Food check · Rabbits

Can rabbits eat biscuits?

No. Human biscuits (cookies) are sugar, fat and flour. Rabbit nuggets, sometimes called rabbit biscuits, are fine in measured amounts.

Checked against VetPartners: The complete guide to feeding your rabbit, House Rabbit Society: Healthy rabbit diet guide, Burgess Pet Care: What food can rabbits eat? and 4 more on

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Can other pets eat biscuits?

No, rabbits should not eat biscuits (cookies). They are flour, sugar and fat, with none of the fibre a rabbit's gut needs, and vet group VetPartners lists biscuits as a food to avoid. A crumb is unlikely to cause harm, but chocolate or sugar-free biscuits need a call to the vet. Rabbit nuggets, sometimes called rabbit biscuits, are different.
Safe? No
How much None
How often Never
Best served Not at all; a dried herb or a few nuggets instead
Watch out for Chocolate, sweeteners such as xylitol, eating less afterwards

Why can't rabbits eat biscuits?

Rabbits run on fibre. The RSPCA puts hay and grass at 85% of a healthy rabbit diet. A biscuit is the opposite: refined flour, sugar and butter or oil. The House Rabbit Society says processed human foods are especially dangerous for a rabbit's delicate gut, naming cookies, crackers, breakfast cereals, bread and pasta. Burgess lists bread, pasta and crackers as too high in carbohydrate. Starch and sugar feed the wrong gut bacteria and add weight, and they fill a rabbit up so they eat less hay. Our rabbit diet guide shows what a rabbit should eat in a day.

Which biscuits are worst?

Biscuit Why it's a problem
Plain biscuits (digestives, rich tea, shortbread) Flour, sugar and fat, no fibre
Chocolate biscuits The House Rabbit Society names chocolate among human foods that are especially dangerous for rabbits: ring your vet
Sugar-free biscuits The RSPCA lists artificial sweeteners, especially xylitol, as foods to avoid: ring your vet
Dog biscuits Meat and flour; the RSPCA lists meat as a food to avoid
Sweet rabbit treat biscuits, yoghurt drops Burgess and Woodgreen warn against sugary treats

My rabbit ate a biscuit: what now?

  1. Check the packet. Look for chocolate, cocoa or sweeteners such as xylitol. If you see any, ring your vet now.
  2. Remove the rest. Pick up crumbs and wrappers.
  3. Offer hay and water. A fresh pile of hay helps keep the gut moving.
  4. Watch for 24 hours. Ring your vet if your rabbit eats less or passes fewer droppings.

What about rabbit biscuits (nuggets)?

Some owners call pellets or nuggets "rabbit biscuits". These are fine in measured amounts. The Rabbit Welfare Association says no more than 15 g per kg (about 1/4 oz per 2.2 lb) of body weight a day, while PDSA suggests about one tablespoon for an average adult. The RSPCA gives a higher figure of 25 g per kg. We would follow the RWAF's lower amount, so there is more room for hay.

What to offer instead

For a crunchy reward, use a few nuggets from the day's allowance, a dried herb or a sprig of fresh coriander (cilantro). A tiny piece of apple works as a rare treat. See why crackers, bread and chocolate are also off the menu, and check the safe food list for rabbits and rabbit care guide.

Biscuits and rabbits: questions

My rabbit ate a biscuit. What should I do?

Take the rest away, give fresh hay and water, and watch for 24 hours. Most rabbits are fine after a crumb or two of a plain biscuit. Ring your vet if your rabbit eats less, passes fewer droppings or seems quiet, and ring straight away if the biscuit had chocolate or a sugar-free sweetener in it.

Are rabbit nuggets the same as biscuits?

No. Some owners call pellets or nuggets rabbit biscuits, but they are a high-fibre rabbit food, not a sweet. The RWAF says no more than 15 g per kg of body weight a day, and PDSA suggests about a tablespoon for an average adult. Choose plain nuggets, not mixes with coloured bits.

Can rabbits eat dog biscuits?

No. Dog biscuits are made for meat-eaters and are usually based on flour, meat and fat. The RSPCA lists meat among foods rabbits should avoid, and the flour makes them as unsuitable as human biscuits. Keep dog treats out of your rabbit's reach.

Are shop-bought rabbit treat biscuits OK?

Many are not. Burgess warns against sweet treats such as yoghurt drops and sweetened cereal sticks, and Woodgreen says colourful or sticky honey-based treats can harm teeth. If you buy treats, pick ones made mostly of hay, dried herbs or plants, with no added sugar, and give very few.

Sources

Read next

What can rabbits eat? The safe food list

Rabbits eat mostly hay and grass, plus daily leafy greens and herbs; fruit and carrots are treats, and onions, potato, avocado and bread are off the list.

Rabbit diet: what to feed every day

Rabbits eat about 85% hay or grass, 10% leafy greens and 5% high-fibre pellets, with fresh water always and fruit only as a tiny treat.

No

Can rabbits eat crackers?

No: crackers are starchy, salty and low in fibre, and rabbit charities list them as foods to avoid. One stolen bite is rarely an emergency.

No

Can rabbits eat bread?

No. Bread is starchy and low in fibre, and the RSPCA lists it among foods to avoid. A stolen crust is rarely an emergency, but watch the droppings.

No

Can rabbits eat chocolate?

No. Chocolate is toxic to rabbits. If yours ate any, ring your vet straight away with the type and amount, without waiting for signs.

Rabbit care: the complete guide

Keep rabbits in pairs, give them at least 3 x 2 x 1 m (10 x 6 x 3 ft) of space, unlimited hay, daily greens, yearly vaccines and daily checks.