Treating Rabbits With Medicinal Herbs
At our rabbitry we do everything we can to treat our rabbits naturally. We are strong believers that the Lord has given us everything we need for healing, and this goes for rabbits as well.
Bunnies are the perfect candidate for herbal medicines, because they love plants and herbs. It is really easy to get them to take their daily dose of herbs. 1 tsp. of herbs on top of their food each day helps keep them very healthy and keep their immune system strong.
If you are not familiar with rabbits, they are wonderful social and lovable pets. People that love dogs and cats usually enjoy having a rabbit.
Much like people, many of the chronic diseases that rabbits get are brought on by an imbalance within their immune system. Most rabbits do not react well to western medicine, but do better when their immune system is built strongly with herbs such as echinacea.
Wild rabbits eat an array of fresh grass, vegetables as well as herbs to keep themselves healthy. However, rabbits that are kept as pets do not have this luxury, unless we offer these delicious and healing herbs to them. Rabbits are herbivores and are excited to eat these scrumptious 'treats', and they seem to know when they need them, if they have an upset stomach or other ailment.
As we spend time with our rabbits each day, we may notice a behavioral change, a sneeze, scratching, watery eyes, or any other ailment. When we see this, it is important to look them over closely and see how we can help our sweet, cuddly family member.
Before treating our rabbits though, there are some basic things we need to remember. Preventing disease, in both us and our rabbits is always better than having to treat it. Here are some key ways to prevent disease and our favorite ingredients to have on hand:
Keep the cage clean
Use a wire brush or broom to remove any droppings that get stuck to a wire cage
Clean cages thoroughly between litters if you are breeding rabbits
Fresh air and good ventilation is important.
We use 1 TBSP of Apple Cider Vinegar to their water (one month using it, one month break...skipping a month) to their water bottles
We use Colloidal Silver drops about 15-30 drops in the water, at the first sign of illness
We use 1-5 drops of Tea Tree oil at the first sign of illness in their water.
We grow Echinacea and use the stems and leaves daily to give them a strong immune system (you can dry them in the winter months or if you do not have a garden, purchase them at a health food store...organic is always best).
Plantains
Raspberry leaves
Blackberry Leaves
Strawberry Leaves
Timothy hay, dried grass, straw
Plenty of attention and exercise
Pelleted food does not provide the correct chewing for their constantly growing teeth, so herbs and hay are a necessity for both their diet and their teeth.
Female rabbits need to breed in order to maintain good health. God designed them to breed. If they are not breeding, it is best for them to be spayed. Neutering males also helps their health along with un-wanted behavioral issues.
Rabbits love routine, and get stressed when they do not feel safe. Many of these herbs can and will help when/if they are stressed or are going through a change or transition.
The items on this list may not cure your rabbit from every illness, but, we believe it is always best to treat naturally first if you can and it usually saves you a veterinary visit. Of course, use your judgement or ask your vet if you have any questions.
Giving synthetic forms of antibiotics can destroy a rabbits immune system, just as it can with us, so, thankfully we have not had to use them yet. It upsets the body's natural balance as well. Foods that are unprocessed, and found in nature are generally best. In our home we try and stick with foods made by God and not man as much as possible.
Keeping immune systems strong is important. Echinacea, Apple Cider Vinegar, Tea Tree Oil, and Colloidal Silver, and the herbs below are some basic items we keep on hand.
Herbs and Hay are great for promoting the right kind of chewing for our rabbits teeth since they are continuously growing.
These are in Alphabetical order:
Apple Cider Vinegar: Immune system and overall health. Good to have 1 TBSP in water daily for a month, then one month break, then again, adding it.
Bach Flowers: helps possessiveness over their area, stress, pain
Birch: anti-inflammatory, diuretic, pain relief
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds: Helps their coats
Blackberry (leaf and fruit): Pregnancy, diarrhea, safe for kits, helps cool them in the summer heat because it increases circulation
Blue Cohosh: Great for does having a hard time birthing. Helps dilate the doe while pregnant and induces labor, helps heal doe after birth
Borage: A great treat after doe gives birth, reduces stress and fevers, increases milk supply
Carrots: This is great for juicing for rabbits, it is a great anti-biotic and immune system builder
Cabbage: Do not give to kits since it can cause bloat. Anti-bacterial, stomach ulcers, bladder infections. This can also be juiced to make it easier on rabbits stomach and put in water bottle.
Chamomile: Anti-microbial, Anti-fungal, Calming, Strong Chamomile tea and 1/2-1 tsp. honey is great for weepy eyed rabbits (squirt it into the side of the eye, use as a compress and wipe eyes and/or let them drink it)
Chickweed: Anti-inflammatory, heals cuts, helps with molting
Cleavers: Heals cuts, laxative
Clover: For rabbits over 3 months, aids digestion, a small handful each day is something they enjoy
Sovereign Silver (Colloidal Silver): Immune system, eye wash for infections (just drop in eyes), colds (add to water), most all ailments, we keep this on hand, it is a anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antibiotic. Stomach ailment, viruses of any kind. This is the only brand we use. Be sure to get the pure form of this, be sure it is clear. It is found at health food stores. Native American Indians used this, it has been used for thousands of years.
