Rabbits are one of the many vegetarian animal species in the entire animal kingdom. Even though rabbits are vegetarian, that does not necessarily mean that all the vegetables are safe to feed to your pet rabbit.
And if you wonder if “can rabbits eat mushrooms?” The answer is absolute NO. Read through below to find out why.
What is a mushroom?
There are different types of fungi, and one among them is the mushroom. These mushrooms mostly thrive in wet conditions and moist areas. There is a wide variety of mushrooms that comes in different shapes, sizes, colors, and tastes.
Mushrooms are also famous for being called toadstools as they also shape like one. However, there are also some that may look similar to a mushy-fluffy umbrella where you call its body a “cap.” Its body has a lot of spores where reproduction takes place.
Moreover, mushrooms have a thousand types, some of which can be poisonous to anyone. Although, some are still edible, and most people find them delicious and healthy.
Mushrooms are abundant, and you can see them almost all around the world. They can grow almost everywhere, whether on land, on walls, or just in a plastic bottle. But you may often see them in wet and warm woodland locations.
We have already mentioned that there are various types of mushrooms and most of which are wild mushrooms.
Using the United States as our reference, they have at least 100 wild mushrooms that can be very dangerous to humans when induced. Thus, among all those, we cannot be sure which of them can also be the same for rabbits.
Nutritional Data of a Mushroom
Take a look at the nutritional value of a mushroom per 100 grams
| Vitamins and Minerals | Percentage or Amount per serving |
| Energy | 94 kJ (22 kcal) |
| Carbohydrates | 4.3 g |
| Fat | 0.1 g |
| Protein | 2.5g |
| Thiamine (B1) | 0.1 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.5 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 3.8 mg |
| Pantothenic Acid (B5) | 1.5 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.11 mg |
| Folate (B9) | 25 ug |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg |
| Vitamin D | 3 IU |
| Calcium | 18 mg |
| Iron | 0.4 mg |
| Magnesium | 9 mg |
| Manganese | 0.142 mg |
| Phosphorus | 120 mg |
| Potassium | 448 mg |
| Sodium | 6 mg |
| Zinc | 1.1 mg |
| Selenium | 26 ug |
| Copper | 0.5 mg |
| Vitamin D (UV Exposed) | 1276 IU |
You may notice the quantity of phosphorus, fat, and other acidic contents in the nutritional data. Hence, it goes to show that rabbits should NEVER eat any type of mushrooms because it can be hazardous to them, whether it is raw or cooked.
Are mushrooms poisonous?
Not all mushrooms are poisonous, but there are some that can be dangerous not only for humans but also for animals like rabbits. So yes, mushrooms can be deadly as they contain toxic metabolites that may lead to mycotoxicosis.
Mushrooms that are being sold either in the wet market or in the grocery stores are edible as they are cultivated properly. These edible mushrooms are very popular in different cuisines, mainly Asian and European cuisines.
Can rabbits eat mushrooms?
That is the only direct and honest answer to your concern regarding rabbits eating mushrooms. These mushrooms are never safe to feed for rabbits regardless of whether they can be nutritious for humans.
Again, a mushroom is considered to be a fungus that can be very dangerous for rabbits once they accidentally eat it. It can either make them sick or, worse, can kill them quickly due to food poisoning.
So make sure to keep the mushrooms away from your precious pet rabbit. Whether these rabbits are still a kitten or in their adult stage already, avoid feeding them one.
Mushroom poisoning is definitely challenging to treat. We highly encourage you always to keep your pet rabbits near your sight.
Once you see any signs and symptoms of food poisoning, make sure to bring your pet to the veterinary clinic immediately. When it comes to mushroom poisoning, time is your enemy here.
To reiterate, never allow your pet rabbit to devour any type of mushroom, regardless of whether they are safe for humans or if you have cooked the mushrooms.
The risks are high, and the worst thing that could ever happen to your rabbit is that it can possibly die due to mushroom poisoning.
12 Symptoms of Mushroom Poisoning
There are some circumstances where wild rabbits or your pet rabbit accidentally eat a mushroom. Thus, they may suffer from mushroom food poisoning, as already discussed above.
