit, think again.
Chips offer little to no nutritional value for rabbits and are actually dangerous for them due to the high amounts of fats and sodium they contain.
Opt instead for delicious and nutritious fruits, veggies and herbs; your rabbit will love these treats and be that much healthier for it!