Onions are a staple in almost every household. They’re quite rich in good minerals like iron, sulfur, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium, and have vitamins B6, B9 (folate), and C.
So, onions should be good and relatively safe for herbivores, like rabbits, right? This is something every rabbit owner has wondered at least once in their lives. Can it be bad? Will it benefit rabbits, especially when onions are cooked?
You should be careful about giving anything to rabbits other than their regular diet. Know about the effects of onions on their body before you give rabbits onions.
Can Rabbits Eat Onions?
So the main question, in this case, is – can rabbits eat onions? And the answer is – absolutely not!
Out of the few things that are normal for us to eat but extremely harmful for rabbits, onions are one of them, irrespective of whichever form they happen to be in. They essentially cause more damage to rabbits than fruits do.
You may now ask, can rabbits have onions when they’re cooked completely? No, it’s still unsafe.
Whichever part of the onion you try to give your pet rabbit, be it the leaves, root, or bulb, onions are toxic for them entirely.
Why Are Onions Bad for Rabbits?
Sure, onions can cause bad breath among humans. It does so in rabbits too along with an upset tummy. However, the toxins in onions, although not affecting us, can cause serious complications in rabbits.
Onions contain a few compounds, three of which are very toxic for rabbits. They are, namely, thiosulphate, n-propylthiosulfate, and organosulfur. These are present in all parts of onions – in the roots, bulb, and even the leaves. Even in the juice, powdered onion, and in all cooked forms, you’ll find these toxins.
Although these toxins aren’t equally present in all parts of an onion, they’re still present in enough amounts. Collectively, they can create a worse situation for your rabbits. And in the powdered form, these toxins are more potent, for which rabbits should avoid onions totally.
What Happens if a Rabbit Eats Onions?
The compound thiosulphate directly affects the red blood cells in rabbits. If your bunnies eat onions accidentally or you feed them some, this compound will immediately cause hemolytic anemia. The red blood cells in your rabbit will burst, making them anemic.
Organosulfur, another toxic compound in onions, can cause inflammation in the gastrointestinal system of your rabbit. It also creates other medical conditions, which can cause the GI tract to absorb poisonous substances.
Due to these reasons, your rabbit will also suffer from immunosuppression, weakening the immune system significantly. Rabbits may also face anaphylactic shock, showing rapid but weak pulses, sudden drop in blood pressure, narrowed windpipe, skin rash, and nausea.
Can They Eat Green Onions?
Can rabbits eat green onion then? Or can bunnies eat onions when they’re young, tender bulbs? The answer to both is negative.
As a matter of fact, any part of the onion is poisonous for your rabbit, including the plants and the young, tender bulb when you harvest spring onions. These can be just as harmful as mature red onions.
Considering the fact that greens are generally good for rabbits to consume, you might be led to assume that green onions are good for your rabbits. However, the greens of the Allium family should be avoided at any cost.
What about red onions then? Can rabbits eat red onions, since they’re low in some of the irritable compounds and are much sweeter? No, red onions still aren’t safe, as they still carry enough toxins to poison your rabbit’s body.
Can Rabbits Eat Anything in the Onion Family?
Onion belongs to the Allium family, and anything from that family can be toxic for rabbits. The onion family consists of shallots, garlic, scallions, chives, and leeks.
The most surprising ones among them must be leeks and chives, don’t you think? These should have been beneficial to rabbits like other vegetables and herbs. But they contain the same toxins as onions do. In fact, rabbits can’t have the greens of garlic and shallots either.
Usually, wild rabbits avoid onions and other alliums due to the smell which acts as a repellent. Even dogs avoid onions! However, they may try to eat some if they do not have any other food around. Domestic rabbits are always curious about whatever they find, so they’ll try eating onions, disregarding the pungent onion stench.
What Are Some Signs of Toxicity from Onions?
What if your rabbit eats onions? How can you identify it? There are some symptoms that your rabbit will start exhibiting due to anemia, inflammations, and immunosuppression.
Due to the amount of blood that rabbits will lose because of the anemia, you’ll see your rabbit feeling lethargic, weak, having pale gums, and can also give off reddish urine.
Together with immunosuppression and poisonous absorptions, rabbits can faint and have a decreased appetite. Your rabbit may even start vomiting and suffer from diarrhea, indicating that they need medical attention immediately.
What if Your Rabbit Eats an Onion by Mistake?
Onions and others in the onion family are usually something that a lot of animals do not prefer due to a certain aroma. Your pet rabbit may not be drawn to it initially. However, if it’s home alone and there’s nothing to eat, your rabbit will try to reach for onions.
You may not notice it straight away. However, if you see that your rabbit looks bloated, has diarrhea, or has bad breath, observe how it’s feeling for the next few hours. If your rabbit starts exhibiting all of the signs of toxicity mentioned previously in the article, then you should immediately take it to the vet.
Keep in mind that there are other foods, such as alliums and food closely related to this family of onions, that may carry these toxins or cause similar reactions. You should help the vet identify what your rabbit has eaten so that the vet can treat your bunny properly.
Can Rabbits Eat Cabbage Instead?
Can rabbits eat cabbages for recovery or as a healthy alternative? Cabbages can be a safe option for leafy green vegetables that you can give to your rabbits, except for iceberg lettuce.
Since the natural habitat of rabbits is grasslands where they can eat soft grasses, carrots, wildflowers, and leafy greens, rabbits eat cabbage whenever they can avail some.
You can mix just a handful of shredded cabbage leaves in your rabbit’s diet bowl every day. This will add a healthy amount of fiber, water, and other nutritional elements to keep your rabbit fit.
Cabbages can help your rabbit’s body recover from the poisoning due to onions. It’ll help with proper digestion, water retention, strengthening the immune system, and keeping your rabbit hydrated.
Should Rabbits Eat Pineapple to Recover?
Do rabbits love pineapple? They absolutely love it, although pineapples can create some issues in their blood and can be harmful. However, a little pineapple can help them with their digestion, and can also help recover other functions in their body.
So, should rabbits eat pineapple as a cure for onion poisoning? They absolutely can! Onion can be hard to digest for rabbits, which also links to the absorption of poisonous substances in their stomach. So, as long as that’s in their tummy, bunnies will get more sick.
Small amounts of pineapple will help bunnies digest the leftover onions and pass healthy stool. It’ll also help bunnies to produce red cells, and provide a hefty amount of vitamins and good minerals for their body to recover.
Just give your bunnies the necessary amount of pineapples no more than twice a week, and your pets will recover soon.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, keep onions a hundred feet away (or more, if possible!) from your rabbits! Jokes aside, actually, you should keep onions out of the reach of your rabbits. Be cautious of what you put into your rabbit’s food, and research well before giving them any allium, like onions.
In case you feed your rabbit some onions or it gets some on its own, you need to administer home-based remedies or take it to the vet for immediate attention.
With some preventive measures and timely treatment in case of onion poisoning, your bunnies will be in good shape and as happy as ever!