Are zinc pens safe for rabbits?

FORUM

What are we about? Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules.

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 5sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 6 months ago by Kokaneeandkahlua.

Viewing 5 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 08/18/2009 at 2:42 PM
  WhiskerB
  Participant
  13 posts
  Hi everyone,
  
  This is my first post here and I tried to search around for an answer to my question before posting but can’t find one, so here goes:
  
  I just bought an ex-pen for my bunny and it arrived today, I plopped bun inside to see if she liked it and then I started to wonder if I had made a mistake. The pen is a gold zinc electroplate (all of the pens I had looked at were made of zinc or a plastic coating with no base metal listed) but I never thought to ask if this is safe for bunbuns.
  
  I called my vet and she said zinc is not safe, it’s a toxin.
  
  What I’d like to know is if my vet is right and I have to ship this thing back and try a NIC cage or if a zinc pen is indeed safe and I can start constructing the mansion my bunny deserves? I never saw any specifications listed on the websites I looked at about building a rabbit ex-pen cage. Also, what the heck is a good metal to look for in an ex-pen, if NOT zinc?
  
  Any input would make me a very happy lady.
- 08/18/2009 at 2:49 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Well I have the Midwest Gold Exercise Pens that I believe and it says they are acrylic coated gold zinc and I’ve never had a concern to be honest. I’ve been using them for years with no problems.
- 08/19/2009 at 4:58 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  I have the Midwest Gold Zinc xpens also. Many bunny people use these. I’m not an expert on the subject, but I don’t really know that the bunny would get any zinc by licking the pen.
- 08/19/2009 at 4:10 PM
  WhiskerB
  Participant
  13 posts
  That’s what I’m hoping.
  
  Thanks!
- 08/19/2009 at 6:11 PM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  they dip them in zinc because it is a cheap way to make them non-corrosive. I have a fold-up crate like that. My rabbits don’t chew on it, though. I think, if your rabbit doesn’t gnaw the bars incessantly as a boredom vice it shouldn’t pose a threat.
  I am sure the vinyl on the NIC grids isn’t good for rabbits to eat, either.
- 08/20/2009 at 12:17 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  Zinc in a powder form is a lot different then zinc being used to electroplate the metal…I think your vet is correct that zinc is a toxin (most heavy metals are, hence silver bandaids ) However, it’s zinc in metal form and it’s not likely to be eaten. Even if they lick the pen or chew the bars I don’t think their is much chance of a bunch of zinc being ingested. Anyhoooo like others have said, they’ve used the same pens without problem so you’re likely fine
Author

Messages

Viewing 5 reply threads

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.