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| Safe? | Yes, as a rare treat |
| How much | One grape, halved, for a 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit |
| How often | Once or twice a week at most |
| Best served | Fresh, washed, seedless, cut in half |
| Watch out for | Sticky droppings, raisins, juice, overweight rabbits |
Are grapes safe for rabbits?
Yes, in tiny amounts. The House Rabbit Society lists grapes among fruits rabbits can eat, and its diet guide says "high glycemic fruits such as bananas and grapes should be used only as occasional treats". The Rabbit Welfare Association says grapes should be "an occasional treat no more than once or twice a week".
Many owners have heard grapes are toxic to pets. That is true for dogs. Woodgreen says rabbits "have a much higher tolerance for the chemicals in grapes", but advises watching for sticky droppings a day or so afterwards. So for rabbits the worry is sugar and the gut, not poisoning.
How many grapes can a rabbit have?
The House Rabbit Society caps all fruit at about 1 teaspoon per 900 g (2 lb) of body weight a day. A single grape is roughly that much for a 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit. A dwarf rabbit of about 1 kg (2.2 lb) should have half a grape. Keep it to once or twice a week, and leave other fruit off those days.
How to serve grapes
- Wash it. Grapes are often sprayed; rinse well under the tap.
- Pick seedless. Or cut the grape open and take out the pips.
- Cut it in half. Smaller pieces are easier to eat and to ration.
- Check droppings. Watch for soft or sticky droppings over the next day or two, and stop if they appear.
Which grape foods are safe?
| Form | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Fresh grapes, red or green | Yes, one at most |
| Grape seeds (pips) | No, pick them out |
| Raisins, sultanas, currants | No, concentrated sugar |
| Grape juice, jelly, jam | No |
| Vine leaves | Not covered by our sources; we would skip them |
Who should skip grapes?
Leave them out for overweight rabbits, rabbits with soft or sticky droppings, and young rabbits still settling on hay and greens.
What to offer instead
A slice of strawberry or a single blueberry is a smaller sugar hit. A sliver of apple, pips out, is another option. Our rabbit safe food list, rabbit diet guide and rabbit care guide cover the rest.
Grapes and rabbits: questions
Aren't grapes poisonous to pets?
Grapes are dangerous for dogs, which is why many owners worry. Woodgreen says rabbits have a much higher tolerance for the chemicals in grapes, and the House Rabbit Society lists grapes as a fruit rabbits can have. The real issue for rabbits is sugar, so keep to one grape at most.
Can rabbits eat raisins?
We would not. Raisins are dried grapes, so the sugar of a whole grape is packed into a tiny, sticky piece that is easy to overfeed. Woodgreen warns that sticky, sugary treats can be harmful. Fresh grapes, in tiny amounts, are the better choice.
Can rabbits eat grape leaves?
None of the charity sources we read cover vine leaves. Garden vines are often sprayed, and shop vine leaves are usually preserved in brine. We would leave them out and use leaves that are on the safe lists, such as strawberry or raspberry leaves.
My rabbit ate a lot of grapes. What should I do?
Take away the rest and offer hay and water. Watch for soft or sticky droppings, which Woodgreen says can show a day or so after grapes, and for a rabbit that stops eating or sits hunched. If either happens, ring your vet straight away.
