Leek is an ingredient that works great in many dishes and will be a constant in your pantry. But can leek be a part of your furry baby’s pantry?
Leek is a big no-no when it comes to the rabbit diet. Leek is one of the food items that are highly toxic for rabbits. Eating leeks can cause health problems in rabbits such as Hemolytic Anemia.
It’s common knowledge that leek is highly nutritional but does that apply to rabbits as well? We will discuss this in this blog.
Let us hop straight in!
Can I Feed Leek To My Rabbit?
Leeks belong to the Allium family, the same as garlic and onion. They are healthy and nutritional. They are available all year round. Yet, is it safe for rabbits?
No, you should never give leeks to your rabbits. It is one of the toxic foods for rabbits. Leeks are high in calcium and phosphorus and can cause stomach problems in rabbits.
Rabbits are picky eaters. Since leeks belong to the onion family, they produce intense aromas which rabbits don’t find pleasant. Bunnies hate this aroma and will avoid leeks at any cost.
While we may find it a healthy veggie, rich in vitamins A, C, and K, manganese, iron, as well as essential antioxidants like polyphenols and sulfur compounds, it is not safe for your furry friends.
Leeks are members of the Allium family and consist of organosulfur compounds which will convert into disulfides.
Disulfides are oxidizing agents known to damage red blood cells, resulting in hemolytic anemia. It can result in physical weakness, dizziness, dull eyes, fever, and more serious health problems in rabbits.
Hemolytic anemia is a disorder in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they are being made. The destruction of red blood cells is called hemolysis. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of the body.
If you have a lower number of red blood cells than the normal amount, you have anemia. When you have anemia, your blood can’t bring enough oxygen to all your tissues and organs.
Even though leeks are high in nutritional value, their value comes to zero for rabbits. How good they are for humans, that is not the case for rabbits. For them, leeks are just toxic and there’s no nutritional gain from leeks for rabbits.
Since they are difficult to digest, you should expect your furry friends to suffer from digestion issues as well as the production of gasses that they will not be able to expel.
Leeks will also weaken your rabbit’s immune system. A weak immune system is very dangerous in the case of rabbits as they can contract many diseases easily.
If you are planting leeks in your garden then we recommend you fence it. Even though rabbits don’t like leeks and won’t eat them, you don’t want to experiment or risk your rabbit nibbling the end of this toxic plant.
Symptoms Of Leek Toxicity In Rabbits
We know by now that leek is not the best feed for your rabbit it is one of the worst. If your rabbit consumes leek, it will show symptoms of leek toxicity.
- Reddish urine (because it has hemoglobin)
- Drooling
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Exercise intolerance
- Pale gums
- Collapse or fainting
- Increase heartbeat rate
- Uncoordinated movement or ataxia
- Decreased appetite
These are also the symptoms of anemia in rabbits. If you see any of these symptoms in your bunny, we recommend you take your rabbit to the vet immediately. From these, you know that leeks are a big no-no for your furry baby.
Nutritional Value Of Leeks
Energy: 61 Kcal
Carbohydrates: 14.15 g
Protein: 1.50 g
Total Fat: 0.30 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Dietary Fiber: 1.8 g
Vitamins
Folates: 64 µg
Niacin: 0.400 mg
Pantothenic acid: 0.140 mg
Pyridoxine: 0.233 mg
Riboflavin: 0.030 mg
Thiamin: 0.060 mg
Vitamin A: 1667 IU
Vitamin C: 12 mg
Vitamin E: 0.92 mg
Vitamin K: 47 µg
Electrolytes
Sodium: 20 mg
Potassium: 180 mg
Minerals
Calcium: 59 mg
Copper: 0.120 mg
Iron: 2.10 mg
Magnesium: 28 mg
Manganese: 0.481 mg
Phosphorus: 35 mg
Selenium: 1 µg
Zinc: 1.2 mg
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-ß: 1000 µg
Crypto-xanthin-ß: 0 µg
Lutein-zeaxanthin: 1900 µg
However, this is not good for rabbits as it is toxic to your rabbits. You shouldn’t even try to give a little bit because even a small amount can cause health problems in your rabbit.
Can Rabbits Eat Raw Leek?
Leeks are just a big NO for rabbits, cooked or uncooked. Leeks are extremely toxic for rabbits. It has no nutritional value for rabbits because it is unhealthy for the rabbits.
Leeks can cause anemia, fainting, collapsing and even worse symptoms in rabbits if consumed. Cooked food, in general, is not ideal for rabbits so cooked leek as you can guess is also bad for them.
Even though raw leek is better than cooked leek we strongly recommend you to not feed leeks to your furry baby.
Few Alternatives For Leek
A rabbit’s diet should be mainly covered with quality hay and grass. You can also include veggies and fruits along with that diet. Let us see some of the healthier bun-safe alternatives for leek which is a toxic food for rabbits.
We recommend giving two cups of fresh vegetables to adult rabbits daily.
- Bell peppers
- Bok choy
- Brussels sprouts
- Basil
- Cilantro
- Endive
- Green leaf
- Red leaf
- Parsley
- Fennel
Fresh fruits should be served one or two times per week as a treat.
- Grapes
- Banana
- Berries
- Melon
- Peach
- Pear
- Plum
- Watermelon
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Orange
Frequently Asked Questions
Is too much spinach bad for rabbits?
If you feed your rabbit too much spinach, it can make it unwell. Spinach is high in oxalic acid. However, if eaten in excess, oxalic acid will bind together minerals and make them insoluble. This includes magnesium and calcium.
What vegetables can rabbits eat daily?
Rabbits must have an adult-sized handful of safe-washed leafy green vegetables, herbs, and weeds daily. Feed a variety of greens daily, ideally 5-6 different types, such as cabbage/ kale/ broccoli/ parsley/ mint.
What leaves are safe for rabbits?
In addition to sharing the vegetables you eat, rabbits can also eat many of the parts of vegetable plants that humans discard because they are tough and fibrous – the same characteristics that make them good for rabbits. These include cauliflower leaves, broccoli stalks, and carrot leaves.
Final Word
By now you’ll know the answer to the question of whether leeks are safe for rabbits or not… No, it’s not. Leeks are one of the worst foods you could feed to your furry baby because of their toxic properties and their nutritional value for rabbits.
Rabbits can show symptoms of leek toxicity if they consume leeks like fainting, increased heartbeat, collapsing, fever, and more. In case of such symptoms, we recommend you immediately take your bunny to the vet to be on the safe side.
I hope this article helped you with all your queries on feeding leek to your rabbit. For more queries comment down below.