There are a lot of symptoms these precious creatures may experience. All of which may show up in a span of 15 minutes up to 1 hour. Therefore, make sure that you are always alert and aware of what is happening to your pet rabbit.
Listed below are the following symptoms you need to watch out for to provide them with the first aid that they would need:
- Continuous head tilts
- Dehydration or excessive feeling of thirst
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue or Lethargy
- Grinding of teeth
- Hyperactivity or restlessness
- Jaundice
- Loss or Reduced appetite
- Neurological damage such as dizziness or seizure
- Some damage to their internal organs
- A sudden change of breathing pattern or heartbeat
- Vomiting
Though you accidentally feed your rabbit a mushroom safe for humans, the risk of mushroom poisoning may be lower, but it is still recommended never to feed them any type of mushrooms.
3 Tips for How to Cure Mushroom Poisoning
We cannot take care of our pet rabbits 24/7, especially when we have to work during the day. Some households have no choice but to leave their pets unattended and just opt to install a CCTV camera so that they will be able to check their furbaby once they get home.
However, accidents are inevitable. We have already established that mushrooms are not safe for your pet rabbit. Once they eat them, there is a high probability that they can get poisoned.
Mushroom poisoning can happen any time of the day, so make sure that you are quick to notice the changes in your pet rabbit.
- A simple first aid can be done to treat your poisoned pet by giving them activated charcoal or by pumping their gastric or stomach. This helps in eliminating the toxins in them.
- When you notice some symptoms, make sure that you bring your pet rabbit to the doctor right away. The Veterinarian will then examine the precious little creature by taking blood samples. If things get worse, the doctor will immediately treat the patient.
- If you notice that your pet rabbit has heavy breathing or some abnormalities in their breathing, make sure that you are knowledgeable about treating this by giving them artificial respiration or some cardiac massage.
In a life and death situation for these little creatures, time is your enemy here. That is why you should be well aware of the necessary actions you need to take if you find your pet rabbit poisoned by inducing a mushroom.
4 Tips on How to Keep Your Rabbits from Poisoning
Mycotoxicosis is somewhat familiar to rabbits, significantly when they accidentally induce a mushroom. Wild rabbits are magically aware of what food to eat in the mountains, but certainly, there are some that can accidentally eat one, which can lead them to mushroom poisoning.
But today, we are going to focus on the household rabbits. Listed below are some tips on how to prevent your rabbits from mushroom poisoning.
Always clean the garden
Make sure that you keep your pet rabbits away from being in contact with any type of mushroom to avoid them accidentally inducing it. This is more important, especially when you always allow your pet rabbit to play in your backyard garden.
Fungi can show up overnight. That is why you must always check and clean up your entire lawn area and garden. After all, prevention is the key to safety.
Always keep the grass cut short
Ensure that the lawn grass is regularly trimmed to avoid them concealing any possible mushrooms that might show up. Make sure that a short lawn is regularly maintained to prevent them from growing more.
Double-check the areas under the trees
It is always better to be sure than sorry. Thus, make sure that you do not forget to double-check the areas under the trees as different kinds of mushrooms may grow beneath them.
Proper hand hygiene
If you were in contact with any type of mushroom, make sure that you thoroughly washed your hands prior to handling a rabbit or giving them their food, as it can contaminate it.
12 Healthy foods that are safe to feed my pet rabbit?
To ensure the health and safety of your pet rabbit, make sure only to provide them the food that is safe for them, most of which is very similar to what the wild rabbits eat.
Listed below are the food you can choose from for your household rabbit to eat. You can use this as your guide every time you prepare their meal.
- Arugula
- Basil
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cilantro
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Mustard Green
- Parsley
- Spinach
- Sweet Bell Pepper
Listed above is just a few of the many delicious fruits, vegetables, and herbs that your pet rabbit may devour. You can always do your research to double-check if the food you think your rabbit may enjoy is actually safe for them.
Summary
You may ask if “can rabbits eat mushrooms?” our answer is definitely a big NO! Regardless of age, everyone is probably aware that rabbits are herbivores.
But that does not mean that all types of vegetables, even the edible and safe mushrooms for humans to eat, are a restriction for rabbits.
