That moment that you realize that your rabbits have been eating your favorite plant
It only takes your back to be turned for a second for one of your house plants to be mowed down or stripped of its bark by a hunger bunny.
It is essential to bunny proof your house plants, not only is this frustrating if they are eaten it can also be harmful as many plants can be toxic to bunnies.
In this guide we show you some great ways other bunny parents have found to keep their plants out of reach and safe.
And we show you some of the hidden dangers that can harm your bunny.
Don't take any chances, follow this guide to make sure you can relax with your bunny out safely.
Dangers to look out for
It's unlikely you are going to be able to teach your bunny not to chew your plants, the best way to bunny proof them is to move them out of harm's way by either placing them on a shelf or piece of furniture that cannot be reached by your bunny.
Make sure your plant is on something solid so your bunny cannot topple it over and be careful of table clothes that trail down as bunnies have a habit of tugging at things and could pull the plant over itself.
The soil can also contain materials that could be saturated with chemicals that can be harmful if eaten so you should make this off limits.
It's also important that your bunny can't get to the water as this can be contaminated with plant food or pesticides which are toxic.
If you water your plants from the base, make sure this cannot be reached as this can also be harmful to your bunny if they try to drink the water as it can be contaminated with plant food.
Falling leaves can also be a potential danger so always ensure that if they were to fall, they would fall into an area that also can't be reached.
Bunnies are great climbers so always check there are no overhanging branches that can be reached and there is no way you bunny can get to the plant indirectly.
If it's a larger plant that's on the floor you can also fence it off with a few sheets taken from a pet pen.
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Pet pen
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Heavy duty foldable pen
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Pet gate with door
What to do if you think your bunny has eaten a toxic plant
- Check the ASPCA toxic plants for more information and work out how much your bunny has eaten.
- Signs that your bunny has eaten something include a loss in appetite, seizures, lethargy, hunching, problems breathing, discharge from nose, gassy and painful abdomen.
- Don't panic. Many poisonous plants to rabbits can be consumed in insignificant amounts with little to no problems
- However never wait if you think there is a problem, contact a vet straight away for help
What plants can rabbits eat
A wild rabbit is normally quite safe munching on the abundance of plants they are familiar with in their environment.
However, the colorful and exotic plants you may have in your home can often be very poisonous to an unsuspecting bunny. Sadly, your bunny may not recognize a plant is toxic by its taste.