21/12/2021
Keep me safe.
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Keep your furry friends in mind when making holiday plans to ensure everyone is safe and happy. No one wants to make an unexpected trip to the vet! Learn more about keeping your rabbit safe this holiday season: rabbit.org/holiday-safety And read our long post below for some safety tips!
- Beware of toxic holiday flowers and plants. Amaryllis, holly, ivy, and mistletoe are common holiday plants that are toxic to rabbits. To be extra safe, keep ALL plants and fresh green decorations up and out of your bunny’s reach. Despite common perception, poinsettia isn’t poisonous to rabbits. (That’s not to say your bunny should eat poinsettia, since it can cause mild intestinal discomfort, but it shouldn’t cause serious illness.)
- Be mindful of what’s at bunny level. Low-hanging decorations, electrical cords, and holiday lights look inviting to rabbits looking for something delicious to nibble! Watch out for broken ornaments on the ground too, which can injure your rabbit. Ingested ornaments can cause intestinal blockage or even toxicity. Keep any homemade ornaments, particularly those made from salt-dough or other food-based materials, out of reach. For ornaments at bunny level, use safe plastic or wooden ornaments that a rabbit can safely tug, nibble, or even steal.
- If your tree has been treated with fire retardant, pesticides, or fake snow, block it off so your rabbit can’t chew it. You can place an x-pen around the tree or use the pen to section off the part of the room where the tree is so your bunny can’t go near it.
- If you put up electrical decorations during this season, make sure the cords are well out of your rabbit’s reach. Plastic wire protectors may help slow down a very curious bunny. However, the plastic wire wrap won’t necessarily prevent a determined rabbit from chewing through it to the wires. After wrapping the cords in the wire wrap, you should still tuck them away.
- Keep a lookout too for low-lying candy, snack bowls, and gingerbread houses placed on low coffee tables and end tables – these are sometimes low enough for a determined rabbit to hop up on and partake of your festive offerings!
- Make sure everyone is on the same page about your rabbit. If you have guests who don’t understand house rabbits, this is a great opportunity to educate them about rabbits and rabbit behavior! Don’t be shy about laying down some ground rules for your company, especially if they include children. Never leave your rabbit unsupervised with a child. Small visitors may be tempted to chase, pick up, or inadvertently mishandle your bunny. It only takes a moment for your rabbit to be seriously injured at the hands of a well-meaning, but overly affectionate child.
- If you have guests who are particularly interested in visiting your rabbit, don’t allow them to handle the rabbit without first properly instructing them about safe handling. Let visitors know that a rabbit’s digestive system is very delicate, and they should only eat food intended for rabbits – no human holiday treats!
- If your bunny is particularly sensitive to noise and activity, you may even want to move them to a quieter room while your company is visiting.
Learn more: rabbit.org/holiday-safety