Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
| Safe? | No: toxic |
| How much | None |
| How often | Never |
| Best served | Not at all: store it shut away and up high |
| Watch out for | Restlessness, fast breathing, tremors, not eating |
Why is chocolate toxic to rabbits?
Chocolate contains theobromine, which comes from the cocoa solids. People break it down easily, but many animals cannot, so it builds up in the body. PDSA names rabbits among the pets it is toxic for. The RSPCA, Animal Trust and VetPartners all list chocolate as a food rabbits must never have, and Rabbit.org calls it poisonous to most pets.
Even without theobromine, chocolate is a poor food for a rabbit: it is sugar and fat with no fibre, the opposite of the hay-based diet in our rabbit diet guide.
Which chocolate is most dangerous?
| Type | Risk | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa powder, baking chocolate | Highest | Most cocoa solids, so most theobromine |
| Dark chocolate | High | High in cocoa solids |
| Milk chocolate | Moderate | Less cocoa, plus dairy, fat and sugar |
| White chocolate | Lower toxin, still a no | Very little theobromine, but very high in fat and sugar |
| Chocolate biscuits, cake, cereal | Varies | Chocolate plus starch and sugar |
My rabbit ate chocolate: what should I do?
- Take the rest away. Pick up the chocolate and any wrappers, and keep the packaging.
- Work out what was eaten. Note the type of chocolate, roughly how much and when. Weigh your rabbit if you can do it quickly.
- Ring your vet now. PDSA says to call immediately, not to wait for symptoms. In the UK you can also call the Animal PoisonLine; in the US, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
- Do not try to treat it at home. PDSA advises against making a pet sick at home. Follow your vet's advice and keep your rabbit warm and quiet on the way.
How to keep chocolate away from your rabbit
- Keep chocolate in a closed cupboard, not on a low table or sofa
- Keep Easter eggs, advent calendars and gift boxes out of free-roam areas
- Check the floor after children have eaten
- Bin wrappers straight away, as they smell of chocolate
- Hold garden egg hunts where your rabbit cannot go
What to give instead
For a reward, use a sprig of mint, basil or coriander (cilantro), or a few of your rabbit's own pellets. Our rabbit safe food list has more. See why biscuits and peanut butter are a no too, and use our rabbit health guide and rabbit care guide for the bigger picture.
Chocolate and rabbits: questions
How much chocolate is toxic to a rabbit?
No safe amount is known, so treat any chocolate as a reason to ring the vet. PDSA explains that darker chocolate and cocoa powder carry more theobromine and are more dangerous, and rabbits are small, so even a little goes a long way. Your vet will work out the risk from the type, amount and your rabbit's weight.
Can rabbits eat white chocolate?
No. PDSA notes white chocolate has almost no cocoa solids, so theobromine is far less of a concern, but it is very high in fat and sugar. Both upset a rabbit's gut. It is still worth a call to your vet if your rabbit ate more than a crumb.
Can rabbits eat chocolate rabbits or Easter eggs?
No. Chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs are ordinary chocolate and just as dangerous. Easter is when many rabbits get into chocolate, so keep eggs, wrappers and egg hunts well away from where your rabbit roams, including the garden.
Are there chocolate-flavoured treats made for rabbits?
We would not use one. Real chocolate and cocoa are toxic, and flavoured treats are usually sugary pet-shop snacks of the kind Burgess and Animal Trust advise against. A sprig of basil or mint, or a few pellets from the daily allowance, is a far better reward.
What signs of chocolate poisoning should I look for?
PDSA's chocolate poisoning page is written for dogs but names rabbits as at risk too. It describes restlessness, a fast heartbeat, fast breathing, tremors and seizures, usually 2 to 4 hours after eating and sometimes up to 12. In a rabbit, also watch for not eating and fewer droppings. Do not wait for signs before ringing your vet.
