My Rabbit Ate Spring Onions Will He Get Sick?

Reviewed By Julie •  Updated: 01/24/21 •  3 min read
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Rabbits love to have varied diets, just like other animals. But sometimes it’s challenging to know if a certain food is safe for our fur bunnies. One such veggie are spring onions.

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What are Spring Onions?

Spring onions look similar to scallions, but they have a small onion bulb at the end. In fact, these are actually the mature form of scallions. Who knew? Spring onions are usually planted as seedlings in the late fall, then harvested the following spring.

They tend to have a mellower, sweeter taste than regular onions, but the greens have more flavor than scallions. The bulbs can be either white or red, and they can be used in the same way as regular onions. Many people enjoy eating them roasted, grilled, or used in recipes like pearl onions.

Are spring onions safe for rabbits?

Spring Onions & Rabbits

Spring onions, or any onions for that are matter, are not safe for rabbits. All parts of the onion including the leaves, stem, bulb and other parts are toxic to rabbits. This is due to the sulfur compounds onions contain.

Just like in dogs (and cats), onions can cause hemolytic anemia in rabbits, which can cause red blood cells to be rupture or be destroyed. In addition, onions suppress the immune system, which can lead to an anaphylactic reaction in bunnies.

My Rabbit Ate Spring Onions, Now What?

If your fur bunny has only eaten a very small part of the onion’s leaves, he will probably be OK. However, if he’s eaten a large amount of onion, then he could be very sick. You may notice these symptoms if your bunny has eaten spring onions:

If you know or suspect that your rabbit has eaten onions, then call the vet immediately. This could be a life-threatening medical emergency.

Can Rabbits Eat Green Onions?

No, green onions are also dangerous for bunnies.

Can Rabbits Eat Red Onions?

No, all types of onions are toxic to rabbits. They all contain substances that can make rabbits very, very sick.

While it’s important to give your bunny a balanced diet, make sure to avoid giving him anything that could be toxic or otherwise make him sick. Remember that all types of onions are toxic to rabbits. So, make sure to pick up any onions that may fall on the floor near your bun. And when your rabbit’s in the garden, make sure he can’t access your onion plants.

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Julie

Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.

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