Peaches are perfect for summertime snacks and savory salsas. Being highly abundant from June to August, many people enjoy munching on this sweet and fresh fruit. Because of its delicious taste and fantastic health benefits, many pet owners ask, can rabbits eat peaches?
This article will answer everything you need to know about rabbits and peaches. If you’re curious whether your rabbit can consume peaches or not, keep on reading!
Peaches and Health
Peaches are juicy and sweet fruits that have white to pale orange flesh. These fruits are very much like nectarines. They are also closely similar to plums, apricots, and cherries.
Peaches are classified under stone fruits because a peach’s flesh encloses a shell that surrounds an edible seed. Besides being a sweet and tasty fruit, peaches provide many health benefits that you may not even know about.
Did you know that peaches can help you maintain a healthy weight? Yes, you read that right – they do!
Because stone fruits are low in calorie content and rich in Vitamins C and A, they are great for people who want to lose weight. Similarly, nectarines, plums, apricots, and cherries are fantastic choices.
Other than maintaining a healthy weight, peaches are a good source of potassium, fluoride, and iron too.
Potassium helps our body regulate blood pressure and pulse rate. Fluoride, on the other hand, benefits our bones and teeth. Fluoride is a component of toothpaste that prevents dental caries. Iron is needed for the formation of our red blood cells.
Peaches also have high levels of Vitamin C, which helps in connective tissue building in our bodies. Vitamin C is also excellent for our immune response and resistance to infections.
It also aids in preventing certain cancers by eliminating harmful chemicals in the human body.
Nutritional Contents of Peaches
Now, we know peaches have lots of health benefits for humans. What other nutritional values do peaches give? Here’s a breakdown of the nutritional content of a single 100-gram peach.
| Nutrient | Content |
| Energy | 40 Kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 9.8 g |
| Protein | 1 g |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Vitamin K | 3% |
| Riboflavin | 2% |
| Niacin | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 11% |
| Iron | 1.5% |
| Magnesium | 2% |
| Phosphorus | 2% |
| Potassium | 4% |
As you can see, peaches give humans countless benefits. But is that the case for rabbits too? Can rabbits eat peaches as humans do?
Can Rabbits Eat Peaches?
The short answer to this question is: Yes. Rabbits can enjoy peaches.
However, you have to serve fresh peaches with the peach pits removed. Peach pits have cyanide, which is lethal to rabbits. Cyanide inhibits the use of oxygen in a rabbit’s body, which, in large amounts, can lead to toxicity and poisoning.
How Much Peaches Can Rabbits Eat?
The general rule for serving your rabbit fruits is to only give no more than ¼ to ½ cup of fruits and vegetables daily. Exceeding the recommended daily amount can result in overweight or obese rabbits.
¼ to ½ cup of fruits and vegetables does not mean all servings will only be peaches. The recommended serving is a combination of different fruits and vegetables.
Some bunnies may not like lots of veggies and fruits. Some can not consume ⅕ to ½ cup every day. If your bunny does not eat the fruits and vegetables within 24 hours, it’s best to dispose of the serving.
The leftover fruits and vegetables can make your rabbit’s stomach upset, so we suggest you do not serve them again. These foods may also be contaminated, so always be wary.
Giving peaches to rabbits should not be more than 1 to 2 times every week. Do not give your pet the same fruit on two consecutive days, too.
Benefits of Peaches to Rabbits
Just like how peaches benefit humans, peaches also give rabbits a lot of nutritional benefits. A single peach contains essential nutrients that keep your bunny healthy.
Antioxidants
Peaches are packed with antioxidants. They are a great source of micronutrients that eliminate harmful chemicals in a rabbit’s body. Antioxidants also help fight inflammation in bunnies.
Fiber
Besides antioxidants, peaches provide your rabbit with a good amount of fiber. Fiber helps in maintaining proper digestion in your rabbit’s gut. Because they are herbivores, rabbits need lots of fiber daily to keep their digestive functions working well.
