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
Rabbit.org lists garlic and onions among vegetables to avoid, describing them as immunosuppressive. The RSPCA lists onions, leeks and garlic among foods rabbits should not eat.
The onion family causes red blood cell damage in several animals. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes onion and garlic poisoning in cats, dogs and farm animals, caused by sulfur compounds that damage red blood cells and can lead to anemia. The manual does not give rabbit-specific doses, which is one reason rabbit groups simply say to avoid these plants entirely.
Signs to watch for
- Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, scallions and chives
- Onion and garlic powder in seasoned foods
- Leftover soups, stews, salads and sandwiches
- Bagged salad mixes that include green onion or chives
- Garden beds and balcony pots of onions, garlic or chives
- Weakness, pale gums or a drop in appetite in the days after exposure
What to do if your rabbit eats it
- Remove any remaining onion or onion-flavored food.
- Call a vet, even if your rabbit seems fine, since signs can appear days later.
- Note what was eaten, roughly how much and when.
- Do not try to make your rabbit vomit. Rabbits cannot vomit.
The onion family
Onions belong to the Allium family, which also includes garlic, leeks, shallots, scallions and chives. The RSPCA names onions, leeks and garlic on its rabbit avoid list, and the same caution makes sense for every member of the family.
Powdered onion and garlic deserve extra care. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that concentrated forms such as dehydrated flakes, powders and dry soup mixes are commonly involved in onion poisoning in pets.
Hidden onion in human food
Most rabbits find onion through leftovers rather than a raw bulb. Soups, stews, sauces, stuffing and salads often contain onion or garlic, and the RSPCA lists processed foods among the things rabbits should not eat.
Vegetables taken from a cooked dish are not plain vegetables anymore. A carrot or a piece of celery that has simmered with onion carries the same risk.
Why problems can show up days later
Onion poisoning works slowly. The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that, in the species studied, damage to red blood cells begins within about 24 hours, while the anemia itself usually develops three to five days after eating onion.
A rabbit that seems normal on the day it ate onion should still be seen by a vet. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists signs such as weakness, lethargy, pale gums, fast breathing and loss of appetite.
Common questions
Are onions good for rabbits?
No. Rabbit.org lists garlic and onions among vegetables to avoid, describing them as immunosuppressive.
Are onions bad for rabbits?
Yes. Signs of poisoning to watch for: onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, scallions and chives; onion and garlic powder in seasoned foods; leftover soups, stews, salads and sandwiches.
Are rabbits allowed to have onions?
No, keep them away from your rabbit. If your rabbit eats some anyway: remove any remaining onion or onion-flavored food.
Can rabbits eat green onions or chives?
No. Green onions and chives belong to the same Allium family as onions and garlic, which rabbit welfare groups list among foods rabbits should not eat.
Is garlic a natural remedy for rabbits?
No. Rabbit.org lists garlic among vegetables to avoid, and the RSPCA lists garlic among foods rabbits should not eat. Ask a vet about any health concern instead of using garlic.
Sources
- Rabbit.org. Best Vegetables for Rabbits: A Healthy Diet Guide (Paige K Parsons; adapted from WabbitWiki).
- RSPCA. What Do Rabbits Eat? Rabbit Diet Advice.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals.
- House Rabbit Society. Healthy Rabbit Diet.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Disorders and Diseases of Rabbits.