Image of rabbits and pears. the caption reads "can rabbits eat pears."

Yes, rabbits can eat pears but should only be fed in limited qualities as a treat. Most veterinarians recommend pears to be fed at a rate of 1-2 teaspoons per 2 pounds of body weight. If your rabbit is overweight, then you should not be feeding pears or any other fruit.

Can rabbits eat pears

As stated above pears are safe for rabbits to eat but remember that they are only to be used as an occasional treat. Our pet rabbit, Mr. Bunny gets a small amount of pear or other fruit about twice a week. Some fruits are healthier than others. If our rabbit had is pick, he would choose a banana over a pear every time.

Pear Skin on or off?

Pear skin is the healthiest part of the pear for your rabbit. You should only feed pear skin if it is organically grown and washed well.

Are pear seeds bad for rabbits?

Rabbits should never be given any type of seed including pear seeds. They contain to many fatty oils, are calorie dense, hard to digest and cause obesity in rabbits. Some “rabbit pellet-food” companies will add seeds or corn into the mix, avoid these at all costs!

Organic vs Non-organic pears

If you have the option buy organic you should, rabbits are very sensitive to certain pesticides and herbicides. Long term digestion of these chemicals can cause digestive tract problems and may shorten the lifespan of your rabbit.

If you can not buy organic pears for your rabbit, then you should remove the skin from the pear. Always make sure to wash and dry your fruit well before feeding your rabbit whether it is organic or not.

Can you feed your rabbit dried pears?

I Personally do not recommend feeding your rabbit dried pears or any other dried fruit for that matter. Why? It is to high in sugar and losses some of its health benefits. When a pear is dried it concentrates the sugar in the fruit and it can be very easy to over feed your rabbit.

There is nothing dangerous about your rabbit eating dried pears though and can be done in very small amounts.

Pear Nutrition Information for rabbits

Pears contain vitamin C, but rabbits do not need any amount of this vitamin. Vitamin C in large amounts can cause kidney failure in rabbit but this is not something you should worry about. The good news is that pears do contain some soluble fiber which is very beneficial to your rabbit’s digestive health. The biggest health benefit for your pet rabbit is that pears do contain a significant source of antioxidants that help fight cancer.

When can you start feeding pears to rabbits?

Rabbits are ready to start eating very small portions of pear or other fruits after they have been eating hay for at least 2 weeks or more. Start small, like ½ a teaspoon once or twice a week and see how your rabbit tolerates the new food. Remember that hay is the most important food for your rabbit to eat and makes up a large portion of the best possible diet for your rabbit.

If you see any diarrhea or very small poop pellets discontinue feeding pears and try a different fruit.

Overeating pears

Rabbits can become addicted to pears, any fruit for that matter. This is another reason to only feed fruit occasionally as a treat. If your rabbit happens to get into a pear without authorization and completely gorges himself  don’t worry.

Occasional overeating of fruit a couple of times a year is nothing to concern yourself with. Your rabbit may have some messy poop pellets but he or she will be just fine. I remember when our pet rabbit, Mr. Bunny jumped into our trash can one night and ate himself full of discarded fruit and potato chips. Now our kitchen trash can has a lid!

Pear Alternatives for your pet rabbit

There are many other fruits besides pears that your rabbit will love. Our pet rabbit, Mr. Bunny loves these fruits the most.

  • Bananas (once weekly only)
  • Apples
  • Strawberries
  • Peach
  • Cherries (remove pits)
  • Mango
  • Melons (any type is fine)

Proper Rabbit Diet and Nutrition

Diet is the most important key factor that will determine how long your pet rabbit lives. Here is some helpful nutrition information that will keep your rabbit healthy and happy for many years.

  • Timothy hay is the most important food for your rabbit and should be offered in unlimited quantities daily. The fiber in the hay is what keeps your rabbit alive! Never feed alfalfa hay to an adult rabbit, it contains way too much protein and can lead to many health issues.
  • Pellets that are timothy based should be fed to your rabbit at about a 1/4 cup per 3 pounds of bodyweight. Make sure that the pellets you are feeding your rabbit contains at least 18% fiber and has no corn or seeds as an ingredient.
  • Leafy greens are important also and should be fed at a rate of one packed measuring cup per 3 pounds of body weight at the minimum. I have always fed my rabbits about 2 to 2 ½ cups of leafy greens and have had very happy, long living rabbits.
  • Fruit, like pears is important in small quantities. I choose to feed my rabbits fruit only twice per week since I favor giving them Oxbow Veggie Treats. My rabbits go nuts for them and they are somewhat healthy and contain 10% fiber.

More on rabbit diet information here.

GI Stasis and rabbits

It is important to keep in mind that rabbits have sensitive digestive systems and they must have a lot of fiber to stay healthy. If a rabbit can consume large amounts of pear or other fruits over an extended period, it is possible that they could end up getting very sick.

If your rabbit does not get adequate fiber it possible his or her digestive tract could shut down. This is called GI Stasis and can be fatal to rabbits within 24 hours. It is a painful and cruel death that no rabbit should have to face.

Other factors that contribute to GI stasis are:

  • Stress
  • High starch diet
  • Lack of exercise
  • Pain from injury or disease

Symptoms include:

  • Small or oddly shaped poop pellets
  • Not pooping
  • Head tilted to one side
  • Acting odd or lethargic

If you suspect GI Stasis it is important to get your rabbit to a qualified rabbit veterinarian now.

Questions or comments

If you have questions or comment about your pet rabbit eating pears or anything, please comment below or contact me by email.

About the Author

My name is Vanessa and I love my buns. My current house rabbit is Mr. Bunny, he is a black and white Dutch that just turned 9 years old.

I believe that rabbits are a magnificent animal that make great pets for SOME people. My mission is to share what I have learned about rabbits over the past 20 years to improve the relationship between our pets and us. Please contact me or comment if you have any questions or comments.