Onions belong to the allium herb family that also has leeks, scallions, garlic, and chives. In human beings, they help in improving the health of your heart, better your immunity system, act as an anti-inflammatory, help in digestion, fight cancer and have calcium, iron, folate, phosphorous, antioxidants, vitamin C, Vitamin B6 among others.
On the other hand, garlic has many benefits to human beings too including having medicinal properties, being nutritious and loaded with Manganese, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Fiber, Selenium, and Other minerals.
It can also reduce blood pressure, fight against some diseases such as common cold, has antioxidants and so on. The least is endless.
Owing to these many benefits that garlic and onions have, it is reasonable to want to know if they are safe for your bunnies? Can you give them raw or cooked onions and are they helpful?
Why you should never give your rabbits onions
To begin with, Animalwised.com lists them as poisonous foods for rabbits which besides being “difficult to digest, onions contribute to the loss of red blood cells, making your rabbit feel weak and dizzy.”
The result is if consumed regularly, your furry friends will end up being anemic and even die since they trigger hemolysis which is the destruction of the red blood cells.
Rabbit.org also warns on giving any foods that belong to the onion family, i.e., avoid foods in the onion family such as leeks, chives, and onions because eating these foods could cause blood abnormalities.”
Besides developing a blood disorder, an anaphylactic reaction is also possible, and they may also have an immunosuppressive effect on your furry friends.
These two sources can affirm the reasons why you should never give your rabbits types of onion.
Besides these effects that bunnies do not like their sulfurous smell, so they will not naturally eat them. They will always avoid them as they are a repellant.
What about garlic
Being a member of the allium herb, garlic has similar effects as onions and should not be given to your furry friends.
Although Riseandshinerabbitry.com claims that garlic can immunize your bunnies to fights “against disease, it is an antiseptic, antibiotic, and helps in bloating and gas, and is a respiratory expectorant.” We did not find any literature to support the theory, and our position is that garlic is poisonous to rabbits.
They do not even like garlic, this is the reasons why “applying a garlic-infused solution directly to your plants may keep rabbits at bay and keep your prized pumpkin patch intact,” notes Sfgates.com.
It can also be used as a repellant to avoid burrowing if you spray its powder on the ground in your garden.
Conclusion
Always ensure your bunnies do not eat any of the allium herbs including giving them any treat or snack that has them. They are poisonous and harmful to your rabbits. Consult with your vet in case you have a resource that states otherwise.
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