These 10 foods could harm your bunny you didn’t know about

Rabbit owners are responsible for ensuring their pets have a healthy, balanced diet that meets all their nutritional needs. A rabbit’s diet is pretty simple – they need unlimited amounts of grass hay, such as timothy hay, plus a variety of vegetables and fruit treats. Even though bunnies are herbivores, not all plant-based foods are safe for them to eat! There are a number of foods that you should never feed your rabbit, as the effects could range from gastrointestinal upset to even death. Make sure to steer clear of these 10 foods that are harmful, toxic, or simply bad for bunnies when choosing their next meal!

Lettuce with icebergs

You might be surprised to learn that rabbits should not eat iceberg lettuce! Despite the fact that leafy greens are an essential part of any bunny’s diet, iceberg lettuce contains lactucarium, a chemical that can be very dangerous to rabbits if ingested in large quantities. Iceberg lettuce is also very low in nutrients, so it’s not a good addition to your pet’s diet.

The grain

You shouldn’t give your rabbit any grains or grain-based products, even though grains aren’t technically toxic or harmful for rabbits. Your bunny may suffer nutritional imbalances and obesity as a result. In fact, rabbits should not be fed any processed foods made from grains, such as crackers, bread, or pastries.

It’s beans time

We all know that beans are not the gentlest on the digestive system – and their effects are even more severe in rabbits. Rabbits should not be fed beans, raw or cooked, since they can cause gassiness, bloating, and problems with their gastrointestinal tract.

The avocado

You might not believe it, but avocados are one of the most dangerous foods for rabbits! This is because avocados contain a substance called persin in abundance in their skin, meat, and pits – and that compound is highly toxic to rabbits. Despite eating small amounts of avocado, the persin in it can cause breathing problems, and eventually heart failure.

Whether it is onions or garlic

In more precise terms, rabbits shouldn’t consume allium-type vegetables, such as onions, leeks, garlic, chives, and shallots. In rabbits, n-propyl disulfide in these vegetables causes hemolytic anemia, or the loss of red blood cells. In addition to pale gums, dizziness, lethargy, and loss of appetite, hemolytic anemia has several other symptoms. This condition can be fatal if left untreated!

The potato

There is no doubt that potatoes are not the right type of food for your bunny, whether they are raw or cooked. A rabbit’s gastrointestinal system can be upset by potatoes, because they are a food high in starch. A substance called solanine is also present in raw potatoes, which can cause lethargy, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain. In case you were wondering, the leaves, vines, and flowers of the potato plant are poisonous to rabbits, so stay away from anything potato-related.

Species of mushrooms

All mushrooms are potentially toxic to rabbits, not just wild, mysterious-looking mushrooms. Rabbits are poisoned by mycotoxins, which are commonly found in mushrooms (wild and cultivated). Despite the fact that mushrooms from the supermarket are probably not deadly for your bunny, they can still upset their stomach and cause GI upset.

Seeds or pits of fruits

Remove all pits and seeds from fruit before offering it to your pet bunny, as many contain cyanide. Although the quantities may be small, you shouldn’t feed your bunny seeds and pits of these fruits – the most common examples of cyanide in seeds are apple and pear seeds, but apricot, peach, mango, cherry, and plum pits may also contain it.

The rhubarb plant

Rhubarb is one of those plant-based foods that shouldn’t be included in a pet’s diet, even if you love it in desserts. If consumed in large quantities, it can cause bloating, swelling of the mouth, diarrhea, and lethargy due to its high oxalic acid content. If you have rhubarb growing in your garden or leftovers in the kitchen, don’t feed them! Oxalic acid interferes with calcium absorption, so don’t feed them!

The nuts

Even though your bunny would undoubtedly enjoy nibbling on some nuts, they aren’t a great choice of food for rabbits, either. As well as being a choking hazard for your pet, nuts are also very high in fat, which is not compatible with a rabbit’s digestion. Since they are herbivores, they eat low-fat foods, such as nuts, which can cause serious digestive issues.

As a final note, you should not give your rabbit any foods from your plate, such as meat, milk, processed foods, sweets, or chocolate. Keep your bunny happy and healthy by feeding him only approved vegetables and fruits!