Can rabbits eat yogurt or dairy products ?

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Yogurt and other dairy products are not suitable for feeding to rabbits. The following are the reasons for this:

- Lactobacillus/Acidobacillus are not a natural host of the adult rabbit intestinal tract. If they survive the passage through the acid stomach, they will not survive the anaerobic conditions of the cecum. The absence of adhesive capability may hinder the colonization of the intestinal tract by Lactobacilli.

- Adult rabbits are naturally devoid of the specific bacteria required to digest milk derivatives in the cecum and intestine.

- In the absence of Lactobacteria, milk derivatives have been shown to accelerate the onset of stasis in adult rabbits.

It has also been demonstrated by research that rabbits given cow's milk on a daily basis for several months developed rheumatoid-like lesions. The study revealed that these rabbits exhibited higher levels of nucleated cells and increased percentages of T lymphocytes in their synovial fluids compared to the control group. The observed elevations in these parameters corresponded to the severity of the histological lesions. No signs of glomerulonephritis were detected.

Yogurt diluted in water has been shown to be an effective solution for rabbits suffering from intestinal bacterial disturbances and diarrhea. This is due to its ability to protect the endemic bacterial flora and allow it to grow.

Is it acceptable to offer yogurt as a treat? It is imperative to refrain from administering these treats to rabbits. These products contain excessive amounts of sugar, which can contribute to tooth decay, a condition that has also been observed in rabbits.

Further Information

Coombs RR, Oldham G. Early rheumatoid-like joint lesions in rabbits drinking cows' milk. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1981;64(3):287-92.

Hanglow AC, Welsh CJ, Conn P, Coombs RR. Early rheumatoid-like synovial lesions in rabbits drinking cow's milk. II. Antibody responses to bovine serum proteins. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1985;78(2):152-60.

Nakata M, Honma T, Noguchi Y, Yoneda S, Fukuda Y, Yoshida S, Takubo K. Morphological changes in rabbit pleura induced by Lactobacillus casei (LC9018). Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 1987 Jul;14(7):2381-4.

Weber A, Christ-Vietor M, Schliesser T. Studies on bacterial intestinal flora of young rabbits in relation to diet and age. Zentralbl Bakteriol [Orig A]. 1974;229(1):109-16.

Welsh CJ, Hanglow AC, Conn P, Barker TH, Coombs RR. Early rheumatoid-like synovial lesions in rabbits drinking cow's milk. I. Joint pathology. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1985;78(2):145-51.

Yu B, Tsen HY. Lactobacillus cells in the rabbit digestive tract and the factors affecting their distribution. J Appl Bacteriol. 1993 Sep;75(3):269-75.

Many thanks to Susan L. for her help.

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