rabbits eat meat?????????

[carnivorousbun]

I have a female mini-lop that is probably about 1 yr old that likes meat.  She first started when I got her in January when I left my cheeseburger on the couch and she jumped up and ate part of it.  Ever since then, she has been eating any meat that anyone offers her.  Other people in the house think it’s cute and funny that she eats meat but I’m worried that it may reduce her life span.  I don’t want to lock her up and when I yell about not feeding her meat, they say " it hasn’t killed her yet" which I absolutely hate.  She is acts perfectly normal, eats all her greens and pellets but just really likes the taste of meat.   Someone please tell me if this is life threatening…..

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[Deleted User]

She’s a Cannibal LOL.

Hooley Dooley!

Heck no idea about that one ….

Dawn xx

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Wow, that is kind of peculiar. I have to say I also have no idea on that one… does she get diarrhea or anything when she eats it? Their digestive systems are not suited for digesting meat, so I find it strange if it has no effect on her.

[BinkyBunny]

Welcome Pez! Well I have to vote a big NO on meat.    A rabbit’s digestive system is not meant to digest meat. I do know that rabbits that eat cat food can develop very serious deadly digestive issues over time, so I can’t imagine a hamburger would be good either.    A rabbit can develop a serious imbalance overnight OR over a longer period of time. And when a rabbit does get sick, they can hide it so well. By the time you actually notice when a rabbit is sick, it means they are in an emergency state. So please tell your family members to stick with what we know is good for bunnies, and leave the meat to carnivores. That way no one is taking any risks, and you have a better chance at offering a healthy long life for your bunny.

Tell the people that say "it hasn’t killed her yet" That "yet" is a very dangerous waiting game. What are they waiting for? So once she’s suffering or dead, then they’ll say…eh, you were right, sorry.   What good will that do you or your rabbit?    I hope you can lay down the law with them, and more importantly that they will respect your wishes for the health of your bunny.  

Keep us updated!

[Spacehopper]

I have to agree with BinkyBunny!! Buns have a habit of hding their maldies until it’s often too late. Personally I havent’t tried my buns with meat (the boyfriend’s wafted bits of dead carcas under our buns noses, with screams from me), and wouldn’t try them on meat. I say don’t do it. 🙂 Stick with the greens.

[Bunnies4ever]

I have to agree with binkybunny and spacehopper! I would stop giving her any meat. Their bodies aren’t made for it. You wouldn’t want to lose your bunny! By the time you notice anything wrong, it may be too late! You can save yourself anguish and money.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Definately NO MEAT, I echo the reasons below.

[skunklionshow]

As a non-bunny vegetarian…why do people think its so funny to give vegetarians meat?  Is it b/c they believe its a personal choice and the power to exert meat over a vegetarian is funny?  I’m not being dead serious…I just think there’s a connection.  Tell your f&f that it is not your bun’s "personal choice" to be a vegetarian, its mandatory.  Then tell your bun to put down that chicken leg and "just say NO!" 

Some animals become conditioned to eat whatever people will give them.  Many times they are not responding to the desired food but the human’s reactions.  Like a baby that keeps doing the same thing over and over b/c mommy laughs or smiles!

[osprey]

I read a book from our local library about raising bunnies that was written in the 60s or 70s.  The book actually suggested giving rabbits a bone to gnaw on like you would a dog!  They also said that bunnies can eat fish once in a while for extra protein!  Yikes, we’ve come a long way.

 

[Scarlet_Rose]

Oh yes, I recall giving a bunny-adopter a long lecture/education when I saw one of those bonz in the rabbit cage, you know the ones you give to dogs? Well, lets just say that there was a laundry-list of other issues that I was there for (like feeding the rabbit dog food). Long story short, the rabbit ended up being taken back to the shelter because they could not meet the conditions of the adoption contract they signed (they had been given many generous days to fix the situation). It was AWFUL how that poor rabbit was being taken care of.

[MyBunnyPotato]

So I created an account to touch on this. My bunny BB has an obsession with meat. She finds it even when I think there’s no way. Opening the fridge, finding the slim jims, watching you to leave your plate even for a second. And she will take it and run. She begs too. My other bunnies… not so much, it’s just a BB thing lol. I was thinking of changing her name to porkchop. But she’s been fine. I have noticed however, if she fights the cat for wet food her poop pellets are a little soft. Gross I know. Anyway, I was googling it And came across this web page of a study showing wild meat eating rabbits. Here’s the link https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/hares-eating-meat-14012019/amp/?espv=1

No arguments just trying to shed a little light on the subject. When BB first started eating meat I freaked out.

[Bam]

This is rather interesting! Some buns really do seem to go for meat. My bunny Bam would steal pork rinds if he got the chance. A friend has a rabbit who is obsessed with meat sandwiches.

I recently saw a TV documentary about wild horses in Siberia, they used to raid villages and steal fish.

That said, we shouldn’t feed our rabbits meat or fish – of course. Hares in the Arctic  and wild horses in Siberia probably have trouble finding nutritious enough grass and plants, especially during the very cold seasons. Our rabbits luckily don’t have to resort to eating meat, but its pretty cool that they, or at least some individuals,  could if they absolutely needed to!

(This is a very old thread and we ask people not to revive old threads. I will leave this thread open for the time being though).

 

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