Can rabbits eat chocolate? Is chocolate bad for rabbits? you may have heard it can be fatal, you also may have heard the complete opposite; so what is the facts, is chocolate fatal to rabbits if they eat it?
Chocolate is harmful to rabbits and can cause them serious health problems and even death. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is poisonous to rabbits. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning in rabbits include vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, seizure and even death.
Keep reading to get all the information about rabbits eating chocolate and how much chocolate is in fact fatal if eaten by rabbits
Can rabbits eat chocolate
Can rabbits have chocolate? No, rabbits should not eat chocolate. Chocolate contains theobromine, which is poisonous to rabbits.
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning in rabbits include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and seizures.
If your rabbit has eaten chocolate, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately.
While theobromine is not fatal to humans, it can be very dangerous to rabbits.
Even a small amount of chocolate can make a rabbit sick, so it is best to keep chocolate out of reach of these curious creatures.
Chocolate is not the only dangerous food, rabbits should not eat cheese as well. There are plenty of healthy options available to rabbits and some they really like to eat. Rabbits like to eat baby spinach, which is much healthier than chocolate.
What happens if a rabbit eats chocolate
Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is toxic to rabbits. The symptoms of chocolate poisoning in rabbits include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and seizures. In severe cases, it can lead to heart failure and death.
If your rabbit has eaten chocolate, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately.
Treatment will usually involve giving the rabbit intravenous fluids and monitoring its vital signs.
With prompt treatment, most rabbits will recover from chocolate poisoning without any long-term effects.
Can bunnies eat chocolate? Absolutely not!
How much chocolate will kill a rabbit
The toxic chemical within chocolate that’s legal to rabbits is theobromine.
The lethal dose that will kill 50% of rabbits or LD50 is 1,000 mg/kg. With the average adult house rabbit weighs about 6lbs or about 2.7 kg.
That means that the average rabbit will need a dose of about 2700mg of theobromine for it to be lethal.
So how much chocolate does that represent? Well, it depends on the type of chocolate. As a rule, darker chocolate has more theobromine than milk chocolate
| Type of chocolate | Theobromine per ounce |
| Baking chocolate | contains 130-450 mg |
| dark chocolate | contains 130-450 mg |
| milk chocolate | contains about 44-58 mg |
| White chocolate | contains 0.25 mg |
If a rabbit eats chocolate what can I do
If your rabbit has eaten chocolate, the first thing you should do is call your veterinarian.
Chocolate is toxic to rabbits and can cause serious health problems. Symptoms of chocolate toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and death.
Treatment for chocolate toxicity will vary depending on the severity of the symptoms and how much chocolate was consumed.
In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary. If you have any concerns that your rabbit has ingested chocolate, contact your veterinarian immediately.
If your rabbit only ate a tiny amount of chocolate then there is a good chance your furry friend will be alright, especially if it’s white chocolate. but in larger quantities then it’s advisable to call a vet.
Why can’t rabbits have chocolate
Chocolate is a big no-no for rabbits. But why is this? Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is poisonous to rabbits.
In small amounts, theobromine can cause gastrointestinal upset, but in larger doses, it can be fatal.
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning in rabbits include restlessness, tremors, rapid heartbeat, and seizures.
If you suspect that your rabbit has eaten chocolate, it’s important to take them to the vet immediately.
With prompt treatment, most rabbits will make a full recovery.
So next time your bunny gives you those big brown eyes, resist the temptation to give them a little piece of your chocolate bar – it could be deadly!
Wrap up
So, can rabbits eat chocolate? Rabbits should not eat chocolate because it contains theobromine, which is poisonous to them. In small doses, theobromine can cause gastrointestinal upset, but in larger doses, it can be fatal. If you think your rabbit has eaten chocolate, take them to the vet immediately.
Rob is a long-time advocate of animal rights and despises any animal mistreatment. He has 4 pet rabbits and loves them all dearly. To treat rabbits properly is to care for them deeply!
