Rabbits have strikingly similar characteristics to those of humans, but their diet totally differs from the diet of a normal human being. Although olives are not toxic, they can cause problems if taken in a high amount.
The recommended limit of sodium intake for rabbits is 5-10 g/1 kg. While one olive contains 38.9 mg of sodium, that is not more than the required limit. But, it should be given in very less amounts, and it must be properly calculated on a kitchen weighing scale.
How Many Olives Can a Rabbit Eat?
As per the nutrients calculator, a rabbit can eat 100g of olives in a day. Apart from sodium, olive contains healthy nutrients such as vitamins, calcium, and minerals. Remember, hay/grass must be an important part of a rabbit’s diet, and it should comprise 80% of any rabbit’s diet.
An extreme amount of sodium in rabbits’ diets causes stunted growth, and their sensitive stomach cannot handle the huge influx of sodium as well that causes GI disturbances. Many people believe that olive oil can be given instead of olives because it is the pressed form of olives, but still, it is coming from the same form of olive that contains sodium and other nutrients. Although it is not a bad idea to give olive oil, moderation is the key. Before feeding anything to a rabbit, it must be calculated based on its nutrients and fats amount. A rabbit diet should contain only 3% of fats because they cannot digest fatty foods such as potato chips or any other fried food. Most of the fat in their diet comes from hay or grass, which is their comfort food.
Overfeeding of Olives
In case if a rabbit is overfed, it causes GI disturbances such as diarrhea. If you found a new pet rabbit and you are feeding them olives, it must be given in small calculated amounts at first to avoid any adverse effects. Those rabbits fed huge amounts of olives for the first time are likely to suffer from GI issues or even choking because they are not used to eating it, and their stomach cannot handle too many nutrients. It is said that too much of everything can destroy bodily functions, which is true for humans as well as animals.
Feeding large amounts of olives can cause the accumulation of vitamins and minerals, which will become difficult for the kidney to filter. That can lead to the damage of nephrons or kidneys. A high amount of fat does not really contribute much good. Rather, it simply causes GI disturbances. Make sure to increase the fiber intake of rabbits so they don’t have any problem in the bowel moments and the motility of their GI system remains intact.
Healthy Alternatives to Olives
Pet rabbit owners will be dubious either about feeding olives or not feeding olives or what happens if they overfeed them. Here is a simple answer to this query. Apart from olives, many other alternatives are available on the shelf that could be used without any hesitation.
While olives remain a mysterious food for rabbits, you can consider the below-mentioned healthy alternatives that are also nutritious.
- Melon
- Apple
- Banana
- Papaya
- Peach
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
- Grapes
- Oranges
Can Overeating Olives Causes Death?
Overeating is normally not associated with death, but choking is a huge hazard when it comes to young rabbits who have no exposure to eating large chunks of olives. They might swallow the huge chunks resulting in the airway passage blockage. Choking can also be caused by olive pits if they are not removed properly.
Also, eating any other part of the olive tree, such as leaves or roots, can be equally harmful to rabbits because they contain toxic substances. Hence, it is harmful to chew or consume them in any form. The same is the case with olive oil, although it can be given in small amounts to relieve constipation.
The Nutrition of Olives
Rabbits are more like human beings. Their bodily functions are utilized in labs for clinical trials to develop medicines and beauty products because they are the most similar creatures to humans. Rabbits can eat almost everything and anything that human eats, but it should be in moderation as a rabbit’s surface area and stomach size differ from that of a human. Hence, they have different dietary requirements.
Feeding olives to rabbits is always a debatable question because it contains nutrients as well as a high amount of sodium. This is definitely not good for a small and delicate stomach of rabbits. In case of overfeeding, rabbits can suffer from choking and GI disturbances such as diarrhea and constipation. Hay/grass should be the most important part of their diet because fiber tends to improve GI motility and prevents any sort of stomach ailments.
It is not like olives should totally be cut off from their diet. It can be given but in very small quantities per day as per the dietary requirements to avoid any possible mishaps or adverse reactions. Rabbits love to eat fresh fruits and vegetables such as carrots, beans, Brussels sprouts, etc.
Olives contain:
- 1556g sodium
- 15g of fat
- 3g of carbohydrates
Conclusion
As is evident from the profile, olives are prone to cause toxicity if given in huge amounts. Be it green or black olives, all of them have almost the same nutritional profile. If you are feeding your pet rabbit for the first time, it is advisable to give a very little amount of olives and look out for any adverse reactions or allergies. It should be common practice that any food should be checked in small chunks before serving a huge portion. Any animal may suffer from certain allergies like humans and it can only be avoided if the allergic item is given in small amounts. In case of any adverse reaction or unusual behavior, immediately discontinue the food and look for an immediate vet consultation.