Rabbits are herbivores and love to eat at all times. You can put anything in front of a rabbit, and it will chew it to pieces within minutes. Whether you give your bunny its favorite vegetable or a toxic one, it will munch like there is no tomorrow. As a pet owner, you are responsible for what your pet rabbit can safely eat. So, can rabbits eat garlic?
No. It is better to avoid giving garlic to your rabbit as it belongs to the allium family. These vegetables are toxic for your rabbit. Other than garlic, avoid onions, leeks, shallots, and chives. These all have common harmful elements that can deteriorate your rabbit’s health.
Even though garlic can be toxic for your bunny, some recommend using it in a minute quantity for medicinal purposes. However, avoiding it is best. Keep reading to understand in-depth the relationship between garlic and your rabbit.
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How is Garlic Toxic for Your Rabbit?
Garlic comes from a family of vegetables containing harmful components like thiosulfate, organosulfur, etc. These elements can cause serious problems for your furry friend. The allium family vegetables can create blood circulatory issues for your pet rabbits.
Garlic can also cause your bunny to face severe digestive discomfort. It can weaken your furry rabbit’s immune system and make it easier to absorb other toxic substances. With a weak immune system, your bunny will become susceptible to catching common ailments and increase vet visits for you.
You can get an idea of how bad garlic is for your pet rabbit by this example: garlic is sprayed or grown around other plants to prevent bunnies from eating them. Rabbits have a garlic aversion and avoid the plant. Something used as a weapon against a rabbit can surely not have too many benefits for the bunny.
Can Rabbits Eat Any Part of Garlic?
The garlic vegetable contains disulfides that can destroy the blood cells of your precious rabbit. Any part of garlic, whether it is the bulb, leaves, tubers, or seeds, all things garlic should be avoided when it comes to feeding fragile bunnies.
Rabbits like to eat fresh vegetables and plants. Any processed food will be disapproved by your precious pet and can cause your rabbit digestive issues. Hence, avoid giving garlic powder or tablets.
Harmful Effect of Garlic on Your Rabbit
Garlic and allium family vegetables can cause many diseases and discomfort to your bunny. The toxic components present in garlic create an unbearable situation for your rabbit’s gut. A rabbit with an unhealthy digestive tract attracts other types of diseases. Here are a few things your pet bunny will suffer from if you feed it garlic:
Immunosuppression
Garlic damages your precious furry friend’s blood cells. As a result, the immune system of your bunny gets weak. With a weakened immune system, your bunny’s blood becomes impure and attracts diseases.
Rabbits are fragile creatures. If they get physically sick, you can observe a decline in their emotional well-being as well. Bunnies get easily startled and are anxious pets. Shock can cause heart damage if they have a weak immune and circulatory system.
Anaphylactic Shock
Anaphylaxis is a ceasing disease that can be proven fatal for your rabbit. The toxicity of garlic can make your bunny go into an anaphylactic shock causing it to collapse, urinate everywhere, rapid breathing, and consciousness.
As it restricts your rabbit’s respiration, the bunny can die. You should avoid giving your rabbit garlic as much as possible. However, a minute quantity will not cause such a drastic result.
Hemolytic Anemia
As garlic triggers a respiratory reaction in your rabbit, it restricts its oxygen supply. If your bunny lacks oxygen in its bloodstream, it will develop hemolytic anemia. This can cause your bunny’s organs to deteriorate through asphyxiation. The main target of hemolytic anemia is the brain and heart of your precious rabbit.
Diarrhea
Garlic has a high amount of starch present in it. Bunnies have sensitive digestive systems and cannot break down complex molecules. If you notice your rabbit has started passing watery or loose stools, it might have eaten some garlic by accident.
Digestion Issues
Garlic and other allium family vegetables create an imbalance in the gut flora of your bunny. They contain a dangerous amount of toxins and starch that your bunny’s delicate digestive system cannot process. If you give garlic to your bunny, it will cause your precious pet an intense amount of pain via various illnesses.
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Medicinal Properties of Garlic
Garlic is one of the most beneficial remedies for a lot of ailments for humans. This herb has medicinal properties that humans take advantage of in the form of teas, kavas, food, or raw.
Even though garlic is extremely toxic for rabbits, some vets recommend a small dose for medicinal purposes. However, you should look for other options first. If no other remedy seems to be working for your precious pet, you can try garlic under the supervision of a trained vet.
Here are a few medicinal benefits garlic can bring to your furry friend:
- If your rabbit has been eating a high-fat diet, garlic can help you lower your bunny’s cholesterol levels. High cholesterol levels can cause your bunny heart and weight troubles.
- Rabbits have sensitive skin and fur. Their fragility makes them desirable for many skin disorders. Garlic’s antioxidating effects can help your pet rabbit remove toxins from its skin.
- A gassy bunny is an unhappy and uncomfortable bunny. When your rabbit is retaining gas more than usual, you can give it a little garlic to ease its stomach. Garlic will help relax your furry friend’s stomach muscles and aid in expelling the pent-up gas.
- Garlic has anti-fungal properties. Rabbits are fragile living things that need help fighting free radicals in their body. Ingesting a tiny amount of garlic can make your bunny fight fungal infections and other harmful diseases.
- If your precious bunny rabbit is suffering from mucus buildup and having trouble breathing, you can give your furry friend garlic. Garlic will remove the excess amount of mucus from your bunny’s system and improve respiratory functioning. Furthermore, garlic has anti-inflammatory features that can give comfort to your bunny by relaxing its nasal passageway.
Even though there are some medical benefits garlic can provide your bunny as an herb, you should still avoid giving it to your bunny. If your vet recommends garlic for your pet, only then use it and follow the instructions given by the doctor to the dot.
Alternatives for Garlic that Are Not Harmful to Your Bunny
There are many vegetables on the planet that your precious pet rabbit can eat and enjoy. Even though your rabbit needs to steer clear of any allium family veggies, it can benefit from other bounties.
Your furry friend’s diet should consist of 10-15% greens, dominated by 80-90% of hay, and 5-10% of fruits as treats. If you maintain this balance in your rabbit’s diet, you will have to face very few difficulties raising the little guy.
As a pet owner, your responsibility is to read and collect data about everything you wish to introduce to your rabbit. Luckily, there are plenty of resources on the web that can help you raise a rabbit.
Apart from the allium family, your pet rabbit can eat almost every fresh thing in moderation. Here is a list of fruits that you can your rabbit as a treat. These will help you keep your furry bunny healthy and toxin free:
- Nectarine
- Apple
- Melon
- Peach
- Papaya
- Banana
- Blueberries
- Pear
- Strawberries
- Pineapple
- Plum
- Watermelon
- Cherries
- Oranges
- Grapes
Always peel and seed the fruits before giving them to your fragile bunny rabbit. Bunnies do have strong teeth, but they can choke easily. Always cut vegetables and fruits into smaller pieces to make the eating process comfortable for your precious little pet bunny.
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Final Word
Garlic and allium family vegetables should always be a no-go for your rabbit. They can cause plenty of trouble for your little guy’s immune system, digestive tract, circulatory system, and emotional health.
A sick bunny is a stressed bunny, and a stressed bunny means a stressed pet owner. Take care of your precious pet rabbit to avoid frequent pet visits, stress, and fears of losing your pet to a nasty disease. Rabbits are fragile creatures. They need extra support, care, love, and attention.
Do not complicate your pet’s life by adding complex foods like garlic and onions. Follow the simple formula of unlimited hay, a bit of green, and fruits as treats. Your pet rabbit will appreciate the simplicity and strict routine as it will make its days predictable and reduce the chances of anxiety. Stay easy, and just love that bunny!
