My bunny loves tea - is it safe?

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This topic has 6sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 10 months ago by Danika.

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- 10/11/2018 at 10:23 AM
  Danika
  Participant
  29 posts
  Hi =)
  
  So, I keep used tea bags and when I have enough I use them to make a type of iced-tea. So I just add water, 3 teaspoons of sugar per litre, and a dash of lemon juice.
  
  Thing is – my bun LOVES it. She literally jumps on top of my glass to get some. So I started giving her small amounts. Like, I use a tupperware lid, so it’s no more than 10mls or so. She absolutely loves it. She licks that lid all over the floor, it’s actually so cute! But now I just want to know whether it’s bad for her? It’s mostly rooibos tea and black tea. And I know sugar is very bad for them, but I think the amount of sugar in 10mls is so small. I don’t know. Anyone’s opinion on this would help terribly. I love her to death, she is my soulmate and I never want to hurt her in any way!!!
- 10/11/2018 at 11:57 AM
  LuigiTheBunny
  Participant
  13 posts
  I’m not an expert, but I think it depends on the kind of tea. I have read that you shouldn’t give rabbits tea with caffeine. If that’s the case, rooibos tea should be fine, and black tea (containing 20mg of caffeine per 100g tea) should be avoided.
  
  I definitely would not give black tea to my bunny.
- 10/11/2018 at 1:15 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Hmm, I’m not sure about rooibos or black tea, esp nothing with sugar. I’m guessing she is going for the sugar, even though it’s a small amount. The caffeine could be very bad for her, since her heart already beats very fast.
  
  You can, however, make hay tea and mint tea for your bun! It is very nutritious for them. I imagine you could also do basil, or other herbs that bunnies can safely eat.
  
  Mint tea can be given for a gassy bun, and hay tea can be great for any bun, esp one that’s not doing well. Here’s the recipe:
  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/168220/Default.aspx
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 10/11/2018 at 1:28 PM
  Bam
  Moderator
  16966 posts
  Black tea has some caffeine, called theine when it’s in tea, it’s a stimulant. It doesn’t seem very dangerous to rabbits, although really high doses can apparently give reversible changes in kidney- and liver function. I found other studies as well, where rabbits have been given caffeine. They seem to tolerate moderate amounts of caffeine. (This surprised me). I don’t know how much caffeine your tea would contain – but as Luigi says, black tea is high in caffeine. Roibos doesn’t have caffeine, but I don’t know if it’s safe for rabbits. Sugar is not good for rabbits, but you are right about the amount being very small. If I do the maths correctly there would be about 0,4 g sugar in 10 ml of the iced tea. (1 tablespoon sugar weighing 12.5 grams).
- 10/12/2018 at 12:09 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22345 posts
  I doubt there would be much (if any) caffeine left in those teabags regardless.
  
  Roibos doesn’t have caffeine, but I don’t know if it’s safe for rabbits.
  
  I don’t know if specifically bunny safe either. But I was reminded of a video of this couple that were feeding an orphaned hippo bottles of rooibos. Even as it got older and joined a herd up river, it would come back and visit and have it’s rooibos!
  
  I have a rabbit that has taken a liking for peppermint tea. So Ive been making it for him and he tends to drink all that first before he goes back to water bowl.
  
  He gets in in a little bunny-themed mug. Also, note the chewed baseboard behind it..
- 10/12/2018 at 2:15 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Ah true, I totally missed the part about the tea bags already having been steeped once!
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 01/09/2019 at 1:06 AM
  Danika
  Participant
  29 posts
  Thank you all for replying! I greatly appreciate it.. I have since stopped giving her the iced tea. I now brew pure Rooibos, as I read that it is safe for rabbits, and give her a little once a week as a treat.
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