The common saying 'you are what you eat' is also very true for the rabbit. Research by vets and rabbit feed manufacturers has shown that most common rabbit illnesses could be prevented by feeding them a healthy diet. A healthy diet for rabbits to eat should be made up of good quality hay, grass and small amounts of fruit and veg!

However, some fruits, vegetables, other plants and flowers, and substances found around your home, are toxic to rabbits and can cause serious digestive upsets for your bunny. Rabbits are herbivores and tend not to eat poisonous plants or other foods that might make them feel ill, but it can happen, so make sure you know what’s good and what’s not for your bunny to avoid serious illness.

What Plants are Poisonous to Rabbits?

While feeding plants, flowers and other foods to rabbits can add variety, interest and nutrients, some may be harmful and cause illness and even death. Common garden plants can affect rabbits in different ways and with varying severity. The following list of plants can cause poisoning or serious illness and should be avoided:

• All plants grown from bulbs (Daffodil, Snowdrop, Tulip, Anemone, Arum and Bluebell)
• Azalea
• Buttercup
• Chrysanthemums
• Clematis
• Cyclamen
• Dahlias
• Dock
• Deadly nightshade
• Delphinium
• Evergreens, e.g. yew
• Foxglove
• Fools’ parsley
• Ground ivy
• Hemlock
• Holly
• Honeysuckle
• Hyacinth
• Iris
• Ivy
• Jasmine
• Juniper
• Laburnum
• Lily of the Valley
• Lords and Ladies
• Lupins
• Marsh marigold
• Mistletoe
• Monk's hood
• Oak
• Poppies
• Potato tops
• Privet
• Ragwort
• Red clover
• Rhododendron
• Spurges
• St John's wort
• Tomato leaves
• Wisteria
• Woody nightshade

There are others, so make sure you have correctly identified what your bunny has access to and if it’s safe for them to eat. If you’re unsure, then it’s best to avoid it!

Plants, vegetables and fruits should all be rinsed with water to remove any residues. Fruits and vegetables should be free from pesticides. Avoid plants collected from parks, the roadside or fields; they may be contaminated by exhaust fumes, pesticides, herbicides and faeces and urine from dogs, cats or wild animals.

Many houseplants are poisonous so if you have a house rabbit, keep all plants out of reach, just in case!

What Food Poisons Rabbits?

Your rabbit’s diet should be made up of mostly good quality hay and grass with a constant supply of fresh water. But you can feed other foods like fruit and veg, all in moderation. Unfortunately though, some foods we might think are fine to feed our bunnies, really aren’t.

They might not necessarily be poisonous, but they’ll make your bunny feel ill with tummy ache. Here are some common foods that shouldn’t be fed to rabbits:

• Avocado
• Beans
• Biscuits
• Bread
• Cereals
• Chips
• Chocolate
• Corn
• Dairy, e.g. eggs, cheese, milk
• Meat
• Mushrooms
• Nuts
• Oats
• Pasta
• Peas
• Potatoes
• Raisins
• Raw onions, leeks, garlic
• Refined sugar
• Rhubarb
• Seeds
• Wheat

This list isn’t exhaustive either and there may be other foods you think might be OK but aren’t. If in doubt, avoid them or check with your vet who will be able to advise you.

Common Poisonous Substances

There are some toxic chemicals that are poisonous to rabbits. Many are likely to cause serious illness and death. Here are some of the most commonly encountered substances that should be avoided at all costs:

• Anti-freeze
• Fence paints/stain products
• Household cleaning products
• Lead paint (found in old house paint)
• Products containing Fipronil (often found in cat/dog flea treatments) – NEVER use Fipronil products on your pet bunny
• Slug pellets
• Weed killers

Signs and Symptoms Your Rabbit has Been Poisoned

If high levels of toxic substances are consumed your rabbit could show the following signs:

• Increased salivation
• Diarrhoea
• Seizures
• Depression
• Pain
• Liver damage
• Skin allergies
• Heart and breathing problems
• Stomach problems
• Weakness
• Death

What to Do if Your Rabbit has Eaten Something Poisonous

If you think your rabbit has eaten something poisonous contact your vet immediately! In the meantime keep it warm, quiet and make sure it has access to fresh water and hay.

Rabbits can’t be sick, so if they ingest something they can’t be made to be sick like a dog or cat. So, other treatments MUST be given to treat poisoning. When you take your rabbit to see your vet take the packaging of the product or a part of the plant, flower or food that they’ve eaten with you. This will help your vet come to a diagnosis and decide on the best course of treatment for your rabbit.

Treatment of Poisoning in Rabbits

Treatment is possible if poisoning is identified and treated at an early stage. Treatment, recovery and long-term outcome will depend on the type of poison your rabbit has eaten and how severe the poisoning is.

Treatments can include the following:

• Activated charcoal to bind the toxins together
• Blood transfusions
• Drugs/antidotes for specific types of poisoning, eg lead toxicity and rat poisoning
• Fluid therapy and nutritional support
• Gastric lavage to flush the toxins out of the body
• Pain management
• Rapid exposure to fresh air is important in cases of inhaled toxins

Prevention is the name of the game, making your home and garden safe for rabbits can help keep them healthy! Whether you have a house rabbit or keep them outside, be mindful of what they could eat and make sure they can’t get access to any poisonous substances.

If for whatever reason you think your bunny might have eaten something they shouldn’t, even small quantities, call your vet immediately for advice.

Everypaw Rabbit Insurance

It’s always a good idea to think about taking out pet insurance for your rabbit to help with the costs of new unexpected illnesses or injuries. Rabbit insurance can give you the peace of mind the cost of medication, vet prescribed complementary treatment or surgery can be covered.  At Everypaw, we have a choice of Lifetime policies so you can find the right cover for you and your bunny.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Lapis – www.vetlexicon.com/treat/lapis

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