Is watermelon rind healthy for rabbits?

Answer 1

No, watermelon (rind and fruit) isn't healthy for rabbits. It's too high in sugar (even the rind), and not high enough in healthy nutrients.

Sometimes watermelon is good, sometimes it is okay. Watermelon is a treat. Treats (like fresh fruits, carrot) should be limited to a bite every couple of days (assuming your rabbit can handle them and doesn't get diarrhea; and otherwise is eating a healthy diet). Watermelon is an especially sugary treat so it should be especially limited.

Rabbits eat a diet mostly of hay. They also eat some high quality pellets, and should have access to fresh water. Fresh greens can become a part of your rabbit's diet slowly (too much too quickly can result in digestive problems). See the related question about the rabbit diet below.

Answer 2

Although some people give watermelon rinds to their pet rabbits, it can be dangerous for them. These are some of the risks:

• Poisons -- make sure you wash the rinds with vegetable soap to remove pesticides, herbicides, and other poisons
• Overeating -- watermelon rind has no nutritional value for rabbits, so it should be considered a treat; if rabbits eat too many treats, they'll spoil their appetite for hay and this can make them very sick.

See the link below for a discussion about rabbits eating watermelon rinds. See the related question below for more info about the rabbit diet.