Dried apricots are safe for rabbits to eat. As a rule of thumb, if the fresh fruit is safe for rabbits, so is the dried fruit. However, the amount of sugar can be a problem. When comparing portion size, there is much more sugar in dried versus fresh.
Drying an apricot does change the fruit slightly, but not significantly. In this article, we will discuss whether or not they are safe for rabbits to eat, and if they are safe, are they a good snack option for your rabbit?
There are some interesting comparisons between fresh and dried fruit. Each option has pros and cons when compared to one another. There are also many dried fruit options besides apricots. How do those stack up?
What You'll Learn
How Are Dried Apricots Made?
Dried apricots are made similar to any other dried fruit option. Depending on the brand or manufacturer, the fruit is usually sun-dried, or by some heat source.
The process reduces the moisture in the apricot, which is what dries it out. The process can take many hours or even days to complete.
Dried fruit can be easily made at home too. Dehydrators are handy kitchen appliances that can do the job.
Depending on the fruit and temperature, an oven set on a low temperature can produce an excellent dried fruit product.
Dried fruits can taste very sweet. This is because the sugar condenses into a smaller portion, making it taste sweeter. The long cooking process can also take out some nutrients, but this is often negligible.
The main problem here is the sugar. Per gram, dried fruit has a lot more sugar than fresh fruit. However, if you can manage the quantity, dried apricots have almost the same nutritional value as fresh.
Are Dried Apricots Safe For Rabbits?
Yes, dried apricots are safe for rabbits to consume. A regular apricot is safe to eat, so a dried apricot is also safe.
The pits are usually removed during the drying process, but it is best to double-check because the pit of the apricot is not safe to eat.
The pit poses a choking hazard and also contains harmful toxic compounds. The pits have a compound called amygdalin. This is the compound that changes to cyanide when eaten by rabbits and humans alike.
This is also the case for apple seeds and peach pits. Caution should be used when feeding fruit with seeds or pits in them for the toxicity and choking hazards they pose.
Another helpful thing to check for is no added sugar. Dried fruits will have a higher sugar when compared to their fresh counterparts.
Check the ingredients list to see if sugar is on the list or not. Even if there is no added sugar, these should still be in moderation or rarely given. Sugar should not be a big part of a rabbit’s diet, especially in concentrated dried fruit form.
Portion sizes should be limited because it is not the same as a fresh fruit you may typically feed them.
Is Fresh or Dried Better?
There are some pros and cons to both fresh and dried fruits. Fresh fruit can be better because you do not have quite as much sugar when compared to dry for the same portion. Yet, fresh fruit can be tricky to keep around. The shelf life of fresh items is limited, and they can go bad quickly. Dried fruit has a long shelf life and stores easily.
Fruit, in general, should only make up a small portion of your rabbit’s diet. Both dried and fresh apricots are safe to feed them. Taking into consideration the sugar and that you will have to offer much less dried than fresh.
Other Dried Fruit Options
If you’re considering feeding your rabbit dried apricots, you may also be interested in feeding them the following dried fruits:
Blueberries
Dried blueberries can be an excellent snack for rabbits. Dried blueberries are also significantly less messy than the fresh version. The small size of dried blueberries also makes portioning easier.
Cranberries
Dried cranberries are also a great option. They are similar to blueberries and make for a great occasional snack. Dried cranberries offer a tart and slightly sweet taste.
Mangoes
Dried mangoes are similar in size to apricots but are somewhat larger and a little sweeter.
Dried Fruits Are Safe, But Be Mindful of Sugar
A rabbit can safely consume a dried apricot. Remember, if the fresh fruit is safe, the dried fruit is likely safe as well. The drying process simply removes the moisture from the fruit.
However, the sugar content changes in the sense of more sugar per portion. This is important to keep in mind. Dried fruits are not toxic, but too much sugar is bad.
Fruit shouldn’t be a massive part of a rabbit’s diet. Fresh fruit can be better to keep the sugar low, but the shelf life is much shorter. Dried fruit can last much longer. Dried fruit should be a special treat, not a consistent or large part of the diet.
