Can your rabbit survive lettuce poisoning without vet treatment?

Answer 1

Lettuce won't poison your rabbit but it might result in health problems like gas or diarrhoea. Light-coloured lettuces, like iceberg, are not recommended for rabbits for this very reason; dark-coloured lettuces, like Romaine, are very healthy and don't cause problems for most rabbits.

If your baby rabbit is suffering from diarrhoea, it needs emergency vet care immediately; if not, it likely won't survive.

If your adult rabbit is suffering from mushy stool, this is a sign of a bad diet. Research rabbit care, make the appropriate changes, and if the mushy stool doesn't go away within a few days, it should see a vet. Mushy stool can lead to GI stasis and death if not treated.

If your rabbit is suffering from gas, administer simethicone* and plenty of belly massage. If the gas doesn't go away within a day or so, seek veterinary care. Gas pain can incite a rabbit not to eat, which will lead to GI stasis and death if not treated (rabbits cannot safely fast like humans, dogs, and cats can).

If your rabbit is not eating, drinking, peeing, pooping, and/or running around like normal, seek immediate veterinary care; survival otherwise is unlikely.

*Simethicone: Look for a liquid suspension (often available in the baby aisle of the pharmacy). The oft-cited dose for a rabbit is 20mg (you will have to determine the mg/mL ratio of the particular suspension you have purchased; note that mL and cc are the same thing). Administer one dose every hour for 2-3 hours; if there's no relief at this point, seek vet care.