Can Rabbits Eat Mint? Which 3 Parts To Give Them

Have you ever wondered, can rabbits eat mint? Yes, of course. You can feed mints to your rabbit. Even though your fluffy hopping friends are most commonly known to love carrots, some of them might be sick of having one every day.

So why not change things up a bit and think of what other foods your fluffy rabbits can eat? Well, fruits and vegetables are often the most suggested food for an animal’s diet.

Today, it’s time for you to add a variety of foods to your pet’s diet.

But wait!

Before doing so, make sure to consult them first with your attending veterinarian, just to be safe.

In this article, let’s understand deeper rabbits and mints.

What Is Mint? Can Rabbits Eat Mint?

Have you ever tried feeding mint to your rabbit’s diet? Not the processed mint-like menthols and candies that we commonly eat but actual plant mint?

Mint or Mentha is a kind of plant which is included with the Lamiaceae family. This plant comprises the species of peppermint and spearmint.

It is a popular herb that can be used either fresh or dried for your dishes or as compliments. It can be a substitute for some seasoning mixes to reduce one’s sodium and sugar intake.

These plants are rich in vitamins, minerals, some proteins, and dietary fibers. These are most widely used in candies, toothpaste, gums even beauty products too. It can be mostly found in groceries and stores that sell herbs.

So if you wonder if rabbits can eat mint, the answer is yes, they can!

Which Parts of Mint Can be Fed to a Rabbit?

The question is:

Can rabbits eat mint? Some rabbits enjoy eating mint. But mint as a plant has many parts.

This is the cause of concern:

Are all of them good for your bunny? If not, then which ones are edible?

1. Mint leaves

You may ask, can rabbits eat mint leaves? The fact is, mint leaves are edible. They are suitable for both humans and your pets. These can be eaten either fresh or dried.

In fact, my pet, Thumper, loves this part so much. He likes the feel in his mouth. I can tell whenever I feed him one.

It can be explained by these facts:

The leaves store most of the oils and are the most aromatic part of the plant. They were widely used for cooking and compliments or ingredients in making toothpaste gums and candies. 

2. Mint flowers

Mint plants have small clustered flowers. They come in various colors.

Like the leaves, they are safe to eat for rabbits. Some take this as an alternative to the intense flavor that leaves contain. Mint flowers are full of flavors that have a fruity flavor than the leaves.

3. Mint stems

Mint stems are not standard in cooking that you don’t usually see them included in some dishes.

They have the same sharp minty flavor that leaves have. The stems that are close to the leaves shoots are the softest part of the branch. You can feed them to your rabbit too.

4. Mint roots

Well, mint roots are not toxic, not nutritious for your rabbit. These roots have no nutritional value. So it is best to feed your rabbits either of the three mentioned before.

Health Benefits of Feeding Mint to Bunny

As a part of a rabbit’s balanced diet, mints could give a lot of nutrition to your rabbit.

But like other animals, rabbits also need a few things to add to their diet like different kinds of vegetables.

Mints have an array of health benefits aside from just their taste and aroma.

Here are just a few:

• Aids in Digestion

Mints have many characteristics that are known to help with stomach disorders.

Mint as an herb has a calming effect that has been used for a thousand years to soothe the upset stomach and indigestion.

• Boosts Brain Performance

Eating mint can improve your hare’s brain performance, especially peppermints. The aroma and the essential oils present in mints can improve the brain’s reasoning, memory, and cognitive functions.

• Helps in Allergies

Mint plants contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. One of these is rosmarinic acid.

This acid can also be found in perilla, sweet basil, rosemary, and other Lamiaceae family members. 

Rosmarinic acid can suppress allergic immunoglobin to treat allergic conditions.

• Good diet

Mints have tender leaves and soft stems suitable for adding them raw to your cooking, maintaining their aromatic smell and taste.

They are rich in fiber and low on sugar and calories, suitable for a rabbit’s balanced diet. 

• Rich in antioxidants

Herbs are known to be rich in antioxidants. Mint contains a large number of antioxidants when compared to other herbs or spices.

They are known to fight cancer, arthritis, or memory loss.

Risks to Consider When Feeding Mint To Rabbits

Feeding mint to your rabbit is safe. But there are a few things you should consider before giving it to them.

Consider the following:

• Type of mint

There are various types of mints. And not all of these are good for your rabbit. Some of these are considered toxic, and one of them is pennyroyal.

You can give them lemon balm, peppermint, rosemary, and lavender.

• Dosage

Mints are safe for your rabbit to eat, but this does not mean that you can feed these to them all day long. Like other animals, rabbits need a few things to form their diets like hay or grass and water.

Too much is never good so take note of the amount of mint your rabbit eats. A leaf or two can already suffice. Too much mint can cause painful bowel movements and loss of appetite.

• Rabbit’s status

Mint plants are advised to be avoided to nursing rabbits. They are known to dry up the mother’s milk, which is not very helpful.

Mints should be avoided at this time together with parsley, sage, and other herbs present in the mint family.

This can be beneficial only for weaning rabbits that have a high risk of developing mastitis. Its milk-drying effects can prevent this illness from developing.

How To Feed Mints To Rabbits?

It is a must to wash the food before giving it to your pet. It may contain pesticides or chemicals sprayed all over it. You don’t want your pet to be exposed to these toxic materials, right?

To ensure that the flavor of the mint is not too strong for your rabbit, you can cut it into small pieces or shred it and sprinkle it into their food.

Conclusion

It is safe for rabbits to eat mints. In feeding them new food, always start slowly and don’t give them too much than what they can take. Give them little by little.

Always consult your attending veterinarians first before introducing new food to your pets.

The key to a healthy rabbit lifestyle is having nutritional food intake and a balanced diet.

With all of these, we hope we’ve helped you with deciding on whether to feed mints to your pets.

So, can rabbits eat mint? Well, you know that mints are safe so rabbits can eat mint.