Certain succulent plants carry toxicity, which may turn poisonous to pets, including rabbits. However, it is recommended to know the type of succulent plant in your garden; this will confirm the toxicity.
Have you ever noticed your rabbit’s contact chewing?
As a pet owner, you should know the biological reason behind their constant chewing habit.
When you don’t offer any toys or food items to chew, your bunny may jump around the backyard and chew plants that can actually harm them.
To satisfy the instinctive behaviour of chewing, rabbits may end up eating plants that they normally don’t eat.
I need to investigate whether succulents pose a threat to rabbits and whether they are poisonous to them. If you’re growing succulents in your garden or home, then you should know the variety name. It will help you to determine the toxicity of the plant.
Are Succulents Poisonous to Rabbits?
Few succulent plants are poisonous to rabbits.
Fortunately, some succulents are completely safe to be around bunnies. As a pet owner and gardener, you should take care to keep toxic plants away from rabbits.
Plants like jade, aloe vera, ZZ plant, pencil cactus, snake plant, string of pearls, mother of millions and crown of thorns can be poisonous to rabbits.
It is recommended that you don’t grow succulents when you’ve rabbits at home, as it is literally impossible to keep an eye on them all the time.
Do Rabbits Eat Succulents?
Rabbit’s teeth grow continuously throughout their life. So, to satisfy the urge to chew, the rabbit keeps chewing.
When you don’t supply any food item, then it starts to chew anything that comes in its way.
Not knowing the adverse effects of eating succulents, rabbits eat succulents.
If you’re a plant lover and can’t avoid growing succulents, then you must know the succulent varieties that are toxic to rabbits.
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Can I Raise Rabbits and Grow Succulents in the Backyard?
Apart from succulents, there are several foods that rabbits should not consume.
For instance, dairy and junk foods aren’t recommended for bunnies. But this doesn’t mean you should stop having it in the house.
As a pet owner, you must take care that the rabbit doesn’t consume these food items.
Similarly, as not all succulents are poisonous, you can grow your favourite succulent in the backyard, but ensure you’re aware of its toxic nature.
Some common succulent types that have adverse effects on bunnies are listed below.
What Succulents Are Poisonous to Rabbits?
Rabbits are avid forage-loving creatures that keep on chewing. If you don’t provide any food or chewable items, they end up nibbling green plants in the garden.
You need to recognize the plant variety in your garden to avoid missing possible dangers, which puts the rabbit at risk of facing serious health problems.
Below listed are 11 succulent plants that should be kept away from rabbits.
1. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
Jade plant and other succulents in Crassula are ovate, including a compound known as Bufadienolides, which can trigger irregular heartbeat, vomiting, diarrhoea and digestive-related problems in pets, including rabbits.
If you’re rabbit ingested the jade plant, then immediately consult a veterinarian for treatment.
2. Aloe Vera
Though you might have ingested aloe gel for its numerous benefits, it isn’t safe for pets.
It includes anthraquinones and aloin content in the aloe vera latex. If your rabbit consumes it, intestinal bacteria metabolize it, reacting with a substance that increases mucus and water in the colon. Consequently, it leads to symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea.
3. Kalanchoe plants
Similar to the jade plant, Kalanchoe plants have bufadienolides, a compound that, when ingested by pets, can lead to vomiting, drooling, lethargy and cardiac problems.
Also, the plant produces calcium oxalate crystals that can irritate your pet’s mouth.
4. Euphorbia
Plants like the Pencil cactus, Crown of Thorns, Fire plant and Wood spurge are included in the Euphorbia plant family.
These plants produce a milky sap that includes irritating compounds like diterpenoids that can trigger gastrointestinal and skin-related issues.
5. Sempervivum (Hens and chicks plant)
Though not regarded as poisonous, it can be mildly toxic when consumed in high quantities.
Compounds in Hens and chicks plants may result in upset stomachs in rabbits and other pets.
7. Senecio
Plants like String of Pearls, Golden Ragwort, German Ivy and Dusty Miller are among the common plants in the Senecio genus.
These plants have pyrrolizidine alkaloid compounds that are known to damage the liver in humans and pets. If your rabbit consumed it, then reach the veterinarian immediately.
8. Haworthia
Though not toxic to pets, certain Haworthia plants can cause mild gastrointestinal issues in rabbits.
9. Crassula arborescens (Silver Jade Plant)
The toxicity of the silver jade plant isn’t proven, but there are cases where pets that consume this plant experience drooling, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Saponins, a compound present in such plants, are known to cause excessive salivation, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and vomiting when consumed in high doses.
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What Succulents Are Safe for Rabbits?
Fortunately, some succulents aren’t toxic to rabbits.
However, it is not recommended that you allow your bunnies to nibble these juicy plants.
I’ll discuss the reason why you shouldn’t allow rabbits to eat succulents later in this article.
