Millions of households have bunnies in the US. As with any pet, there is a long list of dos and don’ts. Naturally, rabbit owners are curious about what is best for their pets. If you’re a stoner with a bunny, you must have wondered, “does weed smoke affect rabbits?”. Here’s what we know.
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Can Weed Smoke Affect Rabbits?
Unlike cats and dogs, there is contradicting evidence about whether or not weed can cause marijuana toxicity in bunnies.
One source says, “there is no evidence on marijuana toxicity in rabbits, so we don’t know whether rabbits could be negatively impacted by either eating the plant or being exposed to marijuana smoke.”
To be fair there are almost no recorded incidents of marijuana toxicity with rabbits. However, a 2022 case report reported on a bunny that may have had marijuana toxicity. The three-month-old bunny was receiving emergency care for a seizure-like episode. The case study says that the tests performed, including a biochemistry test, were unremarkable. The rabbit did exhibit symptoms that were similar to a dog with marijuana toxicity such as, “subdued mentation, ataxia, bradycardia, and seizures.”
Interestingly, the bunny’s owners admitted that the rabbit ate weed. The vets administered a human urine test and it tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The case report then concluded that marijuana toxicity, “should be considered a differential diagnosis for acute onset of neurologic deficits in rabbits.”
Fortunately, the bunny recovered completely without intensive care even with the delayed diagnosis.
In addition to that, there was a 1976 study that examined the effects of THC on bunnies. The researchers injected the rabbits with up to 100 THC for 13 days. They observed anorexia and some local dermal irritation but no significant toxicity.
So we now know it’s possible that eating weed may cause marijuana toxicity in rabbits, but what about smoke? Weed or not, smoke is generally is not ideal for pets. As Rabbits.life says, “Rabbits are sensitive creatures with tiny lungs and should not be subjected to inhaling smoke as it can quickly harm their lungs.”
However, we don’t have evidence that weed smoke can cause marijuana toxicity.
Can Bunnies Eat Weed?
As you probably already know, bunnies are herbivores and love munching on plants and veggies.
With that said, bunnies like to eat marijuana plants. Special Agent Matt Fairbanks, part of the marijuana eradication team in Utah, was quoted in the Washington Post about a rabbit’s love for weed. Fairbanks said that in illegal growing sites, there are rabbits that have developed a taste for weed. He also noted that the rabbit didn’t run away from him and his team. Maybe he was trying to say the rabbit was stoned.
Even though it seems that rabbits in the wild are eating weed, we don’t recommend feeding it to your rabbit at home. According to Hay Farm Guy, “it is not clear if THC is safe for rabbits or if it would be effective in treating any medical conditions in rabbits.If you are considering giving your rabbit marijuana, it is important to talk to a veterinarian first.”
We know of at least one case (that we discussed above) where a bunny ate weed and had adverse effects.
Chances are your bunny won’t get high from chewing on weed leaves but the buds may provide a high. It’s not recommended to get animals high since they don’t know what’s happening and may become distressed.
Can Bunnies Eat Edibles?
You may also be wondering about how dangerous it is to share your edible with your pet rabbit. Edibles usually come in a sweet treat and even without weed, those treats are usually toxic to bunnies.
According to PETA, foods like cookies, oatmeal, walnuts, chocolate, and peanut butter are a no-no for your pet rabbit. For example, cookies can cause stomach problems and enterotoxemia.
Enterotoxemia, according to Rabbit Care Tips, occurs when “overgrowth of Clostridium-type bacteria in the rabbit’s cecum (the pouch between the small and large intestine). These bacteria release a toxin that is fatal. It’s thought that sugary, high-carb foods encourage the bacteria to multiply.”
Therefore, you’re better off sharing some raw carrots with your rabbit instead of an edible.
How to Protect Your Bunny from Weed
If you’re concerned about your bunny having contact with weed, you can:
- Smoke in a well-ventilated room
- Stash your edibles somewhere your pet rabbit can’t access them
- Make sure your bunny doesn’t have access to your weed plants
And if for any reason you suspect that your bunny has consumed weed, you can take them to your vet for treatment.
Takeaway
Does weed smoke affect rabbits? All smoke has the potential to distressing for rabbits. Therefore, we recommend not smoking around your bunnies. While there have not been many cases of adverse effects of marijuana on rabbits, we know that consuming weed can negatively affect rabbits in some way. To be on the safe side, keep your stash away from your furry friends and carry them to the vet if you think they consumed any.
