Holiday Hazards for Rabbits: A Safety Checklist

Several popular holiday plants are unsafe for rabbits. Poinsettia, holly, mistletoe, lilies, amaryllis, and ivy can all cause illness if nibbled, and rabbits are curious chewers. Even the water in a Christmas tree stand can contain preservatives and sap that are harmful. Keep all holiday greenery, real and artificial, well out of reach, and sweep up any dropped berries, leaves, or pine needles promptly. If you want festive plants in a rabbit's home, choose rabbit-safe options and still keep them above hopping height to be safe.

No. The rich, sugary, fatty foods of holiday meals are wrong for a rabbit's fiber-based digestive system and can trigger dangerous gut problems. Chocolate is toxic to rabbits, and so are many baked goods, nuts, and anything with onion or garlic. Skip the bread, crackers, and sweets that well-meaning guests may offer. If you want to include your rabbit in the festivities, give a small piece of a familiar safe vegetable or herb instead, and ask guests not to feed your rabbit anything without checking with you first.

Rabbits chew instinctively to wear down their constantly growing teeth, and the extra cords from holiday lights and decorations are a serious temptation. A chewed live wire can cause burns, electric shock, or a fatal injury. String lights add the risk of swallowed bulbs or wire. Bundle and hide all cords, use cord protectors, and keep light strings well above hopping reach. During the holidays especially, supervise your free-roam rabbit closely and consider confining them to a thoroughly rabbit-proofed room when you cannot watch them.

Holidays bring noise, crowds, and disruption, all stressful for a prey animal. Give your rabbit a quiet retreat away from the busiest rooms, with a covered hideout to burrow into and unlimited hay to munch, which is naturally calming. Ask guests, especially excited children, to stay calm and low to the ground and never chase or grab the rabbit. Many rabbits do best simply left undisturbed in a peaceful space during a big gathering. Keep their routine and feeding times as normal as you can manage.

No. Tinsel, ribbon, string, and small ornaments are tempting to chew and can cause a dangerous gut blockage if swallowed, since rabbits cannot vomit. Glass ornaments can shatter into sharp pieces, and ornament hooks are a hazard too. Keep these decorations high on the tree, out of reach, and sweep up any fallen pieces right away. For a rabbit-proof home, decorate the lower third of the tree with nothing your rabbit could nibble, and consider a barrier around the tree base if your bunny is a determined explorer.

Rabbits handle cold well if they stay dry and draft-free, but holiday comings and goings can create problems. Frequently opened doors let in cold drafts, and a rabbit's space near an entryway can get chilly fast. Keep your rabbit's area away from drafty doors and windows, and make sure outdoor rabbits still have deep dry bedding and unfrozen water despite the busy schedule. The bigger winter-holiday risk is usually a disrupted routine, so try to keep feeding, exercise, and quiet time as consistent as possible.

Keep rabbits well away from chocolate, which is toxic, along with anything containing onion, garlic, or chives, plus nuts, seeds, raisins and grapes, avocado, and rich baked goods. Sugary and high-fat foods, even in small amounts, can upset a rabbit's delicate gut and contribute to GI stasis. Alcohol is dangerous too, so keep drinks out of reach. The safest holiday treat for a rabbit is a small portion of a vegetable or herb they already eat. When in doubt, do not offer it, and ask your vet about any food you are unsure of.