Are you sure that a snow bath would be sufficient to clean all the chemicals off?

I think with the number of bunnies you have and the issues going on with some of them, I’d stick to their regular diet. You don’t need another problem popping up just before the holidays.

I’m reminded that here in Florida, the favorite sport is eating. People think restaurant when they want entertainment. There are healthier ways for the bunnies to have fun. (Like skydiving, snorkeling, etc.)

I have to agree with Rabbit Pam. Unless you cut the tree down from someone you know’s property & you know they don’t use pesticides or herbicides, it’s too risky. Them getting a few snuck in nibbles, I don’t think I’d worry about, but feeding any, I would not. I would worry that chemicals could still be between all the tiny spots after washing.
I know buns do love pine needles – at least Bugsy does. She ate tons of old ones off the ground the summer we spent at the trailer near Algonquin Park. I knew for sure that the area was not sprayed for anything & I phoned the vet to ask about eating the needles. Edit to add: it would have been White Pine here though.

I still don’t advocate it. I am looking around my apartment at all the bunny chew toys – pinecones and willow sticks and hay baskets EVERYWHERE – and I don’t think I should get her another toy for about 3 years. I’ve seen your great bunny room, and I’m guessing it looks very similar.

Pine is only safe in the form of untreated pine lumber as it has already been kiln-dried.
Fresh pine is considered toxic because of the oils in the sap. When you look at a cut-down pine tree’s bark, you can see the sap oozing out for months, it is very strong stuff.

I think I remember seeing apples in a photo of your dog in your yard — why don’t you cut a branch off that tree, you can offer it fresh.

I had wondered the same thing when I first set up a five foot Christmas tree in a stand in my apartment that my previous bunny Lash, a female Netherland Dwarf stood up on her hind legs to reach the lowest branches of, whether Spruce, Douglas Fir, or Pine. I don’t know if it was ill-advised or not, but the vet who examined her when I first got her (as a baby) said I could expect her to live five years for her breed, she lived to be 7 years and 4 months. The sap didn’t turn out to be an issue. I had asked my very good vet if Christmas trees were a no-no and she said she couldn’t say, so assuming since she hadn’t heard they were to be avoided, I let my bunny Lash have some. I assume Lash digested some of the sap as the whole little sprigs she nibbled off of the bottom branches would disappear in her mouth like a strand of spaghetti going in. I would heed what everyone has said about possible pesticide but I doubt a few little sprigs of well-washed off Christmas tree would hurt your bun. If you see changes in the bunny’s stool – you’d probably want to discontinue giving them. I doubt I am going to get a Christmas tree this year so my bunny, Buddie, will not be dining on Christmas tree under glass this year.

Posted By Kokaneeandkahlua on 12/07/2009 11:36 PM

Fresh pine is considered toxic because of the oils in the sap.

AHHH that’s what I was wondering!! I thought so-but I coudn’t find a link or source anywhere.

I think I remember seeing apples in a photo of your dog in your yard — why don’t you cut a branch off that tree, you can offer it fresh.

*sheepish look* Just didn’t want to waste it-it smells deliscious to me! :p

I got my info from a book if you’re interested; It’s called Small Animal Toxicology.

It is actually that aromatic scent that indicates the fresh pine and needles contain those phenols that are harmful inhaled and ingested in large amounts.

I agree, the Merck Veterinary Manual hardly covers rabbits extensively. I am hoping that this will change with more house rabbits being presented in veterinary practice. It is a good book, even for pet owners.

I had this one vet once who would examine a sick animal and then go “hmmm—hmmm” and ask the pet owners: “well, what do YOU think is wrong with your pet??” That’s when I seriously started reading the Merck.

–I got my copy of the toxicology book at a university book sale. But Amazon has it

http://www.amazon.com/Small-Animal-Toxicol…0721606393

What about your vet; have you asked her if she would lend out to you any of her materials? i don’t think it would be weird to ask at all. Vets belong to the academic community where sharing of knowledge is a virtue.

I think it is fantastic that AB finally got a vet school, too.

Oh, K&K, I found something at the grocery store yesterday… a foot tall little tree… made of rosemary looks just like a Christmas tree, but is a live rosemary plant I’m gonna decorate it with bunny safe ornaments and make it my bunny tree

They don’t have this store up in Canada, unfortunately

You can make an edible christmas tree for your rabbits, even in Canada (imagine that). It’s called a Santabuntree. This is so cute!

homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/santabuntree.html

This is good to know as I have always been told by my vet and other rabbit savvies, as well as read on the HRS holiday article,  that nibbling on it  is just fine. I didn’t even think about the sap that could ooze from the tree. (I don’t know why that wouldn’t have crossed my mind). I will have to ask my vet about this.  Thanks for this information!!

Posted By BinkyBunny on 12/10/2009 11:33 PM

This is good to know as I have always been told by my vet and other rabbit savvies, as well as read on the HRS holiday article,  that nibbling on it  is just fine. I didn’t even think about the sap that could ooze from the tree. (I don’t know why that wouldn’t have crossed my mind). I will have to ask my vet about this.  Thanks for this information!!

I will quote what it says on HRS about this.

“If your Christmas tree has not been treated (with fire stupident, pesticides, etc) or painted, then it should be safe to chew. Note that natural chemical compounds in some evergreens may cause the bunny’s urine to turn more orange than usual, but this is not a health concern.”

I think, I have become more concerned with this since I visited a kiln once. The phenols from the pine being processed were so strong they made my eyes burn. It may just be a matter of amount like you said, BB. Jackrabbits seem to thrive on pine needles in the winter, too. 

The book I referred to mentions that the aromatic substances in the fresh pine can get into an animal’s lungs through digestion even. Maybe that’s just like eating a Hall’s cough candy for us, I don’t know. I just wouldn’t risk it.

Thanks so much – I have printed this thread out and will be bringing it to my vet this month when I have Jack’s check-up done. I am sure that my vet, who volunteers her time to the HRS headquarters, would want to be completely informed about this. She’s very open to any concerns, and if she doesn’t full know something, she will research as well. So I look forward to learning more about this.