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| Safe? | No |
| How much | None |
| How often | Never |
| Best served | Not at all |
| Watch out for | Spring onions in salad, chives in the herb bed, leftovers with onion |
Why are onions bad for rabbits?
All the main rabbit charities put onions on the no list. The Rabbit Welfare Association (RWAF) says "onions, garlic, shallots and chives are unsuitable for rabbits and may be harmful", the RSPCA lists onions among foods to avoid, and the House Rabbit Society names onion and garlic among foods not to feed.
The rabbit charities don't spell out the reason, so here is what vets say about the onion family in other pets. PDSA explains that alliums (onions, shallots, leeks, garlic and chives) contain compounds that damage red blood cells and cause anaemia in cats, and that they stay harmful when cooked or dried. We have not found a rabbit charity page that describes the same effect in rabbits, but with every rabbit charity saying avoid, there is no reason to take the chance. Onions are also strong, sharp and nothing like the grass and leaves a rabbit's gut expects. Our rabbit diet guide covers what they do need.
Which parts and forms are a problem?
| Food | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Raw onion, red, white or brown | No |
| Spring onions (scallions) and onion tops | No |
| Shallots, garlic, chives | No: named on the RWAF list |
| Leeks | No: same family |
| Cooked onion, onion powder, gravy, stuffing, crisps | No: still harmful cooked or dried, says PDSA for cats |
My rabbit ate onion. What should I do?
- Remove the rest. Take away the onion or food it came in, and work out roughly how much was eaten and in what form.
- Ring your vet. The RSPCA says to call your vet as soon as you can if you think your rabbit has eaten something unsafe. Tell them the amount and the rabbit's weight.
- Don't try home remedies. Don't give salt water, oils or anything else to make it bring the food back.
- Watch for several days. Look for eating less, fewer droppings, diarrhoea, weakness, pale gums or faster breathing. PDSA notes that blood damage in cats can take one to five days to show.
What to offer instead
For a crunchy, strong-tasting vegetable, try a short piece of celery, strings removed. Herbs such as coriander (cilantro), parsley, mint and basil are on the RWAF list and most rabbits love them. Keep leeks and potatoes off the menu too. See what rabbits can eat and our rabbit care guide.
Onions and rabbits: questions
Can rabbits eat spring onions?
No. Spring onions (scallions) are young onions, and the whole plant, white bulb and green tops, belongs to the onion family that the RSPCA and Rabbit Welfare Association say to avoid. Keep them out of any salad you share with your rabbit.
Can rabbits eat chives or garlic?
No. The Rabbit Welfare Association names garlic, shallots and chives alongside onions as unsuitable and possibly harmful. If you grow chives in a herb bed, fence it off from a free-roaming rabbit and offer parsley, coriander or mint instead.
Can rabbits eat food cooked with onion?
No. PDSA says the onion family stays harmful in cats even when cooked or dried, and gravy, stuffing, soup and many crisps contain onion or onion powder. Never share cooked human food with a rabbit; it is also salty and fatty.
How much onion is dangerous for a rabbit?
We have not found a rabbit charity that gives a safe amount, and none says any amount is fine. Treat any onion eaten as a reason to ring your vet for advice, and watch eating, droppings and energy closely for several days.
