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No, rabbits should not drink milk. The RSPCA puts dairy products on its list of foods to avoid, and Medivet says never to give a rabbit yoghurt or any dairy, because rabbits cannot digest it. Adult rabbits only need fresh water. If you find orphaned baby rabbits, ring a vet or wildlife rescue rather than giving cow’s milk.
| Safe? | No |
|---|---|
| How much | None |
| How often | Never |
| Best served | Fresh water instead |
| Watch out for | Soft droppings, bloating, not eating after dairy |
Why can't rabbits have milk?
Rabbits are strict plant-eaters with a gut built for hay and grass. Medivet says rabbits cannot digest meat, eggs or dairy, and lists yoghurt and all dairy products as foods never to feed. The RSPCA lists dairy products among foods to avoid too. Milk adds fat and sugar a rabbit's gut is not made to handle.
What if my rabbit drank some milk?
A lick of milk is unlikely to be an emergency, but watch your rabbit for the next day. Rabbits should eat and pass droppings all the time.
- Eating hay normally
- Passing plenty of normal, round droppings
- No soft, sticky or runny droppings
- Not hunched, bloated or quiet
If your rabbit stops eating, stops passing droppings, or seems hunched and quiet, ring your vet straight away. In rabbits, a gut that slows down is always urgent, whatever the cause.
What about cheese, yoghurt and yoghurt drops?
| Food | OK? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cow's milk | No | Dairy is on the RSPCA avoid list |
| Cheese | No | Dairy, and fatty; see can rabbits eat cheese |
| Yoghurt | No | Medivet says never feed yoghurt or any dairy |
| Yoghurt drops and treats | No | House Rabbit Society says avoid pellets with yoghurt drops mixed in |
| Plant milks (oat, soya, almond) | No | Not part of a rabbit diet; give water |
What about baby rabbits?
Baby rabbits feed on their mother's milk, and pet kits stay with their mother until weaned. If you find a nest of wild babies or orphaned kits, do not give cow's milk. Ring a vet or a local wildlife rescue for advice the same day. Hand-rearing rabbits is difficult and needs expert help.
What should rabbits drink?
Fresh, clean water, always available, in a bowl or bottle, changed daily.
For what rabbits can eat, see our rabbit food list, the rabbit diet guide, hay, rabbit health and the rabbit care hub.
Questions owners ask
Can rabbits drink milk at all?
No. Adult rabbits do not need milk and should not have it. The RSPCA lists dairy products as foods to avoid and Medivet says never to feed dairy to rabbits.
Can baby rabbits drink cow’s milk?
No. If you find orphaned or wild baby rabbits, ring a vet or wildlife rescue for help the same day rather than feeding them yourself.
Can rabbits drink oat milk or almond milk?
No. Plant milks are not part of a rabbit diet. Rabbits only need fresh water, alongside hay, grass and leafy greens.
My rabbit drank some milk. What should I do?
Watch them for the next day. If they keep eating hay and passing normal droppings, they are likely fine. If they stop eating, stop passing droppings or seem hunched, ring your vet straight away.
