Can rabbits eat onions, leeks, chives or garlic?

Esther van Praag, Ph.D.

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This question has been repeatedly raised in the context of rabbits afflicted with internal (intestinal) parasites, skin parasites, or elevated blood glucose levels. Garlic's natural active ingredients are effective against intestinal parasites and repel external parasites such as ticks on the skin. However, the efficacy of a product for humans does not necessarily guarantee its effectiveness for animals.

These various alliums are toxic to rabbits, which generally avoid eating them because of their pungent taste.

The sulphur molecules (disulfide and thiosulfate) found in garlic, onions, leeks, and chives are highly toxic and can be fatal to rabbits. The lethal dose is estimated to be approximately 3200 mg/kg.

Ingestion of these various alliums irritates the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract and can cause gastroenteritis. Respiratory and cardiac problems can also occur in rabbits. Furthermore, several animal species (cats, sheep, dogs, horses, and cattle) are susceptible to hemolytic anemia after ingesting onions, which destroys red blood cells. The fact that herbivorous animals develop a hemolytic reaction appears to be of relevance in the context of rabbits. All these animals contain bacteria in their rumen and cecum. There is a high degree of suspicion that these bacteria play a role in the development of the hemolytic reaction (as observed in sheep). In rare cases, anaphylactic reactions have been observed in rabbits after ingestion of raw onions.

Onions have also been shown to have an immunosuppressive effect on rabbits. The immune system is compromised, which increases the animal's vulnerability to illness. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure that foods from the Alliaceae family are not included in a rabbit's diet.

Further information

Chisty MM, Quddus R, Islam B, Khan BR. Effect of onion extract on immune response in rabbits. Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull. 1996 Aug;22(2):81-5.

Selim HM, Yamato O, Tajima M, Maede Y. Rumen bacteria are involved in the onset of onion-induced hemolytic anemia in sheep. J Vet Med Sci. 1999 Apr;61(4):369-74.

Vyas DS, Acharya RP, Dadhich AP, Godhwani JL, Purohit VS. Effect of Allium cepa (onion) on immune response in rabbit. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1983 Jul-Sep;27(3):259-60.

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