Finding houseplants that are safe for your bunnies in your home can seem like an endless task since most common houseplants could harm your rabbit if ingested. Some houseplants have dangerous effects such as causing digestive problems, mouth ulcers, or worse. On the bright side, there are lots of non-toxic plants you can use inside your home that will make your home look alive without putting your pet at risk.
This article was written to help you find out what type of houseplants are poisonous to rabbits, provide pictures, non-toxic plant options that are safe for rabbits, and offer how to safely place these types of houseplants in your home. We want to give you the ability to safely pick and choose which plants to add to your home by listing different types of rabbit-safe houseplants and explaining the toxicity level of each one of them.
Plant Toxicity Levels for Rabbits
Defining What ‘Non-Toxic’ Truly Means for Your Rabbit
When I say a certain plant is “non-toxic” to a rabbit I am saying that the plant will not kill your rabbit due to poisoning from eating it normally. However, when a plant is labeled “non-toxic”, does not mean your rabbit should be allowed to eat the leaves off the plant constantly. A “non-toxic” plant simply means that a plant will not poison your rabbit under normal conditions; however, how your rabbit reacts to a particular plant depends on its (the rabbit) age, health status, genetic makeup etc. Younger rabbits have a greater risk of reaction because they do not have all of their adult detoxification enzyme systems functioning yet, nor do they typically exhibit curiosity about less palatable things.
There are many reasons why animals have different levels of resistance to toxic substances from plants; these include the inability of cats to glucuronidate certain toxins , as an example. The simple fact that a bird or squirrel eats a particular plant without experiencing harm does not necessarily mean that your rabbit will be able to do the same.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Rabbit Plant Toxicity
Promptly recognizing signs and symptoms of plant toxicity may ultimately determine if your rabbit survives this experience.
Plant toxicity in rabbits has the potential to affect all parts of their body including their digestive system, oral cavity and nervous system and thus exhibit a
variety of symptoms:
- Gastrointestinal: Painful abdomen, tender stomach, diarrhea, lack of desire to eat, reduction in feces production, grinding of teeth.
- Oral irritation: Irritation of the mouth, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, swelling at the back of the throat causing possible breathing difficulties.
- Central Nervous System (CNS): Convulsions, lethargic behavior, apathy, weakness, and uncoordinated movements.
- General physical: Reduced ability to regulate the body’s temperature (either hot or cold), hemorrhaging, vomiting and possibly death.
As mentioned earlier, certain plant families produce similar adverse reactions. Calcium oxalate containing insoluble crystals found in plants such as Pothos and Philodendrons are common causes of oral irritation and gastrointestinal distress. Saponins cause disruption in lipid composition within the cell membrane altering the cell membrane’s permeability and integrity resulting in both localized irritation and systemic effects.
Why It Is Important To Use Scientific Names Rather Than Common Names When Identifying Plants
At first glance it seems as though identifying plants is quite straightforward. However, common names used for plants are confusing since many plants can have the exact same name .While there may seem to be no real reason why the use of scientific names is important when considering whether your rabbit consumed a poisonous substance by eating a plant, using scientific names of genera and species provides accuracy in identifying a specific plant that common names cannot.
If your rabbit has eaten something, take as much of the rest to your veterinarian so he/she may properly identify what your rabbit ate, or take good quality photos.
Without knowing what your rabbit ate, your veterinarian will have great difficulty diagnosing the problem, establishing the extent of damage to internal organs, and developing a treatment plan.
The information about when your rabbit ate the item(s), how many items were eaten, and the amount eaten provides your veterinarian important clues to determine the nature of the poisoning, allowing prompt action to be taken to minimize further organ damage.
A scientific name takes away all of the guessing; whereas nightshade could represent a number of poisonous species, using the botanical name tells us precisely which one caused the problem. This accuracy is important because there are different levels of toxins found in different species and the level of toxin and the treatment method will differ among them.
Indoor Rabbit-Friendly Plants – Organized by Room
Using the light requirement categories for safe rabbit plants helps you select the best plants for each room in your home. Each area of your home receives a unique amount of natural light and selecting plants that are most likely to grow in those conditions allows both you and your rabbits to enjoy the beauty and benefits of indoor gardening.
Safe Indoor Low-Light Plants (Ferns, Prayer Plants)Spider Plant
Spider plants Chlorophytum comosum) can also do well in low-light rooms. They also come with an additional benefit for rabbit owners – they are safe for rabbits to eat although I would discourage your pet from eating too much. Spider plants can survive neglect and produce long cascading stems covered with small plantlets.
Another example of a low-light, non-toxic, partially edible plant is ferns. The bird’s nest fern (Asplenium spp.) is both non-toxic and edible to some degree. The rabbit’s foot fern (Davallia fejeensis) gets its common name due to furry rhizomes that cascade out of the container. It is fully non-toxic to pets. Both types of ferns require less than direct light and can grow well in even lower lit areas.
