Is Pine Safe For Rabbits?

Whether or not pine is safe for rabbits depends on the type, and I will clear things up. Processed pine –which has gone through the drying process – is okay for a rabbit to chew, but the fresh one is not. Many of the pine-made furniture and planks are okay, but you wouldn’t want your rabbit chewing those.

If the pine in question is unprocessed (and is thus fresh), it should not be anywhere near the rabbit’s mouth. Fresh pine usually has some toxic chemical compounds known as phenols that trigger liver issues in bunnies.

The other type of pine you want away from your rabbit is the strong-scented type.

Rabbit And Woods 101: The Woods And Wood-Like Substances (Tabulated)

The Safe Kind

Yarrow	Wingstem	Willow	Sycamore	Sweet potato	Sunflower
Strawberry	Stinging nettle	Squash	Sow thistle	Shepherd’s purse	Rose
Apple	Raspberry	Radish	Quince	Queen Anne’s lace	Purslane
Poplar	Plantain	Pine	Pigweed	Pecan	Pear
Peach	Parsley	Mulberry	Mint	Mesquite	Maple
Manzanita	Mallow	Linden	Lemon balm	Alfalfa	Kudzu
Kiwi	Jewelweed	Hazelnut	Hawthorn	Hackberry	Grapevine
Dogwood	Dandelion	Crabapple	Cottonwood	Common comfrey	Coconut shell
Clover	Cilantro	Cholla	Chicory (wild)	Chickweed	Cat-tail
Carrot	Borage	Blackcurrant	Blackberry	Basil	Bamboo cane
Aspen	Ash	Arbutus	Apricot

The Toxic Kind

Zebrawood	Yunnan	Yew	Wenge	Walnut	Teak
Spruce	Snakewood	Sequoia	Satinwood	Sassafras	Rosewood
Redwood	Quebracho	Purpleheart	Prune	Plywood	Plum
Pine	Peroba rosa	Peach	Apricot	Paduak	Opepe
Olive	Oleander	Yungu	Obeche/abachi	Oak/cork	Nectarine
Myrtle	Mopane/mopani	Mimosa	Maple	Mansonia	Mahogany
Magnolia	Laurel	Kapok	Juniper	Iroko	Alder
Hemlock4	Greenheart	Goncalo alves	Fir	Fig	Eucalyptus
Elm	Elder/elderberry	Elang/mukulungu	Ebony	Almond	Cypress
Cocobolo	Citrus	Cherry	Cedar	Cashew	Buddleia
Boxwood	Bogwood	Blackwood	Black locust	Birch	Beech

(Some Of The) Safe Woods For Rabbits

Chewing comes naturally to rabbits. Anything that exists before the eyes of a rabbit is worth chewing – be it metal, plastic, or even wood. Like rodents, rabbits need to chew to take care of their ever-growing front teeth. That is why it is vital to ensure that your rabbit chews on the right items.

Since our rabbits are under our care and we wouldn’t want them chewing on anything, it is good to pick the safest options. If we’re going for twigs, barks, or roots, we need to get the best of the best. So, stop your rabbit when you see it chewing on your varnished or painted furniture.

If A Rabbit Nibbles On A Piece Of Unsafe Wood, What Could Happen?

Before anything else, you should have no reason to be anxious if your rabbit is chewing on the wrong wood type. Some of the toxic wood types are too tough, meaning that they don’t even get ingested. But you should be alert to see if the rabbit’s behavior changes significantly. Normal temperament and mannerisms should tell you that the unsafe piece of wood did no damage.

But, as it is with 50-50 situations, always err on the side of caution. Check if the rabbit has been nibbling the piece of wood for a long time. If that is the case, you could be looking at liver and digestive complications.

The point here: only give your rabbit the safe, suitable wood types.

Safe Wood Types

Most bunnies don’t discriminate, but some will have their favorite twig and branches. This is because different wood types have varied appeals and tastes. And once a rabbit doesn’t find one wood type ‘sweet,’ you need to get another.

Fact: many bunny toys available in the market are made from willow twigs. So, that’s an excellent place to start in talking about the safe wood types for rabbits:

1. Willow

You can always get balls made out of willow twigs, give them to rabbits, and indeed, the little ones will enjoy them. Alternatively, you can go for willow sticks.

If you are willing to be a little extra, you can get willow-made furniture or wicker baskets. Whichever item you choose, ensure that it is untreated before the rabbit starts chewing on it.

2. Pear And Apple

These are other safe wood options for rabbits. If you have an apple or maybe a pear tree in your yard, you can pick out the leaves, twigs, or branches. In many exotic pet stores, you will find apple sticks. Since they have a particular flavor, you can bet that your rabbit will enjoy chewing them.

3. Poplar And Birch

You don’t need to buy these – you can get twigs and branches fresh from poplar and birch trees. And also, you don’t even need to dry them. Actually, your rabbit will love the munching on the trees’ leaves.

If you’re really into this wood-chewing and want to do something extra, make some accessories or even furniture using poplar and birch woods. The rabbit will take a lot of time because the wood is naturally sturdy but nothing to worry about – they are entirely safe.

4. Rose

If you have a garden of roses, you should pick out the leaves, twigs, and branches. Then, offer those items to the rabbit because they are magnificent. Actually, you don’t even have to worry about the thorns. Some rabbits will love the flowers, so throw them in there too. It will be so much fun for the little ones.

5. Maple

Like the willow, maple is also used to make rabbit-safe toys. If you go online on into a pet store, you will find maple sticks being sold. Like apple and pear wood, maple sticks have a particular, sweet taste that makes them irresistible to rabbits.

As long as it is neither varnished nor painted, maple is safe to give your rabbit.

6. Blackberry And Raspberry 

If any leaves, twigs, or branches of these two fruits are in your yard, go for them and serve your rabbit with goodies. But before you do that, ensure that they are clean.

Final Words

You need to be cautious while giving the rabbit wood items you found outside. Modern farming methods use pesticides and chemicals, and you wouldn’t want any of those compounds in your rabbit’s system.

Using the tables given in this article, ensure that the leaves, twigs, or branches picked are safe. Obviously, you should avoid the toxic ones, and with the safe ones, you will need to know how they should be served specifically. 

Wash all the branches you pick from outside to avoid feeding the rabbit with poison. The cleaning should be thoroughly done as if you are the one to chew on the woody items.

When the item is entirely clean, give it to the rabbit. Be it pine (because pine is safe for rabbits) or any other; your rabbit will indeed love the treat.