Grazing Rabbits in Your Backyard: Weighing the Dangers and Advantages

Is Outdoor Grazing Safe for Pet Rabbits?

"Over the years, my family has kept several pet rabbits, both indoors and outdoors in hutches. We allowed one Holland Lop that appeared healthy to graze in our backyard, but he suddenly began screaming and jumping frantically, then died quickly. I thought the jumping might have broken his back, but I've always wondered whether a parasite or something in the grass caused his death. Since then, I've been hesitant to let our rabbits graze the grass here.

Do you have any suggestions for me? We plan to get another rabbit. It will live indoors, but it seems like a good idea to let it out on the grass occasionally … or not. What do you recommend? There was another rabbit that died shortly after we got it, which we had let graze on the grass, but we had only had it for one week, and maybe it already had an undiagnosed ailment before we got it." —Margaret

Unexplained Deaths in Rabbits That Graze

It's impossible to know the exact cause of that rabbit's death, but several factors can lead to sudden death in grazing rabbits:

• bites from snakes or spiders, ants, centipedes, etc.
• poisonous plants
• stress from predators (such as being chased by a dog)
• pesticides

Keep Pesticides and Insecticides Off Grazing Areas

The incident you described points to an insect or snake, but pesticides are likely the most frequent culprit. In humans, the earliest signs of pesticide neurotoxicity are generally malaise and mild confusion (1), but the effects of any toxin depend on the dose. Because rabbits are so small, the amount of pesticide on grass that would be harmless to a large animal like a horse can be lethal to a rabbit.

If you have a lawn and allow your rabbits to graze, it's best never to spray it. Ants and other insects can still be present, though. Many other conditions can also cause sudden death in rabbits, and you're probably aware of most of them.

Why Grazing Can Be Good for Your Rabbit

Is it worth the risk to let your rabbits graze? Yes, allowing them to graze is a great idea. There are psychological benefits that are easy to observe in our rabbits, and fresh grass provides more nutrients and antioxidants than hay or pellets; your rabbits may be healthier both physically and mentally.

As for how many hours they should have access to grazing, there is no clear answer. Rabbits that had limited grazing time gained weight, as did rabbits that grazed all day. Rabbits allowed out more often did not die more frequently. (2)

Make Sure They Have a Safe Enclosure

One interesting finding from the researchers was that rabbits with an enclosure they could retreat to for hiding fared much better. I'm not sure how many hours a day you usually let your rabbits out to graze, but if you can't watch them constantly, ensure they have a hide.

Sources

(1) Kamel F, Hoppin JA. Association of pesticide exposure with neurologic dysfunction and disease. Environ Health Perspect. 2004 Jun;112(9):950-8. doi: 10.1289/ehp.7135. PMID: 15198914; PMCID: PMC1247187. i.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1247187/

(2) Fetiveau M, Savietto D, Fillon V, Bannelier C, Pujol S, Fortun-Lamothe L. Effect of outdoor grazing-area access time and enrichment on space and pasture use, behaviour, health and growth traits of weaned rabbits. Animal. 2023 Mar;17(3):100724. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100724. Epub 2023 Feb 2. PMID: 36812719. i.nlm.nih.gov/36812719/

This article is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from your veterinarian. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

© 2023 Mark dos Anjos, DVM