Christmas Trees

[AbbyGirl]

I put my artificial monster of a tree up to find out that its has a few shorts in the wires and a whole row of branches don’t work.  In the last 6 years it was moved 4 times.  I think it just couldn’t take anymore.  So, it is coming back down and I have to get a new tree since it’s now a fire hazzard.

Can anyone tell me if real trees are  harmful to our buns?  I really prefer a real tree but if it’s not good for Rhine I’ll just get another artificial.

Thanks!

[Deleted User]

Pine trees are safe and edible for rabbits, but the chemicals applied to some to make xmas trees last are dangerous. I guess you could get an organic tree, do you think?

[AbbyGirl]

Thanks! I’ll have to do some more local investigating now.

[lashkay]

My grocery store just got in some potted rosemary Christmas trees – rosemary plants in the trianglular shape of pine Christmas trees! They’re huge. I’m going to get one, decorate it a little and feed sprigs of it to Petie, who is quite a vegetarian. It’s only $9.99 although I think they’ll get more expensive as it gets closer to Christmas. I was told they’re completely edible all rosemary and need just to keep the soil moist by watering every 2 days in inderect light. I love rosemary in bread so I’ll make a rosemary bread loaf too! (Won’t give that to the buns tho, that’s for me.) Petie is meanwhile mowing his wheatgrass. My first bunny, Lash was at first scared of the big Christmas tree I put on the floor when she was about 4 yrs old, then tentatively and curiously came toward it to investigate it, then stood up on her hind legs to sample one of the lower sprigs. She grew fond of nibbling the Christmas tree. I asked our vet who loved Lash, if Christmas tree was alright for rabbits. She didn’t know, said let her try just a bit and if her stool becomes diarreah withhold it from her. She never seemed to have any issues with it and lived to be 7 1/2, quite long for a Netherland dwarf. I never distinguished between Douglas firs and pine trees, So douglas firs are not advised, Petzy, only pine?

[RabbitPam]

 I searched the HRS website and found this article, that I have copied in its entirety since I think it is helpful.

Your Bunny and the Holidays 

It’s holiday season again, a time of year that can be both fun and stressful for you and your rabbit. In the midst of all your holiday preparations, here a few tips to keep your bunny safe and happy over the holiday season.

Plants & Christmas Trees
Be aware of seasonal plants that are brought into the home.

Despite common perception, Poinsettia plants are not poisonous. That’s not to say your bunny should eat them, since they can cause mild intestinal discomfort in some sensitive individuals. But they should not cause serious illness.

Some holiday plants, such as holly, mistletoe and certain types of ivy, can be toxic. To be especially safe, keep ALL plants and fresh green decorations up and out of your bunny’s reach. Put them in a room where your bunny doesn’t usually romp, or place them high enough to be out of reach of little teeth.

Pinecones are generally safe distractions, and make festive bunny chew and throw toys at this time of year.

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.

Take a critical look at your tree before placing the ornaments and lights. Low hanging decoratoins could be inviting toys. On lower limbs, use safe plastic or wooden ornaments a rabbit can safely nibble, tug, or steal. Always supervise closely when bunny is loose around the tree.

Lights, Cords, Decorations
Those of you who have Christmas trees also may also have extra electrical cords and lights, which bunnies can and will chew. If possible, put your Christmas tree in a room where Bunny doesn’t play. If this isn’t possible, you can make your tree “off limits” to your rabbit by placing a puppy pen around it, or you can use the pen to section off the part of the room where the tree is, keeping bunny safely away. This will help keep you and your rabbit safe from chewed electrical cords and preserve your favorite Christmas ornaments, as well.

If you put up electrical decorations during this season, make sure the cords are well out of Bunny’s reach. Plastic wire protectors from Radio Shack may help slow down a curious bunny. However, the wire wrap will not necessarily prevent a determined rabbit from chewing through the plastic to the wires. So after wrapping the cords in the wire wrap, you should still tuck them out of rabbit reach.

Be alert about synthetic tinsel and garland which, if ingested, could cause tummy trouble or impactions. And be conscious of potpourri. Some rabbits enjoy nibbling on it, and there’s no telling what potentially harmful chemicals or preservatives might have been used in the potpourri you’re using.

