With some vets contesting hairballs in rabbits, and others recomending pineapple, the use of pineapple has been debated extensively on social media – with some owners explaining what good results they had, and defending the use, while others cautioning about the adverse effect causing more damage. And… all of these people are correct – and wrong. This all depends on the context. Understanding HOW the pineapple works, is crucial to settle the debate.

First off, NO, rabbits do not get hairballs. The vets are correct. Hairballs is a different concept, in felines and even avian predators like owls, but not in rabbits. Hairballs are a digestive function where the hair – and some other materials – are pelleted by the digestive system, and expelled through regurgitation. So, it is correct to say rabbits do NOT get hairballs.

They do, however, get WOOLBLOCK from ingesting their own or their partner’s hair during grooming, esp in molting season. So, remember that your vet think much more technical, and lets talk of woolblock instead of hairballs.

Pineapple: this spikey fruit has an element called BROMELAIN.

Bromelain is a pineapple enzyme that has been shown to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, but also, it is a digestive enzyme most of all. Many of the meat tenderizers actually have bromelain in, and bromelain can even be bought as a “pure” element in many stores.

But lets look at HOW it works in rabbits. Rabbits that are molting and ingesting their hair, can for sure benefit from pineapple, as the low scale pain relief helps, and the bromelain wil help breaking down fibers… but ONLY in the first phase of digestion, in the tummy. The stomach acid renders bromelain inactive after about 20 minutes, whereafter it is only the sucrose and fiber from the pineapple that remains – which can indeed cause issues if the gut has came to a still.

The moment undisolved hair exits the tummy into the intestines, it becomes a problem, and buildup can cause woolblock, leading to impaction and full blockage. Blockages and impaction breaks down to release an extensive amount of sugars in the intestines, something vets often tests for when they have rabbits in stasis coming in.

NB: Remember that blood glucose tests are ONLY accurate after about 2 hrs minimum, after travel, if there are no other stress factors like barking dogs, foreign smells etc, as rabbits may release huge amounts of bloodsugars as part of their fight/flight responses when they stress. This will give false blood glucose readings. Vet trips and strange environments cause stress.

The moment that hair passes through the tummy and into your bunny’s intestines, pineapple will not help at all, but will make the symptoms a LOT worse.

Pineapple has some hard, rich fibers that will add up to the wool / hair and can cause even a blockage, plus all the sugars will cause a much worse spike in the amount of bloodsugars, causing your bunny to feel even worse.

Thus, while pineapple can be a healthy and good treat while they are molting, the moment they show signs of block and stasis, you should cease pineapple and any foods that have fiber and can cause a bigger block. This includes NOT giving any critical care, which is also fiber rich, but please DO give fluids while you organise a vet visit if needed.

Usually hair that was ingested into moderate amounts, will be expelled in a long, stringy poop where the hair binds the little pellets, or in a cecotroph that the bunny will not eat. This is normal, but you should check up regularly on your bun if you see these stringy poop,and increase fiber, and lessen greens to help the gut.

SO: Pineapple while they are molting can help, and if they eat less or feel bloated, but still pooping.

The moment they stop pooping or eating, NO pineapple should be given.