Why can't rabbits eat lettuce?

Answer 1

Lettuces have a chemical in them called lactucarium. This causes diarrhea in rabbits. Also, lettuce has low nutritional value. Light-coloured lettuces have more lactucarium than dark-coloured lettuces, which is why light-coloured lettuces should be avoided -- they also have no nutritional value at all.

Dark-coloured lettuces are high in vitamins and minerals that are good for rabbits, and they're relatively low in lactucarium, so dark-coloured lettuces (like green leaf, red leaf, Romaine -- but not the pale inside) are healthy for rabbits in moderate amounts: you can include them in your rabbit's "salad" rotation, but rabbits should NOT be given lettuce in any great amount and should not be given lettuce daily.

Also, you should wash an vegetables you give your rabbit before you give them to it. Don't dry them after because the extra water is good for them.

Other comments:

Remember the story about Peter Rabbit and how when he got home from Mr. MacGregor's garden he was very sick.

A good medium protein rabbit pellet has all the minerals, vitamins and nutrients necessary to raise healthy rabbits.

Answer 2

Rabbits do eat some varieties of lettuce. The white/light-coloured varieties (romaine hearts, iceberg) should be avoided because they're low in nutritional value and can lead to sickness (like diarrhea). The dark-coloured varieties (fully-grown romaine, red leaf, green leaf, mesclun mix, Chinese greens) are healthy for rabbits in moderation, but too much can lead to sickness as well (like diarrhea or gas). See the related question below for more details about the rabbit diet.

Answer 3

Nothing happens it is one of their favourite meals, along with carrots and other leafy greens!

NO ICEBERG/HEAD lettuce also make sure you feed 24/7 hay!