Rabbit just ate some potatoe…is it going to die?

[Sophi007]

So my brother is out of town for the week, and he asked me to watch his bunny. He left a note asking me to give it a “snack” this morning, so I gave it a leaf of romaine lettuce.

Now my brother mostly keeps the rabbit in his room, but he does let it out sometimes to roam about. Since the rabbit had been cooped up for a while, thought I would let it out. Bad idea. I checked the room for electrical wires, since I’d been warned of that. I was making my lunch, and went to take care of something in the other room. When I came back (4 mins. according to the timer) the bunny had gotten into the potatoes, and eaten some of a potato and a yam. She ate about, oh almost a 1/4 of a cup.

I really hadn’t thought about the potato bin. i read somewhere that if a rabbit ate a little potatoe, it would probably be okay, but she ate quite a bit of it. Will the bunny be okay? I have to go to work in 45 minutes, so I’m not sure what to do.

[Bam]

Bunny will probably be ok. Was the potatoe raw or cooked? Cooked potato is ok. Uncooked my cause stomach upset. Give hay. If you can come home during your lunchbreak to check on the bunny, do that.

[Sophi007]

It was a raw potato. I will see if I can go home and give it some hay.

[Bam]

There is honestly not much else to do but give hay and monitor poop. If eating and/or pooping stops or poops become very small like black pepper corns, it’s a sign of stomach upset. For that you can give simethicone (baby gas drops) and tummy massage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnuxGLa2reg

If the bunny hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hs, it’s a veterinary emergency.

I wish you the best of luck! Please update us or just return if you have any more questions!

[Roberta]

The potato is part of the night shade family and contains toxins. A small amount may just upset their tummies but more is poisonous and can lead to liver damage or death.
You have probably already left for work but consider taking the bun to the vet for observation whilst you are at work.
Lots of hay and food will help buffer the toxins and move them through.

[LBJ10]

What kind of potato was it? Some are worse than others. Plus green parts contain the most toxins. There is less in the actual potato.

[Sophi007]

Just a quick update, I think the bunny is fine. She peed on the bed because I wouldn’t let her out, and she’s back to her mischevious self. She was a bit lethargic for a few hours, but she is back to her usual energetic self, and has pooped all over her newly cleaned cage. The droppings were a bit smaller/darker than usual, but since she is acting like normal, I think everything is okay.

Thank you all for your advice!

[Lee]

I just wanted to add and I am sorry to be a killjoy – liver damage or poisoning can often be deceptive, so just continue to keep a close eye on your brothers Bun and ensure you take her to the vet if she doesn’t continue to improve or if she goes backwards.

[Bam]

Yes, as Lee says, keep an eye on her esp regarding appetite and pooping. I’m glad she is acting well now though!

The potatoe plant is poisonous but the tubers generally are not, unless of course they’ve been exposed to light which causes solanine (an alkaloid poison) to form in them. This is why you should never eat potatoes if they’ve turned greenish, the green color is chlorophyll and indicates exposure to light. Solanine is not degraded by cooking. Solanine poisoning generally occurs 8-12 hs after ingestion.

[Author]

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