The prayer plant (maranta leuconeura), an interesting houseplant for pet owners, is non-toxic for pets. This makes the prayer plant safe for homes with inquisitive rabbits. Prayer Plants have leaves that are light green and display dark patterns that resemble rabbit footprints. As night falls, the leaves fold up into their stems due to a phenomenon known as nyctinasty. Prayer Plants respond to the amount of light around them by changing how they fold. In terms of toxicity, the ASPCA states that prayer Plants pose no danger to either people or pets should they ingest some leaves.
Safe light Plants for rabbits (jade plant, succulent, wheat grass)
Many types of Succulents are safe for your rabbit to be around when exposed to full sun. A number of sedums, such as Donkey Tail, produce many dense clusters of silver-green leaves along long, hanging stems. Christmas cacti bloom around the holidays and are very easy to propagate. Zebra Haworthia produces thin, dark green leaves that have white stripes running horizontally across them. Echeveria Succulents grow in a variety of colors with rosettes.
Wheat grass (family Poaceae) is not toxic to rabbits and may be used as part of a balanced rotation of fresh greens. You may remove a small bunch of wheat grass leaves and offer them to your rabbit, or you may allow your rabbit to graze a container of clean wheat grass for a short period. Be sure to limit the quantity of wheat grass offered to your rabbit, so that he does not become too accustomed to eating wheat grass and start ignoring his hay.
Indoor herbs that are rabbit-safe to eat (parsley, mint, basil)
You should be careful about what you give your pet. Herbs are good for rabbits because they are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. There are many safe and beautiful flower options for indoors that can add some color to the room without harming your bunnies.
The following options have been reported to be safe and to have some nutrient content. Roses are an option to let your rabbit eat leaves, twigs, branches and even flowers. Daisies are also an option but aren’t extremely nutritious. They will still provide your rabbit with something to snack on. Dandelion greens provide the most nutrition and especially leafy greens. Sunflowers, bell flowers (campanula) jasmine plants, nasturtiums hollyhocks, pot marigold (English marigold), lavender, chamomile, pansies, hollyhocks are other safe options.
On the other hand there is several plants that you should keep out of reach of your rabbit. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), commonly referred to as Devil’s Ivy, contains calcium oxalates. This substance creates a burning sensation in the mouth, tongue and lips if your rabbit eats it. If eaten in large quantities, this could result in swelling of the throat and difficulty swallowing. The calcium oxalate crystals create holes in your rabbits soft tissues, causing severe pain immediately upon contact. Philodendron has similar properties to Pothos and its effects include; pawing at the mouth and excessive saliva production and loss of appetite. Also known as bruxism, your rabbit may display teeth grinding along with lethargic behavior. Rarely, swelling in the back of the mouth can lead to respiratory issues.
The peace lily (Spathiphyllum sp.), has the ability to release oxalate crystals into the animal’s body upon being bitten or chewed on. The oxalate crystals are able to penetrate tissues and irritate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in many instances, ultimately leading to diarrhea. Keep a watchful eye out for; drooling, irritated mouth, excessive pawing at the mouth, and changes in behavior. In extremely rare, yet life threatening situations, swelling of the upper portion of your rabbit’s airways could occur while they attempt to breathe.
Snake plant (Sansevieria), and Aloe Vera, have been classified moderately toxic plants. Snake plants contain a compound called saponin. Upon ingestion, these compounds produce nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Due to this toxicity level, snake plants pose a low risk of serious complications for your rabbit; however, if ingested will create moderate levels of discomfort for several hours. A decrease in mobility, and elimination, and lack of stool output. Saponins function to damage cell membranes and interfere with cellular communication.
Aloe Vera is also toxic to rabbits and produces GI distress and diarrhea. If your rabbit consumes a large quantity of Aloe Vera, it can produce GI Stasis. This is a medical term used to describe when your rabbit’s digestive system comes to a complete stop. If your rabbit consumes enough Aloe Vera, it can prove deadly.
Plants That Are Toxic To Rabbits From Their Own Gardens
There are numerous garden threats for rabbits. Many plants are toxic to rabbits, and some plants are much worse than others. For example; Lilies cause immediate kidney failure. Azalea affects both the GI and nervous systems. Consumption of Azalea can produce severe health issues and/or death. Daffodil bulbs contain poisonous alkaloids that can be fatal if consumed. Oleander is toxic throughout every part of the plant. Even small amounts of oleander can be fatal. Yew leaves and seeds contain taxine, which is lethal to rabbits if consumed. Foxglove contains cardiac glycoside that disrupts normal heart rhythm and can be fatal if consumption is extreme.
In addition to the above mentioned plants that are toxic to rabbits, there is one other plant that is particularly dangerous for rabbits due to its similarity in appearance to Cow Parsley (which is a favorite snack for rabbits). Hemlock causes drooling, dilated pupils, seizures, and comas. All of these symptoms will produce rapid death. Another plant that is similar in toxicity is ivy. Ivy contains saponins that destroy red blood cells, producing anemia, weakness and diarrhea. Additionally, bulb flowers such as tulip bulbs, iris bulbs and bluebell bulbs should be considered as poisonous in their entirety
Setting up a protected area for your rabbit-safe plants is an important first step in keeping your plants safe from hungry rabbits. Rabbits are naturally drawn to lower-lying plants; therefore, using vertical space will help prevent your bunny from accessing those tempting plants.