Here is the list of succulents that are not poisonous to rabbits.
Search for your plant here to ensure they are safe for rabbits.
- Haworthia cymbiformis
- Christmas Cactus
- Aeoniums
- Blue Echeveria
- Donkey’s tail
- White-fleshed pitahaya
- Gasteria
- Haworthia retusa
- Horse’s Teeth
- Living stones plant
- Painted lady
- Zebra plant
- Ponytail palm tree
- Ghost plant
Why Rabbits Should Not Eat Succulents?
Though the above plants aren’t toxic to pets, you should still stop your bunnies from eating succulents.
1. Presence of toxic compounds
Most succulents include Saponins and other compounds that can be toxic to rabbits when consumed in high amounts.
Even if the rabbit doesn’t consume the plant, the milky sap released from the succulent can irritate the pet’s skin.
2. Rabbits destroy your Garden
Growing plants isn’t an easy task. You need to take utmost care to grow healthy-looking plants.
Not stopping bunnies can destroy your indoor plants, and your months of hard work will be uprooted in no time.
3. Potential risk due to overconsumption
Due to its attractive texture and juicy sap, rabbits couldn’t stop it from nibbling succulents.
As mentioned, even non-toxic plants can cause symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea if consumed in high doses.
4. Possible allergic reaction
Like individuals, certain rabbits can be allergic to sap released from the plant.
5. Lack of dietary fiber
Succulent isn’t rabbit’s food. It has no nutrition or fiber that aids in digestion.
If you don’t stop your rabbit from consuming succulents regularly, then possibly it may lead to health issues.
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What should you do if a rabbit eats a poisonous plant?
If you suspect your bunny has ingested toxic succulents, then you must act swiftly and consult a veterinarian.
Step 1: Identify the plant variety
Taking a sample plant or photo can help the vet to determine the possibility of toxin, and he/she can proceed with specific treatment.
Step 2: Remove the remaining plant parts
Remove the remains of the plant from the rabbit’s mouth and its surroundings. This will avoid further ingestion of plants.
Step 3: Observe the rabbit for symptoms
Note the time of consumption and when the symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea or drooling appear.
Don’t waste time; rush to the vet immediately.
Step 4: Don’t force the rabbit to vomit
Though it may sound like to remove toxic material from the stomach, you’re not recommended to do so unless recommended by the vet.
Step 5: Take the sample to the vet
From the angle of the bite on your succulents, the vet can determine how much of the plant has been ingested by the rabbit. So, take the sample with you.
How to Stop Rabbits from Eating Succulents?
Rabbits have continuously growing teeth, and the urge to chew never ends.
When you don’t give them enough food and chewable toys, they jump and find those green plants attractive.
Unaware of the adverse effect on their health, bunnies start nibbling and uprooting succulents.
The simple ways to prevent rabbits from consuming succulents are mentioned below.
1. Don’t grow poisonous succulents
If you care about your pets more than plants, then you should opt for succulents that include toxic compounds in them.
Plants like jade, string of pearls, and aloe have compounds that can cause vomiting and cardio-related problems.
2. Provide enough food
If you fail to provide enough food and chewable items, the rabbit has no choice but to nibble your succulents.
Give them enough food and toys to satisfy their chewing urge.
3. Fence
Make a fence around your succulents in your backyard. Or you can confine rabbits to your backyard surrounded by a fence.
If you’re growing succulents in pots, then place them at a height so that bunnies can’t jump on them.
4. Use natural repellents
Growing lavender and mint around the garden can act as a barrier to safeguard your succulents.
Citrus + water is one of the best ways to keep your rabbits away from succulents.
What Material or Foods Can Rabbits Chew on?
- Hay (Timothy, orchard grass, etc.)
- Fresh Vegetables (carrot tops, parsley, kale, etc.)
- Fruit Twigs and Branches (apple, pear, willow)
- Cardboard Boxes
- Cardboard Tubes (from toilet paper or paper towels)
- Wooden Toys (untreated wood)
- Willow Balls or Rings
- Seagrass Mats (or mats made from natural fiber)
- Untreated Wicker (baskets or toys)
- Pine Cones (clean and thoroughly dried)
- Edible Chews (made from compressed hay or natural materials)
- Hard Vegetables (carrots, broccoli stalks, etc.)
Conclusion
Not all succulents are poisonous to rabbits. As a pet owner, you should be able to differentiate the plant type based on its toxicity.
You can prevent bunnies from eating succulents and other plants by using natural repellent like citrus juice diluted in water.
If your suspect rabbit ingested succulents, then keep an eye on its symptoms and reach the vet immediately.
Khaja Moinuddin, a computer science graduate, finds joy in gardening and homesteading. Join him on this blog as he shares his experiences in homesteading, gardening, and composting