If your rabbit has eaten something harmful, or stops eating or passing droppings, contact a veterinarian who treats rabbits right away, even if your rabbit seems fine. Rabbits cannot vomit, so do not try to make your rabbit throw up.
Why
Rabbits are among the animals most affected by avocado. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center explains that avocado is primarily a problem for birds, rabbits, donkeys, horses, sheep and goats, and that the biggest concern in birds and rabbits is cardiovascular damage and death.
The Merck Veterinary Manual lists rabbits among the species susceptible to avocado toxicosis, which can damage the heart muscle and, in nursing females, inflame the mammary glands. The fruit, leaves, stems and seeds have all been linked to poisoning, and the leaves are the most toxic part. The manual identifies persin as the toxic principle.
The RSPCA lists avocados among the foods rabbits should not eat.
Signs to watch for
- Guacamole, avocado toast, salads and smoothies left within reach
- Avocado skin and pits in kitchen bins
- Avocado trees grown indoors from a pit
- Breathing difficulty, lethargy, weakness or swelling after possible exposure
- A rabbit that stops eating after getting into food
What to do if your rabbit eats it
- Remove any remaining avocado from your rabbit's reach.
- Call a vet straight away, even if your rabbit seems normal, because heart effects can appear later.
- Note what was eaten, which part of the plant, roughly how much and when.
- Do not try to make your rabbit vomit. Rabbits cannot vomit.
- Bring a sample or a photo of what was eaten to the vet.
Why avocado is dangerous for rabbits
Avocado contains persin, which the Merck Veterinary Manual identifies as the toxic principle. In susceptible mammals and birds, avocado can cause damage to the heart muscle, and in nursing mammals it can cause inflammation of the mammary glands.
The Merck Veterinary Manual describes how animals that develop heart damage may show lethargy, breathing difficulty, swelling under the skin, coughing and reduced ability to exercise, with signs developing within 24 to 48 hours. Waiting to see whether symptoms appear is not a safe plan.
Avocado trees grown from a pit
Many households sprout an avocado pit into a small houseplant. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that the leaves are the most toxic part of the plant, so an avocado tree in the living room is a real risk for a free-roaming rabbit.
The RSPCA also lists house plants generally among things rabbits should not eat. Keep avocado plants in a room the rabbit cannot enter, or out of the house altogether.
What happens at the vet
The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that no test is currently available to confirm avocado toxicosis, so the vet relies on the history of what was eaten and on the rabbit's signs. Telling the vet exactly what the rabbit ate, and when, makes a real difference.
Treatment for avocado poisoning is supportive and aimed at the signs the rabbit shows, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual.
Common questions
Is avocado good for rabbits?
No. Rabbits are among the animals most affected by avocado.
Is avocado bad for rabbits?
Yes. Signs of poisoning to watch for: guacamole, avocado toast, salads and smoothies left within reach; avocado skin and pits in kitchen bins; avocado trees grown indoors from a pit.
Are rabbits allowed to have avocado?
No, keep it away from your rabbit. If your rabbit eats some anyway: remove any remaining avocado from your rabbit's reach.
Is a tiny bit of avocado okay for a rabbit?
No amount of avocado is considered safe for rabbits. The ASPCA names rabbits among the animals for which avocado is a serious concern, so even a small piece is a reason to call a vet.
Can rabbits eat guacamole?
No. Guacamole combines avocado with onion and garlic, which the RSPCA also lists among foods rabbits should not eat. Call a vet if your rabbit has eaten any.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Avocado (Persea spp) Toxicosis in Animals.
- RSPCA. What Do Rabbits Eat? Rabbit Diet Advice.
- House Rabbit Society. Healthy Rabbit Diet.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Disorders and Diseases of Rabbits.