Can bunnies die from eating soap?

Answer 1

Baths can be dangerous for rabbits. If you bathe a rabbit and aren't very, very careful, you could injure it or make it sick, but it won't die unless you don't bring it to the vet's. Any time a rabbit is sick or injured, it should go to a vet with special knowledge and experience with rabbits (they're very different from cats and dogs).

These are some of the risks involved with bathing a rabbit:

• ear infection from water in the ears
• burns from hot water or a blow-dryer
• chemical burns, or skin irritation and infection, from harsh soaps and shampoos (rabbits have sensitive skin -- even baby soaps, even some pet soaps!, are dangerous for rabbits)
• poisoning from eating soap (if you don't rinse the soap off completely, and then the rabbit grooms itself)
• the rabbit panics, struggles, and injures itself (breaks a bone, for instance)
• in cold weather, or cool and breezy weather, a wet rabbit can quickly get hypothermia

Answer 2

It's possible that eating soap could cause your bunny to die. If your rabbit has eaten soap, or anything it shouldn't have, set aside a sample for the vet (just in case), and keep a very close eye on the rabbit for the next two weeks. Look for signs of ill-health (see question below for details). Write down any signs or symptoms you notice, no matter how small; also write down any changes in behaviour you notice, even if you don't think it's a bad sign. If the rabbit does fall ill, bring it to the rabbit vet asap and bring along your notes and the sample. If the rabbit never gets sick, mention it to your vet at the next regular check-up (and bring your notes so you can be specific), but you don't need to make a special appointment. See the related questions below for more info and helpful links.