Can Rabbits Eat Avocado? No, It Can Poison Them

Why avocado is dangerous to rabbits

The Merck Veterinary Manual's chapter on avocado toxicosis names rabbits, guinea pigs and rats among susceptible mammals and identifies persin as the toxic principle. It says the leaves are the most toxic part, but that toxicosis has also followed ingestion of the fruit, stems and seeds.

Merck notes that the Guatemalan varieties of avocado are the ones most commonly associated with poisoning, but there is no practical way to tell which variety is on your counter or in your guacamole. Treat every avocado, and every part of the plant, as off limits.

What poisoning can look like

Merck describes signs in nonlactating mammals that include lethargy, breathing difficulty, swelling under the skin, a bluish tinge to the gums or skin, coughing, reluctance to move and death. It says damage to the heart muscle may develop within 24 to 48 hours of eating avocado.

A rabbit that has eaten avocado may also simply stop eating or sit hunched. Do not wait for signs to appear before calling for help, since by the time breathing problems show, the heart may already be affected.

What to do if your rabbit ate avocado

Take any remaining avocado away and note roughly how much is missing, which part was eaten (flesh, skin, pit or leaves) and when. Call your vet straight away, or an animal poison line: ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. A consultation fee may apply.

Do not try home remedies or wait to see what happens. Merck says treatment is supportive and focused on managing the signs, so the sooner a vet sees your rabbit, the more options they have.

Hiding a small piece of a safe food around a small animal playpen lets a rabbit forage, and an outdoor rabbit hutch needs the same daily check for uneaten fresh food.

Hidden sources of avocado

Guacamole, avocado toast, salads, sushi rolls and smoothie leftovers all carry avocado, and a rabbit that free-roams the house may find a dropped piece before you do. Some households also keep avocado plants grown from pits, and the leaves are the most toxic part.

Keep avocado and avocado plants out of reach, clear plates promptly, and never share a salad from your own bowl. Rabbits are curious chewers, so a potted plant within reach of a bunny-proofed room is a real risk.

Baby rabbits and avocado

There is no age at which avocado becomes safe. A young rabbit is smaller, so the same mouthful is a larger exposure relative to its size, and the Merck Veterinary Manual warns that young rabbits are especially vulnerable to digestive illness in general.

The House Rabbit Society advises introducing vegetables only after about 12 weeks of age, one at a time from a list of safe foods. Avocado is not on that list for any age.

When to go to the vet

Any known avocado ingestion is a reason to call a vet or poison line the same day, even if your rabbit seems well. Breathing difficulty, blue-tinged gums, weakness, collapse or a rabbit that has stopped eating is an emergency and needs a vet immediately.

Bring the packaging or a photo of what was eaten, and tell the clinic how long ago it happened. The Merck Veterinary Manual also says to seek veterinary care promptly whenever a rabbit stops eating, since GI stasis can become life-threatening.

Safe foods to offer instead

If you want to share something green from the kitchen, VCA Animal Hospitals lists romaine lettuce, bok choy, mustard greens, carrot tops, cilantro, watercress, basil and broccoli among good vegetables for rabbits. Hay should make up the bulk of the diet.

The House Rabbit Society also lists chocolate, onions, garlic, potatoes and iceberg lettuce among foods to keep away from rabbits. When in doubt about a new food, ask your vet first.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.