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| Safe? | Yes, as a treat |
| How much | Up to 1/8 of a medium pear for a 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit; half that for a dwarf |
| How often | Once or twice a week |
| Best served | Fresh, washed, skin on, core and pips out |
| Watch out for | Pips, tinned pears in syrup, soft droppings |
Are pears safe for rabbits?
Yes. PDSA uses pear as one of its examples of a fruit that is fine "every now and again", Burgess and the House Rabbit Society (HRS) both list pear as a safe fruit, and Woodgreen names a small piece of pear as a healthy occasional treat. Pear is sweet, though, and PDSA says fruit "shouldn't be part of their daily diet" because of the sugar. So pear is a treat, not part of the daily greens. Our rabbit diet guide explains the daily mix.
How much pear can a rabbit have?
PDSA gives a clear portion: about one eighth of an apple or pear. The HRS ceiling is tighter, at about 1 teaspoon of fruit per 900 g (2 lb) of body weight a day, so about 2 teaspoons for a 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit, and an eighth of a medium pear is a little more than that. So we treat PDSA's eighth as the most a full-sized rabbit should get, and only once or twice a week, never daily. Give a dwarf rabbit, or a first taste, half that, and treat pear as that day's fruit, not an extra.
How to prepare pear
- Wash it. Rinse well under cold water to clear any residue from the skin.
- Quarter and core. Cut out the core and every pip.
- Cut a thin slice. No more than an eighth of the pear, skin left on.
- Serve fresh. Take away any left after an hour; cut pear browns and goes off quickly.
Skin, pips, leaves and tinned pears
| Part or form | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Flesh and skin | Yes, small amounts |
| Core and pips | No: the RSPCA lists fruit seeds and pits to avoid |
| Leaves and twigs from an unsprayed tree | Yes: on the RWAF list |
| Tinned pears in syrup or juice | No: extra sugar |
| Dried pear, pear juice | No: concentrated sugar |
Who should skip pears?
Leave fruit out for rabbits under about 12 weeks, and cut back for overweight rabbits, older, less active rabbits and any rabbit with soft droppings. PDSA says treats should be avoided in overweight rabbits.
What to offer instead
Apple is the closest swap, with the same eighth-of-a-fruit portion. A sliver of peach or one grape makes a change. See what rabbits can eat and our rabbit care guide.
Pears and rabbits: questions
Can rabbits eat pear skin?
Yes. The skin is fine as long as the pear is washed well. Leaving it on adds a little fibre. Just cut out the core and pips before you slice it, and keep the portion to no more than an eighth of a pear.
Can rabbits eat pear seeds?
No. The RSPCA lists fruit seeds and pits among foods to avoid, and PDSA calls apple pips, from a close relative of the pear, poisonous. Always cut out the core. A rabbit that swallowed one pip will almost certainly be fine, but ring your vet if it ate a whole core.
Can rabbits eat pear tree leaves?
Yes. The Rabbit Welfare Association lists pear leaves and twigs among safe plants. Pick them from a tree that has not been sprayed with pesticide, away from roads and dog walks, and wash them before feeding.
Can rabbits eat tinned pears?
No. Tinned pears sit in syrup or juice that adds sugar, and they are soft and cooked. A thin slice of fresh pear is the only kind worth giving.
