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| Safe? | No |
| How much | None, smooth or crunchy |
| How often | Never |
| Best served | Not at all |
| Watch out for | Xylitol on the label, eating less, soft or fewer droppings |
Why can't rabbits eat peanut butter?
Because it is the opposite of a rabbit's natural food. A healthy rabbit eats about 85% hay and grass, according to the RSPCA: high in fibre, low in fat. Peanut butter is ground peanuts, so it is concentrated fat and protein with no long fibre. VetPartners explains that nuts are high in fat rather than fibre and cause indigestion, and Rabbit.org and Burgess both list nuts as foods to keep away from rabbits.
It is also sticky. A rabbit cannot clean a sticky paste off its teeth the way it grinds through hay, and fatty, rich food fills a small tummy so there is less room for hay. Our rabbit diet guide explains how the gut depends on that steady fibre.
Is any peanut butter safer than others?
No, but some are more dangerous. Check the label if your rabbit got into a jar.
- Xylitol or birch sugar: ring your vet straight away
- Chocolate spread or chocolate peanut butter: chocolate is toxic to rabbits, so ring your vet
- Added salt and sugar: both are on the RSPCA list of human foods to avoid
- Palm oil and other added fats: more fat on top of the nuts
- Plain 100% peanut: still a no, still mostly fat
My rabbit ate peanut butter: what should I do?
- Check the label. Look for xylitol, birch sugar or chocolate. If you see any, ring your vet now.
- Clean up. Wipe away any left on fur, paws or the floor.
- Offer hay and water. Fresh hay and clean water help keep the gut moving.
- Watch for 24 hours. PDSA says to contact your vet straight away if your rabbit eats less than normal, and treats a rabbit that has stopped eating as an emergency.
What to offer instead
For a treat your rabbit will work for, hide a few pellets or a sprig of herbs in a pile of hay. Our rabbit safe food list has more. See also why sunflower seeds, seeds and chocolate are off the menu, and our rabbit care guide for the bigger picture.
Peanut butter and rabbits: questions
Can rabbits eat peanuts?
No. Rabbit.org lists both nuts and legumes among foods to avoid, and the peanut is a legume that is eaten like a nut. VetPartners explains that nuts are high in fat rather than fibre and cause indigestion. Shelled, salted, roasted or in the shell, peanuts are a no.
Can I use peanut butter to give my rabbit medicine?
We would not. Ask your vet how best to give the medicine instead: vets and vet nurses can show you how to give it by syringe, or suggest a safe way to hide it. Never mix medicine into a food your vet has not agreed to.
Is xylitol in peanut butter dangerous for rabbits?
Yes, treat it as an emergency. The RSPCA lists artificial sweeteners, especially xylitol, among foods rabbits must avoid. Some reduced-sugar and 'light' nut butters use xylitol, sometimes listed as birch sugar. If your rabbit ate one, ring your vet straight away and take the jar.
Can rabbits eat other nut butters, like almond butter?
No. Almond, cashew and hazelnut butters are all nut pastes, very high in fat and with no fibre. Rabbit.org, Burgess and VetPartners all advise keeping nuts away from rabbits, so their butters are a no as well.
