Why
Broccoli is on the rabbit-safe vegetable lists of the House Rabbit Society, which includes the leaves and stems, and the Royal Veterinary College, which includes the leaves and purple sprouting varieties. VCA Animal Hospitals and PDSA list broccoli as well.
Sources differ on how much broccoli to give. PDSA suggests broccoli in moderation because it can cause gas, the Merck Veterinary Manual lists broccoli leaves among foods to limit, and Pasadena Humane suggests broccoli one or two times a week. Rabbit.org takes the opposite view on gas, quoting veterinarian Susan Brown that many foods that cause gas in people do not cause gas in rabbits.
What to watch out for
- Large servings or a sudden switch to lots of broccoli
- Signs of gas or discomfort, such as a hunched posture or reduced appetite
- Soft droppings after broccoli is introduced
- Cooked broccoli with butter, cheese, salt or garlic
- Broccoli that has turned yellow or slimy
How to serve it
- Wash the broccoli well.
- Offer a small floret, a piece of stem or a leaf with the day's greens.
- Introduce broccoli on a day with no other new food.
- Watch appetite and droppings over the next 24 hours before offering more.
- Rotate broccoli with other vegetables rather than serving it daily.
How much?
The House Rabbit Society suggests keeping non-leafy vegetables such as broccoli florets and stems to about 1 tablespoon per 2 pounds (about 1 kg) of body weight per day. Pasadena Humane suggests about 1/4 to 1/2 cup one or two times a week.
Does broccoli give rabbits gas?
Sources disagree about broccoli and gas. PDSA lists broccoli and Brussels sprouts as safe in moderation because they can cause gas, while Rabbit.org quotes veterinarian Susan Brown that a rabbit's digestive tract is not the same as a person's and many foods that give people gas do not affect rabbits that way.
The practical answer is to watch the individual rabbit. Rabbit.org suggests adding one new vegetable at a time and stopping it if the droppings turn soft or the rabbit has gas problems, and gas pain in a rabbit that stops eating needs a vet.
Florets, stems and leaves
Every part of the broccoli head is on rabbit-safe lists. The House Rabbit Society lists the leaves and stems, and the Royal Veterinary College includes the leaves and purple sprouting broccoli.
The Merck Veterinary Manual places broccoli leaves among foods to give in limited amounts, together with kale, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens and cauliflower. Broccoli leaves fit best as one green among several rather than the main ingredient.
The thyroid worry about broccoli and cabbage
Some owners have read that broccoli and cabbage can affect the thyroid. Rabbit.org addresses this directly, citing a study in which rabbits had to be fed huge quantities of these vegetables exclusively for several weeks before any blood abnormalities appeared.
Feeding on that scale is far removed from normal rabbit diets. Rabbit.org concludes there is no cause for concern in feeding these vegetables in ordinary amounts.
Common questions
Is broccoli good for rabbits?
Yes, as part of a hay-based diet. Broccoli is on the rabbit-safe vegetable lists of the House Rabbit Society, which includes the leaves and stems, and the Royal Veterinary College, which includes the leaves and purple sprouting varieties. VCA Animal Hospitals and PDSA list broccoli as well.
Is broccoli bad for rabbits?
Not in sensible amounts. The main thing to watch: large servings or a sudden switch to lots of broccoli.
Are rabbits allowed to have broccoli?
Yes. Wash the broccoli well.
Can rabbits eat cooked broccoli?
Rabbit diet guides describe fresh, raw vegetables, and raw broccoli is the form to offer. Cooked broccoli made for people often comes with butter, salt, cheese or garlic, none of which belong in a rabbit's bowl.
Can rabbits eat broccoli every day?
Broccoli is better rotated than fed daily. Pasadena Humane suggests broccoli one or two times a week, and PDSA recommends it in moderation.
Sources
- House Rabbit Society. Healthy Rabbit Diet.
- Royal Veterinary College Exotics Service. Feeding Your Rabbit (Rabbit feeding guidelines, 2022).
- Rabbit.org. Best Vegetables for Rabbits: A Healthy Diet Guide (Paige K Parsons; adapted from WabbitWiki).
- PDSA. Feeding Your Rabbits.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Spotlight: Bunny Care Basics.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Diet for Rabbits (Laurie Hess, DVM, DABVP).
- Pasadena Humane. Rabbit Safe Vegetable and Fruit List.
- House Rabbit Society. Healthy Rabbit Diet.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Disorders and Diseases of Rabbits.
If your rabbit has eaten something harmful, or stops eating or passing droppings, contact a veterinarian who treats rabbits right away, even if your rabbit seems fine. Rabbits cannot vomit, so do not try to make your rabbit throw up.