The use of shelves and hanging baskets to physically block access to your plants provides the best protection against being accessed by your curious bunny.
Raised bed gardens elevate plants beyond your rabbit’s reach, as well as take them out of your rabbit’s field of vision. When growing plants in pots, placing them approximately knee-high makes the same type of barrier as raised bed gardening, plus offers you ease-of-use when tending to your plants. Hanging planters offer much the same benefit as hanging baskets and window boxes attached to fence rails and wall brackets keep annuals and herbs from being nibbled by your rabbit. You may also reuse your hanging basket frame upside down to provide protection to developing seedlings. If your rabbit has demonstrated impressive jumping skills, consider adding protective mesh to raised beds – however ensure that the mesh does not allow your rabbit to become entangled.
Designating areas of your home exclusively for your plants versus your rabbit helps reduce conflict between the two. Choose which part of your home you would like to share with your rabbit and design those respective parts of your home appropriately. Place your most attractive plants as far from your rabbit’s entry point into your home as feasible, ideally across from each other in a single room. By dispersing elevated planters throughout your home, you increase the visual appeal of this arrangement and have increased mobility within this arrangement, allowing you to move planters around to meet the changing behaviors of your rabbit.
Besides hay, willow branches (also known as “willow chew sticks”) help meet the natural instinct for chewing and support the development of healthy teeth; in addition, they serve to alleviate boredom. Willow sticks can be made entirely of 100% natural materials that contain no chemicals. Other natural materials like apple, aspen, and untreated pine lumber function similarly. Alfalfa cubes compressed together, willow baskets filled with hay, and cardboard also offer new alternatives for the same purpose.
What to Look for When Buying Pet-Friendly Plants
When searching for pet-friendly plants in a nursery or store, you will need to go about this process differently than looking for plants you would use for decoration. Plant names may be misleading depending upon where you live. There are numerous plants that appear to be safe, but actually contain toxins. Conversely, there are also many plants that do not resemble their toxic counterparts yet contain similar toxins. Therefore, verifying the botanical name of a plant prior to purchasing is important.
Q&A – Asking Your Local Nursery Staff
Questions
Do not hesitate to ask local nursery personnel whether the plant(s) you want are pet-friendly. The most important question you should ask is what is the botanical name of the plant?
Botanical names (genus and species) remain the same regardless of location. Common names are often different depending on region and therefore unreliable. Using an internet search engine to verify the scientific name (botanical name) of a plant could potentially prevent costly medical bills or worse – losing a beloved pet. If the staff member seems unsure about the toxicity of a particular plant, I would prefer to avoid buying the plant than take the chance that it might harm my rabbit.
FAQs
Q1. Which plants are most hazardous to rabbits? The three plants commonly found in homes that are toxic to rabbits are pothos, philodendron and peace lilies. All three contain calcium oxalate crystals which produce immediate mouth pain, excess salivation, and difficulty swallowing. In extreme cases, the crystals can also swell the neck area causing possible death. Any amount of these plants is toxic to rabbits; therefore they should never be placed in an area accessible to your rabbit.
Q2. Is it okay to let my rabbit eat spider plants? Spider plants are nontoxic to rabbits and can be considered a nutritious supplement. Just do not allow your rabbit to make a habit of eating them, because rabbits’ diets are composed mainly of hay. Occasional nibbling will not hurt your rabbit, but for optimal health, place plants in locations where they can only occasionally be reached.
Q3. How can I safely use plants with a roaming rabbit? To safely grow plants with a roaming rabbit, hang the plants from ceiling hooks (high enough off of the floor), put them on top shelf bookcases, or hang them on windowsills. Although rabbits are great jumpers, they do not climb like cats; therefore, using elevated placement is effective. Even though some plants are non-toxic, it is always better to place them where your rabbit cannot easily access them. A roaming rabbit destroys plants for play, not for food.
Q4. What are some common symptoms indicating my rabbit has eaten a poisonous plant? Some common symptoms include: Excessive drool; Pawing at their mouths; Loss of appetite; Diarrhea; Grinding of teeth; Lethargic behavior; Difficulty swallowing; Seizures; Breathing problems; Hypothermia. Take your rabbit and either a picture or sample of the plant to your veterinarian as soon as you see any of these symptoms.
veterinarian immediately.
Q5. Should I worry about pesticides on plants I buy from nurseries? Yes, pesticides and fertilizers on plants can be more toxic to rabbits than the plants themselves. Always ask nursery staff about chemical treatments and choose organic, pesticide-free options when possible. If you’re unsure about a plant’s treatment history, it’s safer to skip that purchase or thoroughly wash and wait several days before allowing your rabbit near it.
