Content
- Characteristics of rabbits
- what rabbits can eat
- The most dangerous plants for rabbits
- Other plants toxic to rabbits
- What to do if your rabbit becomes intoxicated?
Rabbits have gained popularity as pets in recent years. Their small size, the simple care they require and their adorable appearance make them good companions, even for children.
Like any other pet, rabbits need quality food for good health. You must not only offer a diet according to race, age and size, but also be careful to avoid them. toxic plants for rabbits. PeritoAnimal presents a list of ingredients not recommended for rabbits, as well as recommendations about their diet and habits. Keep reading!
Characteristics of rabbits
the rabbits measure between 30 and 50 cm and reach a maximum of 3 kilos. They have long ears that allow them to be identified and give them a cute appearance. Its coloration is very diverse, being possible to find specimens with black, brown, white, golden, gray, spotted, painted, streaked coats, etc. They are usually furry, with rounded tails and small pink noses.
Rabbits can be found almost anywhere in the world. A wide variety of species are native to the European continent, while others are found in Africa and some in Australia. They inhabit prairies, plains, savannas and areas with abundant vegetation. They live in burrows that they build themselves and often share space with a significant number of members, as they are very sociable animals.
Rabbits have an impressive ability to reproduce, being one of the terrestrial species with the highest number of specimens in the world. With only four months of life, females reach the sexual maturity, while males reach it at six months. The gestation of a rabbit lasts from one to two months, and then up to 17 pups are born in a single birth. However, the average is 9 puppies per birth. In about 20 days, the chicks are ready to leave the nest.
Now, which plants are good and which plants are dangerous for rabbits? Find out below!
what rabbits can eat
The main food that domestic rabbits should eat is the hay, but this must be complemented with fruits and vegetables so that your body gets all the nutrients it needs, plus a small amount of feed. Be sure to wash fresh food thoroughly as it was probably sprayed with pesticides during harvesting, which can cause serious health problems for the rabbit if you eat it.
In the list below, you can know some plants and fruits beneficial to your rabbit:
- Dandelion
- Carrot
- hollyhock
- celery
- Zucchini
- Apple
- Mint
- Clover
- Cucumber
- Peach
- Strawberry
- Chamomile
- Lettuce
- Morugem
- Milkweed
- Grape
- Pumpkin
- Spinach
- Turnip
- Cress
- Mango
- Melon
If you want to introduce a new food to your rabbit's diet, it is always advisable. do it little by little. Foods such as grass and flowers should be mixed with hay to prevent the rabbit from developing selectivity towards any food. By following these recommendations, you will be offering him a balanced diet.
Contrary to popular belief, not all plant foods are recommended for these mammals, and there are some plants toxic to rabbits that you should avoid.
The most dangerous plants for rabbits
There are plants and plant foods that are really dangerous for your rabbits. Here are some of them:
- Avocado: You should never include avocado or avocado in your rabbit's diet. Even eating just once can be fatal, as it contains persin, a component that causes respiratory problems in these small mammals. It is noteworthy that persin is found mainly in the pit and bark, however, contact with the pulp can also produce symptoms of intoxication in rabbits.
- iceberg lettuce: Lettuce is one of the first foods that come to mind when we think of rabbit food, but the American variety is very dangerous for them. The reason? Contains lactucarium, a compound toxic to rabbits.
- Beet: Eating beets causes rabbits to suffer from cramps and stomach bloating, so you should not include them in your diet.
- Rhubarb: Raw or fresh rhubarb can poison your rabbit and cause death within hours. This doesn't always happen, but it's best to avoid it. Furthermore, its consumption prevents the correct absorption of calcium.
- Potato: Potatoes contain solanine, an alkaloid toxic to rabbits. Also, it's a very heavy carbohydrate for them and causes stomach problems, so it's best to avoid it.
Find out more prohibited foods for rabbits in this other article.
Other plants toxic to rabbits
There is a wide variety of plants that can be very harmful to rabbits. Also, some of them can be found almost anywhere, such as inside your home or backyard. Always pay attention to the food you offer your pet to avoid giving him one of those plants harmful to rabbits.
THE list of toxic plants for rabbits is as follows:
- black cumin
- Chuchu
- Onion
- Garlic
- Scallion
- wild garlic
- pink lily
- Scarlet Pimpernel
- shelter
- Milkweed
- Belladonna
- devil's cucumber
- tuberous begonia
- Trumpets
- Indian cane
- Hemp
- Chenopodium graveolens
- water hemlock
- meadow crocus
- Consolidates ajacis
- lily of the valley
- wig tree
- Cyclamen
- Cytisus scoparius
- Dahlia
- fig tree
- Holly
- Paradise Bird
- azalea
- Potato
- Eggplant
- Pussy
- Glass of milk
- Solanum pseudocapsicum
- clove
- American ivy
- Asparagus
- Eucalyptus
- Geranium
- Wisteria
- morning glory
- sweet pea
- Ivy
- Poison ivy
- Iris
- Hyacinth
- lantana
- Privet
- lupine
- Daisy
- Mustard
- mistletoe
- Narcissus
- poinsettia
- alocasia
- Orchid
- Peony
- Licorice
- robinia
- Rhododendron
- Rhubarb
- Tobacco
- tanaceto
- Yew
- Tulip
- bloodroot
- Elderberry
- nightshades
What to do if your rabbit becomes intoxicated?
If you suspect your rabbit has been poisoned, go to the nearest veterinarian immediately. There are symptoms that can confirm that the animal is intoxicated:
- Diarrhea
- Bleeding
- Ulcers
- Canker sores
- Convulsions
- Paralysis
- Spasms
- tremors
- tearing
- breathing difficulties
- skin rash
While going to the emergency room, you can give him a very small portion of activated charcoal to absorb toxic compounds.
And now that you know what plants are toxic to rabbits and have seen what to do in case of poisoning, don't miss the following video on 8 toxic rabbit foods:
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Toxic plants for rabbits, we recommend that you enter our Prevention section.