Rabbit and cardborad/paper

[Snow]

Hiya!
Not sure if this is in the right area but my female rabbit loves boxes and paper, she loves to chew on it but i never find chewed up bits and im scared she might be eating it. I was wondering if anyone knows of what other things i can give for her to chew and play with or if its safe for her to chew and maybe eat?

Thank you!

[Bam]

Its not safe if a rabbit ingests too much cardboard and paper. It 8s cellulose, but its not proper food. A rabbit should eat lots of hay, if she fills up on cardboard and paper, she will probably not eat enogh hay. Hay is important for both the teeth and the GI function – as I’m sure you know.

Twigs from pesticide free apple or willow or other bunny safe trees (birch, linden  aspen, rowan, hazel etc) can be a good cardboard substitute, because they have nutrients and fiber and many rabbits find them very tasty. (They wont replace hay though, theres still nothing that beats hay for a rabbit).

Sometimes excess cardboard eating/chewing is a sign of a dental and/or tummy problem, especially if the bun refuses hay or eats very little of it. Rabbits will often eat more hay if you place several small piles of hay around the bun’s area. They often like eating hay from the floor (or from a fleece blanket etc that is placed on the floor).

You could perhaps restrict her access to cardboard and only let her have cardboard for a limited time every day, preferably a time when you can monitor her?

 

 

How do your bun’s poops look?

[Snow]

Thanks for the reply, i have removed all the cardboard and paper but sometimes she finds some that got left (she freeroms the house when home) dw she eats plenty of hay and poops a lot, she has a large litter tray she goes in to with the hay. Thank you for the suggestions! ill look into finding these and hopefully she will enjoy it ^^

 

[Wick & Fable]

As Bam mentioned, it’s not poisonous and imminently harmful unless there’s something on the cardboard or too much is being ingested that deters the rabbit from eating hay. One of my rabbits is an avid cardboard eater, but at the same time she is an avid willow branch and hay eater, so I am not too concerned when she eats a hole from a cardboard tube.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[GraceandFlopsie]

I agree with Bam and Wick, it is not poisonous and will not harm you buns! Cardboard can be a fun chew toy but make sure they aren’t eating too much of it, bunnies need nutrients that they can’t get from cardboard or paper!

[Author]

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