Rabbit care includes knowing what foods can be poisonous to your bunny and making sure they are kept away from your little pet. Bunnies are not only cute and cuddly; they are also delicate, especially when it comes to their diets. Knowing the kinds of foods and plants that can cause adverse effects and avoiding them is an essential part of good care.

Keep these Foods from Your Rabbit

Rabbits don’t intuitively know what they should or shouldn’t eat and so they will consume just about anything you give them. However, they have sensitive digestive systems, which means some food that is edible for you may harm them. In fact, many types of food suitable for humans are not fit for rabbits.

Here are some examples of human food that you need to keep away from your bunny because of the substances they contain:

Mangoes, almonds, cassava roots, millet sprouts, the seeds of apples and pears and fruit with pits contain very small amounts of cyanide, which is normally safe for humans but not for bunnies.
Avocado (the fruit, seeds, leaves and bark) contains persin, a fungicidal toxin that is harmful to all domesticated animals in large quantities.
Some brands of candy, gum and baked products contain xylitol, a sugar substitute that leads to seizures and liver failure in rabbits.
Chocolate contains theobromine, a substance that can cause rabbits to have multi-organ disease and failure.
Rhubarb, buckwheat and star fruit contain oxalates. Oxalate is a substance that prevents the absorption of calcium, which although not fatal, is harmful to rabbits.

There are many other examples of human food that you should not feed to your rabbit, and so it is best to consult your vet or the local pet store if you have any doubt about introducing a new food.

Keep these Plants from Your Rabbit

Rabbits may be vegetarians but there is actually a very long list of plants that can harm them. Familiarizing yourself with the content of the list is crucial for providing good rabbit care, especially if you decide to feed your rabbit wild plants or allow your pet to roam around the garden.

Because there are so many different varieties of plants, it’s almost impossible to compile a complete list; generally though, there is a good chance that a plant is poisonous if it’s a lily, any ivy, has been grown from a bulb, is evergreen, has berries or is fruit with a pit (such as plums, apricots and peaches). Avoid your rabbit from eating yew and nightshade at all costs.

What to do if You Suspect Your Rabbit has Been Poisoned

If your rabbit has ingested a harmful food or plant, the ill effects may not be readily apparent, so it’s important you regularly check on your pet’s well-being whether you suspect poisoning or not.

As soon as your rabbit shows signs of lethargy or listlessness, loss of appetite, loss of body temperature control (either too high or too low) or suffers a seizure, contact your veterinarian immediately so that he or she can advise you on what to do.

There are certainly many things that you need to remember about rabbit care and feeding, but it’s always better to err on the side of caution. If you are unsure about the safety of a particular plant or food, don’t feed it to your bunny.

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