While wrapping and opening gifts, keep in mind that tape and ribbon are not good things for rabbits to eat, but they seem to be especially attractive playthings to some bunnies. As a substitute, give white tissue paper and you’ll enjoy watching some happy playtime.

‘Tis the season for candles and fireplaces. Keep the first high out of reach and the other enclosed so your bunny can’t investigate too closely. Even cold ashes can be harmful, as they are very caustic if combined with water (including saliva!).

Be aware of low-lying candy, snack bowls, and gingerbread homes, or your buns will have a (potentially dangerous) feast on holiday treats. Coffee tables and end tables are usually low enough for a healthy bunny to easily hop up and partake of your festive offerings. Salty snacks are particularly risky, since a rabbit can actually ingest a fatal overdose of salt if she eats too much (e.g., chips, salted nuts, etc.)

Company and the Hubbub of the Holidays
Many families have friends and family members for short or long visits around this time of year. This will inevitably interrupt your rabbit’s customary routine and atmosphere. If you have family members who don’t understand house rabbits, make sure you take the time to prepare both your company and your rabbit for what to expect. This could be a great opportunity to educate your friends and family about rabbits and rabbit behavior.

To reduce your rabbit’s stress, try to stick as close as possile to her routine. Make sure you remember to give her plenty of attention and reassurance. If your bunny is particularly sensitive to noise and activity, you may even want to move her to a quieter room while your company is visiting.

Don’t be shy about laying down some ground rules for your company, especially if they include children. Never leave your rabbit unsupervised with a child. Small visitors may be tempted to chase, pick up, or inadvertently mishandle your bunny. It could take only a second for a potentially crippling or even fatal accident to occur at the hands of a well-meaning, but overly affectionate child.

If you have guests who are particularly interested in visiting your rabbit, don’t allow them to handle the bunny without first properly instructing them about safe handling. Let visitors know that a rabbit’s digestive system is very delicate, and though she may be adorable when she sits up and begs for treats, that giving in and overfeeding her could be killing her with kindness.

With these precautions in mind, we wish you and your bunnies a fun-filled, joyous Holiday Season!
 

[Beka27]

I just bumped up the old Holiday Safety thread, added some more info (including this HRS article Pam) and pinned it to the top of the forum…

[Dee]

That’s a really good article. I didn’t know if pine trees were safe for bunnies. Now that I know, maybe I will get a real one… I don’t know though, I think of the needles that fall off getting stuck all in the bun’s fur (especially my big puffball Nelli) and possible sticking in a bunny foot or mouth, and it really discourages me.

I love decorating for the holidays, but my bunnies are completely free range in the downstairs- no cage at all. So I have to make sure the house is safe for them even when we’re not home. I got an artificial tree and don’t put any decorations within bunny reach. I use the garland tinsel, not the little stringy things. When I do the lights, I end the last string higher up on the tree instead of running it on the floor to the outlet. I have a little fence of NIC cube grates along the wall that tree is against, so all the cords going into the outlets are safe from bunny bites. And I make sure that all the ornaments are very securely attached to the tree- it makes removing them a major pain but that way I know no ornaments will fall and be eaten or stepped on (broken glass ornaments are really sharp!). The only thing is that the Bunnies LOVE the tree skirt- I treated myself to a more expensive one the Xmas before bunnies… big mistake. They lay on it, chew on it, and when Bunbun gets his poopy butt episodes, poop on it. At the end of the holiday, I gave the tree skirt to the bunnies- it was beyond repair. So now I just get cheap tree skirts and everyone is happy. Oh yeah, we can’t leave presents under the tree because they will have little bunny nibbles all over them- lol.

[Andi]

PitStop nibbles the lower branches, so i place a small fencing around the tree. Eating the branches doesn’t bother me as much as if he was to get at an electrical cord by accident. He just love the X-Mas tree! We go and pick out live untreated ones and cut them down ourselves (in the freezing freaking cold!!! whats wrong with me? LOL)

[AbbyGirl]

Thanks! I decided to get another artificial and since the new buns are such cord chewers I built a nic fence around it. I have those thing every where now! lol =)

[Author]

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