Monthly Archives: March 2012

9 Common Causes Of Rabbit Poisoning

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1. Human Medications

You must never give medications meant for humans to your rabbit, unless you are specifically instructed by your rabbit’s vet. Never leave your medications in a place where curious rabbits can get to them to nibble on. We all know how bunnies can hop up onto impossible places, unexpectedly. Most human medications are very toxic for a bunny. Even benign over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can kill your rabbit. Simply don’t leave them laying around in your rabbit’s areas.

2. Insecticides

Insecticide poisoning is much more common than you might think. Almost all bug killers will also kill your rabbit, some in very small doses. Insecticides are intentionally formulated to last a very long time, so their residue can remain for many months. Never use or store insecticides around your rabbit’s abode or play areas.

3. People Food

Chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to rabbits. Humans have an enzyme that breaks down this toxic substance, but rabbits don’t. Too much chocolate will cause a high heart rate and seizures for your bunny. Another common toxic food is xylitol (the sugar substitute). Xylitol can cause seizures and liver failure in your pet. one very common human food that can be fatal for your rabbit is chewing gum. If they ingest gum, it can create an obstruction that will not digest. Should you discover that your rabbit has eaten any of these things, it is cause for an emergency visit to his vet.

4. Household Products

Most household detergents and cleaning products can be toxic for your bunny. Never use anything but a diluted vinegar and water solution to clean their abode areas and litter box. If you must use another type of cleaner, try and find an organic cleaner or rinse very thoroughly to remove all traces of it before allowing your rabbit into that spot.

5. Veterinary Medications

Another common toxicity problem is when rabbits receive the wrong amount or wrong medication that was prescribed by his vet. Be certain to go over dosage amounts and times with your vet BEFORE you leave his office. If in doubt, call him and clarify it before giving it to him. Medication dosages for rabbits are precisely measured according to their weight. It is very easy to give him too much, if you are not careful. Never skip dosages and never substitute medication from other pets.

6. Rat & Mice Poisons

You must be extremely careful when putting out poisonous bait for rodents, if at all. You can never let your rabbit become exposed to these deadly products. Most baits are grain based, which can be enticing for a rabbit. Just a few nibbles can result in a slow and painful death for your bunny. Best to not employ these types of rodenticides on your property if you have rabbits.

7. Plants

Most house plants are poisonous to bunnies. Rabbits have lost the ability to distinguish between good and bad foods since becoming domesticated, so rabbits will often ingest parts of a house plant if they can get to it. You should also be careful that plants do not drop or shed leaves and flowers into your rabbit’s area. When allowing your rabbit his supervised play time in the yard, you must be very careful to not allow him to ingest toxic plants that may be present there, as well. Many common backyard plants are poisonous.

8. Lawn and Garden Products

When letting your rabbits run and play on the grass, you must insure that no fertilizers or herbacides have recently been applied. Many public parks now regularly treat their grass with strong long-lasting herbacides to reduce weeds in their grass. These chemicals have been shown to be very bad for pets who eat and play on this grass.

9. Automotive Products

Poisonous anti-freeze and automotive chemicals should never be present in the areas that your rabbit lives, but that does not mean that there are not bunnies who are poisoned by these substances every year. Keep them away from curious bunnies to avoid any chance of accidental poisoning.

If you have any reason to suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please contact your rabbit veterinarian immediately.

What’s Up With Stew-pid People?

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Seven buns out for a walk at the street fair last week.

As you know, I take my rabbits out of the house with me all the time and whenever I am at a large event with a lot of people, I always seem to hear the same stupid comment at least once during my outing: “MMmm, rabbit stew!”

Often I will hear this same ridiculous utterance a couple of times in the same day and I can never figure out why so many people feel compelled to make this ignorant statement. When I took my bunnies to the street fair last week, I was barely into the crowd when a guy stopped me to tell me that he used to raise rabbits… and then eat them! Then the fool goes, “YUM.”

Now I actually have no problem with rabbits who are raised for food and eaten. I am not a vegetarian and so I cannot expect other non-vegetarians to not eat rabbit. What I have a problem with is someone inferring that they want to eat my pet rabbit!

To me this is no different than if I was from an Asian country where they eat dogs regularly and coming up to an American to tell him that I want to eat his German Shepherd for lunch. I think it is a cruel and crass thing to say to someone about their pet, regardless if it is a dog, rabbit or pet pig.

Yet, rarely will a week go by when I do not hear someone tell me this. I find it appalling and rude, to say the least.

Most people say it as if they were making a joke, but more often than not, there is a slight tone of being mean spirited with their sarcastic statement. My wife and I are very quick to reply that we do not find this funny at all. Some people just smirk and laugh because they know that their arrow hit it’s mark.

I used to just ignore people when they used to say it to me, but I am a believer that ignorance should be painful and if I could give the person a Benny Hill slap upside the head, maybe it would make them think twice before saying that to another pet rabbit owner.

So please do me a favor; if you see me with my rabbits out for a walk in their strollers, please do not approach me to tell me that you want to eat my rabbits. It just tells me that you are truly a stew-pid person with no regards for other people’s feelings.

The Bunny Guy