Question about dark greens…

[Al2]

I know that darker greens are generally the healthiest choice but I was wondering if I should be worried about the amounts of calcium in some of the veggies listed as a “try to feed at least one a day” item on the diet list on this site. I don’t know very much about the amounts of calcium in these veggies but I know that spinach, bok choy and kale all have calcium. How often and which calcium-rich veggies do you guys feed your rabbits and how often? How much is too much? I usually stick with lettuce, but I would like to add more variety to my bun’s diet.

 

Thanks!

Alice and Frank

[jerseygirl]

Personally, I don’t worry about calcium in vegetables now. Actually, I don’t think you need to worry about it unless your rabbit has problems with calcium and in that case, a vet should guide you in their diet. Calcium in dark greens isn’t absorbed readily and many of they veggies have diruetic properties so that actually helps pass calcium out through the pee. It is normal for rabbits to pass excess calcium this way.  For dietry calcium, i believe pellets and certain hays like alfalfa contribute to higher calcium levels than veggies.

If anything, I’d be more concerned about these veggies giving gas so you’d have to test them out slowly.

[Karla]

I have to admit that I didn’t use to care about the calcium level, but I do now. There is a thread here about calcium in greens and which greens it concerns.

https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aff/1/aft/109807/afv/topic/Default.aspx

I think we came to the conclusion that only rabbits who have a genetic disposition for sludge will have a problem with calcium…however, how will you know if your rabbit is likely to get it before it is too late? That’s the trick part.

Just make sure you rabbits get various greens and well do take a look at the list in the other thread, so you at least know the difference between some of the greens.

[HatterBunny]

Hatter gets Romaine Lettuce, Parsley and Cilantro every night. Once a week I will through in a couple of leaves of spinach. Of course he has unlimited Timothy hay and only twice a week do I give him pellets (he is not a big fan of the pellets, but I found if I limit his intake he is actually a lot more happier). Don’t know if this helps but I hope it does!

[Sarita]

As far as calcium – pellets are a bigger culprit than green vegetables.

[Elrohwen]

I personally don’t worry about calcium in my veggies. Neither of my rabbits seem predisposed to sludge problems and I think pellets have way more calcium anyway, so I would cut back on those first.

[corpathina]

i’m reading a book right now called “the man who ate everything” and the author describes how many plants have developed nutrition blockers and inhibitors as a defense mechanism against being eaten. therefore, most veggies are not very nutritious unless blanched. i was discussing it with my boyfriend today and we both agreed that this probably holds true in feeding them to rabbits. i doubt very much you have to worry about getting too MUCH calcium.. if anything, i would suspect most of it is not absorbed. also, because of the inhibitors found in greens like spinach, i wonder if that is why we are told they are “toxic” in mass quantities over time? it would make sense to me that consumption of them over time would keep bunnies from absorbing the required nutrients even if they are getting them in their pellets.

of course, i don’t know much about this and i’m just speculating on all of this. perhaps that isn’t the main reason (or a reason at all) we are cautioned against too much of certain greens, but it sure would make sense to me if this were a contributing factor.

interesting, nonetheless!

[Author]

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