CONTRIBUTOR(S): Vetstream Ltd, Harriet Woodhall,
Festive hazards
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The festive season should be a fun time for everyone and as part of the family, our pets like to get involved with whatever is going on in the household. However, what is good for us may not be safe for them. Ensuring the celebrations are safe for our pets means everyone can have fun and enjoy the holidays.
©Pexels / Lena Glukhova
What Christmas food is harmful to rabbits?
We all like to indulge during the festive season, and there are plenty of safe treats that can be given to our pets. However, many of the traditional celebration foods can be harmful, even in small quantities.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which is toxic to rabbits, causing diarrhea, tremors or seizures, hyperactivity, and at high doses liver failure. It can be rapidly fatal, even in relatively small amounts. The darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is. Chocolate is also high in fat and sugar which is also bad for rabbits. So, don’t leave chocolates lying around and avoid leaving any underneath the Christmas tree – keep all chocolate safely out of your rabbit’s reach.Christmas pudding and mince pies
Grapes (and all derivatives, such as raisins, currants and sultanas) aren’t toxic to rabbits like they are to dogs and cats. But they are high in sugar so should only be fed as an occasional treat. Too many can cause diarrhea and other tummy problems that can cause gastrointestinal stasis. Mince pies, chocolate raisins, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding should all be avoided.Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners such as xylitol are found in many sweets, as well as chewing gum and other products such as toothpaste and mouthwash. Although rabbits are less sensitive to xylitol than dogs, high doses of any food containing xylitol can cause seizures and liver failure in rabbits. Other sweeteners like malitol, sorbitol, sucralose, saccharin and aspartame aren’t toxic like xylitol, but they may still cause diarrhea and gastrointestinal pain in rabbits, so it’s best to avoid them.Nuts
There are usually lots of different types of nuts lying around at Christmas time. Luckily nuts aren’t toxic and won’t kill your rabbit if they get into your nut stash, but they are high in fat, so aren’t particularly healthy for your rabbit. They are also a choke risk. If you feed your rabbit a lot of nuts in their diet, they will eventually cause health problems.Onions
Members of the Allium family including onions, garlic, leeks and shallots, are toxic to a lot of animals, including rabbits. They can be found in many festive foods, including stuffing. They can cause upset stomachs, but the main concern is that they can cause destruction of red blood cells, causing severe anemia. This effect may not happen for a few days after ingestion but can be extremely serious depending on the volume eaten. If your rabbit develops pale gums, weakness, lacks energy or starts stumbling around after eating onions, then you must seek immediate veterinary attention.Over-eating
As many will relate to, over-indulgence is all too easy during the festive period. Our rabbits are much smaller in bodyweight than us, and what we might consider a few small titbits can easily mount up. Gastric upsets, bloated stomachs, acute diarrhea are all best avoided by reining in the number of extras fed and keeping tempting food out of reach.What about Christmas decorations?
Decorating the house is a fun part of the season, but care must be taken to make the house safe for our rabbits during the festive period. Real and artificial Christmas trees both have different problems for rabbits. Real trees drop pine needles which can be sharp and cause irritation. Your rabbit could tread on the needles and penetrate the skin or, if eaten, they can cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Artificial trees can shed small bits of plastic, which may be eaten and cause obstruction in the gut. Trees can also be sprayed with preservatives or fake snow, which can be toxic if chewed or if leached into water at the base of the tree which your rabbit may take a liking too. Make sure your tree is secured safely with a very stable base. It may be necessary to use furniture or a fire guard to prevent your rabbit getting near the tree if they show too much interest in it! Christmas tree decorations, like glass baubles can shatter into fragments, which can be sharp and cause injury if eaten or stepped on. Shatterproof, plastic baubles or fabric tree decorations are safer, but can still cause obstructions if eaten. Tinsel can pose problems too; if swallowed it can be a choke hazard or cause an obstruction. Always keep tinsel well secured and out of reach of your furry friends. Christmas lights could cause a problem too if they’re within reach of your rabbit. They can be burnt by the bulbs or electrocute themselves by chewing through cables. More commonly, they can become entangled in the cables and panic, which can then lead to injury. Remember to unplug the lights when out, and keep cables safely taped and out of reach. Candles are something that are commonly used over the Christmas period. Enthusiastic investigation of a lit candle can be a fire hazard, and the flame and hot wax can cause burns to your rabbit’s paws or nose. Never leave candles unsupervised when lit, and preferably keep them high up or in a safe place out of reach. Decorating the house with festive plants and greenery looks wonderful, but many of the popular plants we see over the festive season can be hazardous to rabbits. Poinsettias are very colorful and Christmassy but can be mildly toxic to rabbits. If eaten the sap can irritate their skin and mouth and cause an upset stomach with drooling, diarrhea. Other Christmas greenery that can cause problems and should be kept out of reach include holly berries, leaves and plants, mistletoe berries, lilies, and laurel. Some of these are found in Christmas wreaths, so keep them out of reach of your rabbit.
What other hazards do I need to keep an eye out for?
There’s usually lots of wrapping paper lying around at Christmas. Luckily it isn’t very toxic, but if your rabbit decides to make a meal out of it, it can cause an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract. The same goes for present decorations like ribbons, twine, string, as well as chocolate and sweet wrappers! Keep all of these hidden away out of sight to prevent your rabbit from getting to them. Potpourri is another Christmas decoration we should keep out of reach. It is highly scented and can be attractive to your rabbit. If eaten, it could cause a tummy upset, allergic reaction, blockage or choking. The strong scents of potpourri could also cause respiratory problems as rabbits have a particularly sensitive respiratory system. Many Christmas toys and gadgets need batteries, so there are bound to be some kicking around the days after Christmas. Make sure they are always kept well out of reach of rabbits. If batteries are eaten corrosive chemicals can leak out and cause severe burns to the stomach and intestines. Batteries may also become lodged in the gastrointestinal tract and cause a blockage.
What should I do if I think my rabbit has eaten a Christmas hazard?
Now we know just how many hazards there are for rabbits during the festivities, it’s worth checking how you access veterinary care over the holidays in an emergency! Some veterinary surgeries will be open during the holiday season, but some will close on the Bank Holidays. All veterinary practices are required to provide some form of emergency cover, so if your usual surgery is closed, they will direct you to a nearby practice who will be covering their out of hours service. You can call your local veterinarian at any time of day or night, even if you know they are closed, and they will direct you on to the appropriate service. You may have to travel to a different practice, but there will always be a veterinarian who can see your rabbit in an emergency. If you are unsure what constitutes an emergency, you can always call for some advice. Here are some holiday hazards that may require a trip to an out of hours veterinarian:
- Ingestion of toxic foods or plants.
- Ingestion of wrapping paper or decorations.
- Ingestion of a battery(s).
- Burns.
- Electrocution.
- Off their food.
- Persistent diarrhea.
- Any other signs your rabbit isn’t themselves!