There will always be a need for vets. That idea, plus my huge love of animals, has led me down the path of becoming a veterinarian. I have not graduated from my course yet, but the reason behind this blog is to share my learning journey. I intend to write blog posts on subjects like the veterinarian education path, my thoughts on whether to be a general or specialist vet and how I wish to use alternative treatments like acupuncture in my practice. If you too have a love of animals and want to make this your job, then my blog will be interesting to you.
What Should You Do if Your Rabbit Eats Rhubarb?
While rabbits are herbivores, this doesn't mean that they can safely eat any plant. Some plants are bad for rabbits; some may even be toxic. While you may monitor your rabbit's diet carefully, there may be times when it eats something you haven't given it. For example. If you've let your rabbit out loose in your garden, it may try to eat any plants it comes across. If you have rhubarb growing in your garden, this may be a problem. Parts of this plant may make your rabbit ill.
Why is rhubarb dangerous to rabbits and what should you do if your rabbit eats some?
How Rhubarb Affects Rabbits
On a general level, too much rhubarb may simply upset your rabbit's stomach. An excess of a particular food that a rabbit doesn't normally eat throws its digestive system out of synch. Plus, if your rabbit eats rhubarb, it may end up taking in a lot of the oxalic acids that the plant contains. While these substances may be OK in small doses, your rabbit may get ill if they have too many of them in their system.
Excessive amounts of oxalic acids can do anything from irritating the inside of your rabbit's mouth to affecting its kidneys. Your rabbit may become dehydrated which is never a good thing for a small pet. In extreme cases, its kidney functions may be seriously compromised.
What to Do if Your Rabbit Eats Rhubarb
If your rabbit hasn't eaten a lot of rhubarb, then you may not have a problem. For example, if you caught your rabbit just as it started nibbling on a plant and got it off straight away, then it may not have ingested enough rhubarb to make itself ill. Plus, the parts of the plant it ate may make a difference. Generally, rhubarb leaves cause more problems than the stalks. You should usually be more worried if your rabbit has munched its way through a load of rhubarb leaves than if it has nibbled at a stalk.
Even if you think your rabbit hasn't eaten much rhubarb or has only eaten parts of the plant, it's worth calling your vet for advice. They can tell you if they need to see your rabbit. If they're happy not to, they can advise you of any symptoms you should look for over the next few days in case your rabbit does get ill.
If your rabbit has eaten a fair amount of rhubarb, it may be better to make an emergency vet clinic appointment. Your vet can run some tests on your pet and assess if it needs treatment.