Not, only is popcorn unsafe for rabbits to eat, but all forms of corn are bad for rabbits.
Popcorn can pose a choking hazard in smaller rabbits, as well as health issues in rabbits of all sizes.
Being indigestible to rabbits, popcorn can cause impaction and gastrointestinal stasis.
Since it’s high in carbohydrates, popcorn can also cause weight gain.
Do Rabbits Like To Eat Popcorn?
Everybody likes to eat popcorn. Rabbits will also love it because they love to eat sugary foods.
Rabbits will eat unhealthy foods if we provide them. They can’t understand the health risk and the benefits of foods.
Why Popcorn is Bad For Rabbits?
Popcorn is not a food easy to digest by rabbits, as could be other appropriate cereals like oats, barley, or flax.
Also, popcorn is a food that contains a lot of fat and salt, even more so when it comes to industrial microwave popcorn.
In addition to causing digestive problems, excess fat can lead to rapid weight gain and high cholesterol in rabbits.
Excess bad cholesterol generally promotes the accumulation of non-soluble fatty plaques in the arteries, which promotes the development of cardiovascular disease.
Too much salt also affects the heart health of rabbits, which can lead to hypertension.
Too much salt or sugar can lead to bloating, diarrhea, or poisoning!
Does Popcorn Kill Rabbits?
Popcorn can kill rabbits. This food poses several hazards and no benefits, making it important to avoid.
Corn in any form (including fresh, popped, or kernel) is indigestible. It can potentially cause gastrointestinal stasis, impaction, weight gain, and other health issues.
Gastrointestinal stasis, when left untreated, can lead to severe bloating and organ failure.
What To Do If Your Rabbit Eats Popcorn
So, what if you’ve mistakenly fed your rabbit popcorn? What if it snuck a few pieces from your bowl on movie night?
Here’s how to take action:
- Before anything else, stop the problem from escalating. Remove any remaining popcorn from the rabbit’s reach.
- Then, try and give your rabbit some fresh grass hays. This should help your rabbit’s digestive tract hurry along.
- Over the next few days, introduce some extra dietary fiber into the rabbit’s diet. This will encourage it to pass the popcorn.
Over the next week, you should closely monitor your rabbit, its poop, and how much it eats.
Any variation in the following should warrant an immediate go-to vet.
