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
The Merck Veterinary Manual lists chocolate among the foods that are toxic to rabbits and should not be fed, and notes that foods containing caffeine are unsafe for rabbits. Rabbit.org describes chocolate as poisonous to most pets, and the RSPCA lists chocolate and caffeine among foods rabbits must avoid.
Chocolate's toxic ingredients are methylxanthines, mainly theobromine and caffeine. The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that chocolate poisoning is most common in dogs, but many species are susceptible, and that the effects include dangerous heart rhythm problems, restlessness, overheating and, in severe cases, seizures.
A rabbit is small, so a little chocolate goes a long way. Rabbits also cannot vomit, which means whatever a rabbit eats stays in the gut.
Signs to watch for
- Cocoa powder and baking chocolate, which are the most concentrated
- Dark chocolate and chocolate bars with a high cocoa percentage
- Chocolate cakes, cookies, brownies and chocolate-coated treats
- Chocolate eggs and gifts at holidays, often left low or in bags
- Coffee, tea, energy drinks and other caffeine sources
- Restlessness, agitation or a racing heart
What to do if your rabbit eats it
- Take away any remaining chocolate and wrappers.
- Call a vet straight away, even if your rabbit seems fine.
- Work out the type of chocolate, roughly how much was eaten and when.
- Do not try to make your rabbit vomit. Rabbits cannot vomit.
- Bring the wrapper or packaging to the vet.
Which chocolate is riskiest
Chocolate products differ widely in how much theobromine and caffeine they contain. The Merck Veterinary Manual gives approximate levels, from highest to lowest:
- Cocoa powder: about 28.5 mg per gram
- Unsweetened baking chocolate: about 15.5 mg per gram
- Semisweet and dark chocolate: about 5.3 to 5.6 mg per gram
- Milk chocolate: about 2.3 mg per gram
- White chocolate: a negligible amount, though it is still sugary and fatty
Why rabbits cannot bring chocolate back up
Rabbits cannot vomit. A dog that eats chocolate can sometimes be made to vomit by a vet, but that option does not exist for a rabbit.
Home remedies are not safe. Do not give salt, hydrogen peroxide or anything else by mouth to try to empty a rabbit's stomach, and get the rabbit to a vet instead.
Chocolate-flavored treats and holiday hazards
Chocolate often reaches rabbits through treats and celebrations. Rabbit.org's treat guide says rabbits should never eat yogurt drops, chocolate or added sugar, and some commercial snacks are dipped or flavored to appeal to owners.
Holidays bring chocolate eggs, advent calendars and boxes of sweets that sit at floor level or in open bags. Keep chocolate on high shelves or in closed cupboards whenever a rabbit is free to roam.
Common questions
Is chocolate good for rabbits?
No. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists chocolate among the foods that are toxic to rabbits and should not be fed, and notes that foods containing caffeine are unsafe for rabbits.
Is chocolate bad for rabbits?
Yes. Signs of poisoning to watch for: cocoa powder and baking chocolate, which are the most concentrated; dark chocolate and chocolate bars with a high cocoa percentage; chocolate cakes, cookies, brownies and chocolate-coated treats.
Are rabbits allowed to have chocolate?
No, keep it away from your rabbit. If your rabbit eats some anyway: take away any remaining chocolate and wrappers.
Is a small piece of chocolate dangerous for a rabbit?
Any chocolate is a reason to call a vet. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists chocolate as toxic to rabbits, and how dangerous a piece is depends on the type of chocolate and the rabbit's size, which a vet can assess.
Is white chocolate safe for rabbits?
White chocolate contains only a negligible amount of theobromine, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, but white chocolate is still sugar and fat that a rabbit should never eat. Call a vet if your rabbit eats any chocolate.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Diet for Rabbits (Laurie Hess, DVM, DABVP).
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals.
- Rabbit.org. Best Vegetables for Rabbits: A Healthy Diet Guide (Paige K Parsons; adapted from WabbitWiki).
- Rabbit.org. Treat Your Bunny Right (Amy Ramnaraine).
- RSPCA. What Do Rabbits Eat? Rabbit Diet Advice.
- House Rabbit Society. Healthy Rabbit Diet.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Disorders and Diseases of Rabbits.