It is a normal thing for the owners to share nutritious food with their rabbits. If you often include bok choy in your diet, you may want to give a bite or two to your rabbit. But before that, do you know if the bok choy is safe for your rabbit?
Rabbits can eat bok choy because it is safe for them. It is one of the leafy vegetables that your rabbit can eat without facing any severe health problems. Make sure to feed this vegetable to rabbits in moderation. Feeding high quantities of bok choy can lead to excess gas and soft stools in rabbits.
Below you will learn more about bok choy and rabbits. This post features their benefits and other similar questions.
Contents
Can Rabbits Eat Bok Choy?
Bok choy or Chinese cabbage is one of the Brassica rapa varieties. It is also known as turnip rape, field mustard, bird rage, pok Choi, and keblock. Bok choy belongs to the group Cruciferae or Brassicaceae.
Many rabbits tend to like bok choy due to its savory taste and crunchy texture. Besides that, it is a good source of vitamins (B, C), iron, potassium, and calcium. Bok choy comes under the non-toxic category for rabbits. But make sure to feed the vegetable in right and small amounts.
When the rabbits are 12 weeks old, you can start giving them a small portion of bok choy. If you feed bok choy daily, the rabbits may face some problems due to their sensitive digestive systems. Feeding in excess quantities can lead to bloating, stomach pain, gas, and diarrhea.
If you are feeding bok choy to your rabbit for the first time, make sure to give only a tiny amount. After that, watch your pet for the next 24 hours to detect any abnormal reactions. Excess gas and soft stools are some symptoms in rabbits if they can not tolerate bok choy.
Sometimes, bok choy can make your rabbits gassy. Here are a few reasons why this problem occurs:
- Feeding bok choy in excessive quantities
- Not following the right diet
- Introducing the bok choy to rabbit in a wrong method
Benefits Of Feeding Bok Choy To Your Rabbit
Bok choy includes only medium levels of calcium, which is beneficial for your rabbits. Their primary diet contains plenty of calcium content. Due to that, there would not be any bladder stone formation.
Bok choy has low amounts of oxalates, which is a good thing. Plenty of oxalates are not good for your pet rabbit. Bok choy has fewer amounts of calories. A low-calorie diet is best for rabbits.
This vegetable includes high levels of antioxidants. Though rabbits can get antioxidants from other foods, bok choy is a great source. Antioxidants play a vital role in protecting the rabbit’s body from various infections.
Antioxidants can defend the rabbit’s body from many diseases by protecting cells against free radicals. These free radicals are highly reactive and charged particles that are the waste product of various metabolic procedures. If free radicals get in touch with body cells, they may cause severe damage. Sometimes, they lead to harmful mutations.
Bok choy is packed with several crucial vitamins. The vegetable is a decent source of vitamin A, C, and K. Bok choy has plenty of vitamin K, which is vital for blood clotting. Eating enough amounts of vitamin K can clot the blood of the injured rabbit quickly.
Other Related Questions
Can Rabbits Eat Bok Choy Daily?
No, it is not good to feed bok choy to your rabbit on a daily basis. The best way to offer bok choy is by mixing it with other veggies. In general, rabbits should depend on five to six different types of vegetables.
It is crucial to feed bok choy in moderation and only a few times a week. Bok choy does not have the necessary fiber to strengthen the rabbit’s gastrointestinal (GI) health.
It is better to give the veggie mix to your rabbit twice or thrice a week. For a rabbit that weighs four pounds, two cups of the veggie mix are enough.
Can Rabbits Eat Bok Choy Stems?
As you know that rabbits can eat bok choy, you might be wondering about their stems. In many cases, the stems of bok choy can lead to gas formation in your rabbit. In general, rabbits have different digestive systems and unique food tolerances. Because of that, some rabbits can not eat stems while others can eat.
In short, it depends on the digestive system of your rabbit. So, try giving a small piece of stem to the rabbit. After that, keep an eye on it for the next few hours. If you notice any abnormal responses or gassy rabbit, stop feeding bok choy stems to your pet rabbit. Apart from that, stems do not cause any harm to the rabbits.
Can Rabbits Eat Bok Choy flowers?
The bok choy flowers come out from its thin stems. These flowers have a bright yellow color and grow in clusters. They have a delicate texture and small size. But the bok choy flowers maintain a strong and bold flavor.
The bok choy flowers have a similar taste to natural spices. Because of their taste and flavor, many rabbits would not like to eat the flowers of bok choy. When the plant produces flowers, the rest of the plant is still edible. During the flowering stage, the leaves are still smooth and palatable. But, the white stem may turn a little hard.
Can Rabbits Eat Raw Bok Choy?
The raw or uncooked bok choy contains an enzyme known as myrosinase. It can break down the glucosinolates that are present in the whole vegetable. Feeding a small amount of raw bok choy would not cause any harm to your rabbit.
While giving raw bok choy, make sure to wash the veggie thoroughly to get rid of any harmful substance. Also, avoid giving this raw vegetable in excessive quantities.
Can Rabbits Eat Baby Bok Choy?
Yes, your rabbit can eat baby bok choy. Besides that, you do not have to remove the stems before feeding them to your pet. It is because the baby bok choy stems are thin and fragile.
Make sure to give baby bok choy to your rabbit in moderation. Excessive amounts can cause a little stomach discomfort and soft stools in rabbits.
Bottom Line
In short, bok choy is a fantastic veggie that you can add to the rabbit’s diet. This vegetable contains plenty of vitamins and fewer calories. Plus, it has limited amounts of harmful oxalates.
If you are introducing bok choy to your rabbit for the first time, take it slow! It is best to feed only a small amount and then wait for 24 hours to notice any unusual reactions.
Only give cooked, boiled, or raw bok choy without adding any other spices or seasonings. Almost all rabbits eat the green leaves, but only a few can eat the crunchy white stem of bok choy. Do not feed excess amounts because it results in stomach discomfort, gas, and bloating.