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Yes, rabbits can eat dandelions. The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund calls dandelion leaves an excellent leafy green and the RSPCA lists them as safe daily. PDSA is more careful: only small amounts, because dandelion can make rabbits wee more. We follow PDSA: a few leaves or flowers as part of the greens, from clean, unsprayed ground.
| Safe? | Yes, leaves and flowers |
|---|---|
| How much | A few leaves or flowers within the greens portion |
| How often | A few times a week |
| Best served | Washed, picked from unsprayed ground |
| Watch out for | Sprayed lawns, roadsides, dog areas; large amounts |
Are dandelions good for rabbits?
Yes. Dandelion is one of the classic rabbit plants and appears on the lists of PDSA, the RSPCA, the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund, House Rabbit Society and Woodgreen.
How much dandelion? Not every charity agrees
| Source | Advice |
|---|---|
| RSPCA | Dandelion leaves on the safe daily greens list |
| Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund | An excellent leafy green choice |
| PDSA | Only small amounts, as it can make them go to the toilet more often |
| Medivet | Dandelion greens once or twice a week |
We would take the careful middle: a few dandelion leaves or flowers, a few times a week, as one of the plants in the greens. Dandelion makes rabbits wee more, so a big pile every day is not ideal.
Leaves, flowers, stalks and roots
- Leaves: yes, the part most lists name
- Flowers: yes, House Rabbit Society lists dandelion among edible flowers and plants
- Stalks: fine with the rest of the plant
- Roots: not on the lists we checked; leave them out
Picking dandelions safely
- Choose clean ground. PDSA says avoid areas with weed killer, pesticides, traffic, lots of people or dogs, such as roadsides.
- Be sure it is dandelion. PDSA says never feed anything you cannot identify. Dandelion has one yellow flower per hollow stalk and toothed leaves in a flat rosette.
- Wash it. Rinse well and shake dry.
- Start small. Add one new plant at a time and check droppings, as the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund advises.
Many lawn treatments are "weed and feed" products aimed at dandelions. Never pick from a lawn you did not treat yourself, or one where you are not sure what has been used.
Other safe forage
Dandelions go well with fresh grass, and in the kitchen with carrot tops and watercress. See our rabbit food list, the rabbit diet guide and the rabbit care hub.
Questions owners ask
Can rabbits eat dandelion flowers?
Yes. House Rabbit Society lists dandelion among edible flowers and plants for rabbits. Pick them from clean, unsprayed ground and give a few at a time.
Can rabbits eat dandelions every day?
Some charities list dandelion leaves as a daily green, but PDSA advises only small amounts because it makes rabbits wee more. A few leaves a few times a week is a safe middle.
Can rabbits eat dandelion stalks?
Yes, the stalks are part of the same plant and fine with the leaves and flowers in small amounts.
Can baby rabbits eat dandelions?
Introduce fresh greens slowly. House Rabbit Society starts greens from about 12 weeks, one at a time and in small amounts.