Potassium
Potassium is a nutrient that improves growth in rabbits. This nutrient is good for muscle and bone development in rabbits. Thanks to peaches, rabbits get potassium for optimal growth and development!
Vitamins
Peaches have several vitamins. These include Vitamins A, C, K, and E. These vitamins help in boosting your rabbit’s immune system. They ensure that your rabbit’s body functions well.
More than that, Vitamins A, C, K, and E also protect your bunny from illnesses, such as infections and some types of cancers.
Can Rabbits Eat Peach Branches or Stems?
We do not recommend giving your rabbit peach branches or stems. The branches and stems of peaches contain cyanide, a highly poisonous chemical for rabbits.
Avoid feeding peach branches or stems to your rabbit. Always make sure that before giving your rabbit peaches, the branches and stems have been cut off. Don’t risk giving your rabbit any toxins that will harm its body.
Can Rabbits Eat Peach Leaves?
Giving rabbits peach leaves is not recommended. Just like branches and stems, peach leaves can also contain cyanide. Remember to remove the leaves from the peaches before serving them to your pet.
Can Rabbits Eat Peaches in Cans?
While it’s generally safe to give your rabbit peaches in cans, keep in mind that these preserved fruits are high in sugar. Foods that contain high amounts of sugar can upset your rabbit’s stomach.
Other than that, canned peaches have lots of additives and preservatives to prolong their shelf life. These additives and preservatives can affect your rabbit’s digestion.
Also, giving canned peaches more than the recommended amount every day can do more harm than good. Rabbits receiving lots of sugar daily can get overweight and eventually, obese.
With these in mind, it’s best to serve fresh peaches to your rabbit.
Can Rabbits Eat Frozen Peaches?
Frozen peaches are a choking hazard. We do not recommend giving your rabbit frozen peaches and fruits.
Like canned peaches, frozen peaches also have tons of sugar, additives, and preservatives, which aren’t particularly healthy for your bunny. Fresh peaches would always be the prime choice in serving peaches to your rabbit.
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Peaches
1. Nectarines and peaches are considered twin sisters!
We bet you’ve confused the two very similar fruits. Although they’re so alike, nectarines and peaches are twins, with their skins being their only difference. Peaches have fuzzy skin, and nectarines have smooth skin.
2. National Peach Month is celebrated every August.
There is a time of celebration for everything! Every August, Americans celebrate National Peach Month. During this month, peaches are said to be at their peak.
You might be tempted to give your rabbit lots of peaches this month! While it is generally safe, keep in mind that you should follow the recommended intake of ¼ to ½ cup of fruits and vegetables combined.
Remember to remove all the branches, stems, leaves, and pits before serving!
3. The world’s largest peach in the world is 10,000 pounds!
Yes, that’s correct – a whopping 10,000 pounds! The most gigantic peach in the world is in Gaffney, South Carolina.
4. A peach’s fuzz is its defense mechanism.
Does a peach’s fuzz tickle you? Well, it does more than that. Peaches have fuzz for defense. Their fuzz helps protect the fruits from anything, like animals, insects, and harsh weather, that can potentially harm their tree.
5. Peaches are a symbol of good luck and energy.
Peaches originated in China. Since then, the fruit has been considered a symbol of good luck. Other than that, the fruit also represents protection and longevity. For this reason, peaches are used in wedding ceremonies.
In Korea, peaches are a sign of good energy. Koreans believe that this fruit helps drive negative spirits away.
On the other hand, Hungary considers peaches a symbol of calmness. Hungarians use peaches as a natural sedative to overcome stress and anxiety. Peaches are also used in their country to promote good sleep.
Summary
Can rabbits eat peaches? Yes! Rabbits can enjoy peaches in moderation. It’s a yummy fruit safe for rabbit consumption. However, it is necessary to remove its branches, stems, leaves, and pits as they contain cyanide, a harmful chemical to rabbits.
Once you’ve removed all those parts, your rabbit can munch on this delicious fruit following the recommended intake mentioned in the article.
