While grape seeds are edible and even nutritious for rabbits, removing them or feeding rabbits seedless grapes is better since the small, bitter-tasting seeds in the middle of certain kinds of grapes could be a choking hazard.
If you’re a new rabbit owner, you’ll often ask, “can I feed my rabbit…”. Doing your research shows you care about your fluffy friend and will be a great rabbit parent.
While rabbits love grapes as an occasional treat, grapes with seeds are not recommended to feed rabbits because they could choke on the seeds.
To prevent this, it’s better to give your rabbit seedless grapes. There are many benefits of providing rabbits seedless grapes, but in moderation! Too many grapes are inevitably unhealthy, just like any treat.
What You'll Learn
Benefits of Seedless Grapes
Seedless grapes contain a wide variety of nutritional value, including Vitamin C, Vitamin K, antioxidants, and more.
They are hydrating and delicious, but it’s essential to feed them to your rabbit as an occasional treat because too many can be unhealthy, despite their nutritional value.
Many fresh fruit options are good for rabbits, but it’s important to have their primary diet source as hay and veggies to keep them healthy.
Because grapes don’t have much fiber, they are good treats as long as they are given in moderation.
Safely Feeding Rabbits Grapes
When you’re ready to give your rabbit a fruity treat, it’s recommended to cut the grape in half or quarter pieces so it’s easier for them to eat.
This is also beneficial because if you give them a quarter piece of grape four times, it’s only one grape instead of four. That way, you ensure you are not overfeeding them grapes because too many can be unhealthy.
This is also beneficial to keep them from choking. Of course, feeding them seedless grapes helps to prevent choking, but cutting up the pieces goes a long way, too.
Your rabbit could still choke on seedless grapes if they are trying to eat a big piece and do not chew it up properly!
If you have an adult rabbit, giving them a piece of a seedless grape can be a good treat. This is also a great natural alternative instead of processed treats from the pet store!
Which Grapes Have Seeds?
Most of the grapes found at grocery stores are seedless, but there are seeded grapes available. These grapes will probably be marked as seeded, so just make sure to check when you’re doing your grocery shopping!
Cardinal and Emerald grapes are two common types of grapes that are known for having large seeds. Thompson, Flame, and Concord grapes are seedless.
However, if you can not remember all those names – they are usually marked as seeded or seedless.
Plus, if you cut up the grapes as we recommend, you will be able to see if they have seeds in them.
Other Fruit Treats
If your rabbit is not a big fan of grapes, there are many other fruits that rabbits enjoy as a treat.
Berries are a great alternative, as long as they don’t have seeds. Strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries are great fruits to give your rabbit every once in a while. Seedless apples, bananas, peaches, pears, and watermelon are also great ideas.
There are not many fruits that rabbits won’t love, but make sure they are seedless. Never give your rabbit avocados or fruit pips (hard seeds found in the middle of fruits such as apples, oranges, pears, etc.), though, because they are toxic!
The same applies to all these fruits – they are best seedless and in moderation to keep your rabbit healthy.
How to Prevent a Rabbit from Choking
Having your rabbit choke on something can be scary, so it’s important to take preventative steps to ensure your rabbit’s safety.
It always helps to cut food (like grapes) into smaller pieces they can easily eat. If you give your rabbit a whole grape, they are more likely to choke than if you cut it into smaller pieces.
Also, making sure the grapes are seedless will help your rabbit from choking on the seeds. This can be good for other fruits as well.
Lastly, it’s important to watch them closely while they are eating. That way, if they do start to choke, you are there to help them.
If your rabbit does choke, don’t panic! First, check your rabbit’s mouth to see if you can see a blockage. If you can, get it out! If you can’t, step two is using the Heimlich Maneuver.
The Heimlich Maneuver is the most recommended method for helping a rabbit that is choking that involves protecting the rabbit’s neck and spine while using gravity to try to clear the blockage.
Lay the rabbit on one arm and place your other arm on top of the rabbit. It might be a little tricky if your rabbit is squirming, but it protects the neck and spine.
So, one hand will be under the rabbit’s head, and the other hand will be on top of the rabbit’s head.
Then, you make a downward motion while holding the rabbit like that to try to force the blockage out using centrifugal force.
There are many videos online demonstrating the Heimlich Maneuver on rabbits, so we recommend watching them, so you have the knowledge ready in an emergency because it’s much easier to understand visually.
Stick to Seedless Grapes
Trying to figure out what you can and can’t feed your rabbit can be intimidating, but it’s all worth it to keep your rabbit safe and healthy. It is best to feed your rabbit seedless grapes, and even better to cut the grapes in half or quarter pieces. Your rabbit is less likely to choke on seeds or big pieces. This is a great treat to feed rabbits occasionally, as long as they get a fibrous diet from hay and veggies. If your rabbit does choke, don’t panic. Simply follow the steps of the Heimlich Maneuver to clear the blockage.
