Can Rabbits Eat Okra? (Health Benefits & Feeding Tips)

Sharing is caring!

Can rabbits eat okra? The truth might surprise you! YES, rabbits can eat okra, which includes pods, leaves, and stems.

You can feed your bunny this veggie 1 or 2 times weekly  ― though be careful: This veggie isn’t all that innocent!

Its leaves and stem contain traces of oxalic acid which can cause some gory symptoms and even cause them to become sick (so be careful with too much!)

If you’re brave enough to learn everything about feeding okra to your bunny, KEEP SCROLLING…

Key Takeaways

  • You can feed okra to your bunnies. But, like anything, moderation is key!
  • Okra is packed with vitamins and nutrients and is perfect for an occasional treat.
  • Don’t feed this veggie to baby bunnies under 12 weeks. They may not be ready for it yet!

Is It Safe For Rabbits To Eat Okra?

Even though okra is a surprisingly good source of nutrients, it comes with its teeth: oxalic acid.

okra for rabbits but can rabbits eat okra

From the evils of mouth-tingling to liver damage [1], oxalic acid should be avoided as much as possible.

Luckily, the okra plant contains a minute amount and shouldn’t cause them any health issues. But, when they overindulge, It could affect their health.

Health Benefits of Okra for Rabbits

Although low in calories, Okra is packed with nutrients. This veggie is a good source of fiber, protein, and vitamin C, which can benefit the rabbit’s health in many ways.

To give you an idea, one cup (100 grams) of raw okra contains the following:

  • Calories: 33
  • Carbs: 7 grams
  • Protein: 2 grams
  • Fat: 0 grams
  • Fiber: 3 grams
  • Magnesium: 14% of the Daily Value (DV)
  • Folate: 15% of the DV
  • Vitamin A: 14% of the DV
  • Vitamin C: 26% of the DV
  • Vitamin K: 26% of the DV
  • Vitamin B6:14% of the DV

The above data is according to the USDA [2]

And the glorious health benefits:

1. Help Prevent Diseases

If you’re wondering can rabbits eat okra, you’ve come to the right place!

Okra is a valuable and best food for rabbits and high in antioxidants. Antioxidants, a natural compound found in various fruits and veggies, are excellent in fighting off free radicals.

“What are free radicals” you may ask. 

Free radicals, according to MedicalNewsToday, “are unstable atoms that can damage cells, causing illness and aging.”[3]

Free radicals damage the cells in various ways ― the unpopular aging line, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease.  

Luckily, feeding your bunny plenty of food high in antioxidants will help protect their cells, preventing terrible cell damage and diseases.

Don’t forget to check our guide on what veg can rabbits eat to have multiple veg options to feed your pet.

2. May Lower Blood Sugar

Okra is known to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Rabbits, especially those in captivity, have a high chance of developing high blood pressure.

Feeding okra to rabbits can help decrease their blood sugar level, helping them stay healthy.

3. Help Aid In Digestion

Do you know why they always gave you that crunchy snack? One word: fiber!

Let’s see what the experts say: According to Harvard, “fiber helps regulate the body’s use of sugar.” [4]

Fiber is paramount to keeping your bunny’s digestive system up and running and its health in tip-top shape!

Luckily, okra is high in fiber content, which is known to help with digestion, and by promoting regular bowel movement, food will travel through their digestive tract smoothly.

The good news is: rabbits that consume enough fiber will have a lesser chance of constipation.

READ MORE: Can Rabbits Eat Jicama?

Can Baby Rabbits Eat Okra?

Baby rabbits are too young to eat the okra plant because their digestive system isn’t developed enough to digest okra.

Rabbits under 12 weeks should be on a diet of hay and their mother’s milk. This is all that they should ingest until they reach the age of 12 weeks.

Once the baby rabbits are at least 12 weeks old, you can start to feed them some okra.

Since their digestive system is still developing, you should give them a tiny piece of okra. What’s more, this will test if they have any adverse reactions to the okra plant.

Should they have any adverse reaction, stop! Some signs to watch out for are vomiting and digestive issues such as diarrhea.

Alternatively, if they don’t have any adverse reactions and enjoy eating them, you can continue to feed them okra.

As a start, I suggest you feed your bunny a tiny piece of okra weekly.

Can Rabbits Eat Okra Leaves and Stems?

Yes, rabbits can eat the leaves and stems of the okra plant. The leaf is nutrient-rich and contains lots of protein.

You can feed these leaves to your bunnies, a favorite they will enjoy just like other leafy greens.

okra with leaves and stems but can rabbits eat okra

And what about the stems? Luckily, your bunny will enjoy munching on them, not least because of their tough nature!

How To Feed Okra To Rabbits?

To feed okra to your bunny, start with the okra plants’ pods, leaves, and stems. Your bunny will eat the leaves and pods while nibbling on the stem.

First, cut the okra pods into small pieces and give them to the rabbits. Feel free to feed them the whole pod if you like.

okra pods in pieces but can rabbits eat okra

It would help if you first removed the dirt and debris gremlins from the leaves.

Once done, wash thoroughly. Then you are all set: feed the whole leaf (boots and all) to your bunny.

For the stem, cut a piece of the stem off. The top part will be a bit softer than the bottom part.

Cut about 6 inches and wash them thoroughly. Then give them to the rabbits to savor.

Since the stem is tough ― like nails ― your bunnies will enjoy its nibbling.

Don’t forget to check our guide on other best treats for bunnies.

FAQs

Can rabbits eat dry okra?

dried okra in plate but can rabbits eat okra

Absolutely! Okra ― whether dried or fresh ― is lovely as a snack to feed your bunny!
Just watch the dried fruit like a hawk to ensure that it doesn’t hurt them and is soft enough for them.

How much okra to feed your rabbits?

Once or twice weekly and only in moderation! As for the amount, you can feed them about a teaspoon for every two pounds of weight.
 Watch that the okra you’re feeding them is at most 10% of their diet!

Conclusion

Can rabbits eat okra? You bet! But don’t let them overindulge.

Okra is a vegetable with lots of nutrition, arming your bunny with zest and energy.

Thankfully, you can feed any part of the vegetable as it’s good for them to eat and a veggie they will enjoy.

Still, because of the plant’s oxalic acid content, you must be careful feeding your bunny too much as it could cause adverse side effects and digestive issues.

rabbit waving at okra but can rabbits eat okra

So, did you ever feed okra to your rabbits? Let us know in the comments section!

Resources

  • 1. Willow River Veterinary Services. Rabbit Care Guide [Internet]. Available from: https://willowrivervet.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Bunno-Care-Guide.pdf
  • 2. FoodData Central [Internet]. fdc.nal.usda.gov. Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169260/nutrients
  • 3. Villines Z. Free radicals: How do they affect the body? [Internet]. www.medicalnewstoday.com. 2017. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318652
  • 4. Harvard School of Public Health. Fiber [Internet]. The Nutrition Source. 2018. Available from: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/fiber/
Andreea Juganaru
Andreea Juganaru

Andreea is a very passionate content creator and her purpose is to provide you with the most interesting articles, while constantly discovering new facts. She’s been freelance writing for the past five years and has created numerous articles and educational materials while managing her own mom blog.
Read her Latest Articles
Find her on
FACEBOOK AND Instagram

Leave a Comment

SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER

NEVER MISS A NEWS OR DISCOUNT