Coltsfoot: Respiratory system
Comfrey (fresh or dried): Helps heal mites, healing with many things, this is great to give often, illness, stress, bone formation and bone healing. This is one of our favorite herbs, stomach ailments, calming, can cause diarrhea.
Cranberries (dried or fresh): Immune system, bladder, urinary tract
Dandelion (fresh, dried, or roots): This is another favorite. Increasing lactation, bladder infections, treats, respiratory illnesses, immune system builder, balances body and digestion We always keep this on hand, can also be made into a strong tea. Natural diuretic.
Diatomaceous Earth (Food Grade): Mites, Fleas, Ticks, Stomach ailments, worms and much more! Use this in conjunction with a food grade oil (olive oil, almond oil, or coconut oil), mix with a few drops of tea tree oil, rosemary oil, and apple cider vinegar (1-2 tsp.)put on skin to smother the mites, Massage ears, skin, or wherever mites are or skin is affected. Put 6 or 7 drops in the ear, if it is ear mites. The rabbits will scratch at ears and or lick fur to get off oil, but that is fine. Treat once and then treat again 14 days later. Diatomaceous can be taken internally , and applied on rabbits coat externally. After applying you can do the oil, but it may not be needed after using this. Diatomaceous Earth (food grade) works amazing! This is also great to use two or three times a year to prevent worms, mites, and other ailments.
Echinacea (fresh or dried): Immune system, can act as an antibiotic with its anti-viral anti-fungal, and antimicrobial, and antibiotic properties. Increases white blood cells and slows or destroys the spreading of infections. This is great to use 5 days a week on, 2 days off.
Elder Flowers (fresh, dried): Respiratory, fevers
Eucalyptus (fresh, dried) We blend in a magic bullet to repel fleas, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, respiratory, immune system
Eyebright: Weepy eye wash
Fennel: bloating, gas, increase lactation, pregnancy
Garlic: Immune system, antibiotic, antimicrobial, infections, antiseptic for cuts, stomach ailments, respiratory (blend it with other herbs and add it to food to get rabbits to eat it), Incredible for killing bacteria, destroys viruses, removes mucus, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, detoxify-er, aids digestion, helps prevent cancer, prevents bloating and gas, de-wormer. (ONLY USE IN SMALL AMOUNTS, IT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK IN SOME RABBITS). Rabbits most prone to problems consuming this are kits and rabbits over the age of 7.
Ginger: immune system, infertility in bucks, stomach ailments
Goats Rue: Increase lactation
Golden Rod: Anti-inflammatory
Goldenseal: Immune system
Grapefruit seed Extract: De-worming rabbits (add 5 drops to the water bottle), great when bringing in new stock, fungicide, bactericide, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, immune system, mites (use on skin with olive oil or mineral oil to get rid of mites)
Horseradish (leaves, and plant, raw or dried): Do not give to kits since it can cause bloating. Immune system, anti-microbial, urinary tract, respiratory infection, one of the best antibacterial foods. Rabbits usually love it.
Honey: Anti-microbial, anti-bacterial (using it with chamomile for an eye wash for weepy eyes works amazingly...see chamomile to learn how to make it). Manuka honey is best but any raw honey will work great.
Kava: Calming
Lambs Quarters Wormer
Lavender: Stress, Immune system, antimicrobial, antiseptic, circulation problems, calming, induces labor (use sparingly), stress
Lemon Balm: Anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, bloating, gas, diarrhea, stress
Lemon Grass: Anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, stomach ailments, Immune system, increase lactation
Licorice: Stomach ailments, digestion, immune system
Linseed: Molting, laxative
Marigold: Antiseptic, Cuts and Wounds, Ulcers, Digestion, Skin ailments
Marjoram: Immune system, uterine discomfort, calming, coughing, digestion
Marshmallow Root: Immune system, increase lactation
Meadowsweet: Weepy eye wash
Milk Thistle: Detoxifier, Increases Lactation
Mint (leaves, not flowers): Soothing on Stomach, Helps with diarrhea, decreases milk of does (not good for lactating does), treats mastitis, respiratory, digestion help, (not for young babies)
Mother Wart: Weepy eye wash
Nettles: Increases lactation, circulation
Oats: Feed sparingly, aids digestion, kidney and bladder
Oregon Grape Root: Immune system, bladder infection
Parsley (Fresh, dried, roots): Urinary problems, fertility in bucks, inflammation, roots for constipation (helps push things through), productivity in does
Papaya: If they are molting or losing a lot of fur, it helps break down hair in the gut to keep things moving. Feed tablets every other day while there is a problem. Brush rabbit daily as well.
Pineapple: Fresh pineapple the middle that people do not eat. Great for pregnancy. Contains bromelain, good for diarrhea, digestive issues, molting, Do not give more than twice a week because it is so sweet, anti-bacterial
Plantains (fresh or dried), anti-microbial, heals cuts, fevers, digestion, great for kits, stress, diarrhea, This is one of our favorites to give daily. Respiratory.
Pure canned pumpkin: Constipation, suck up pumpkin puree in a big syringe and slowly give a little at a time (about 2 tsp.) a few times a day until they are eating well and pooping.
Purslane: Contains more omega 3 than any other leafy vegetable. Omega 3 helps heart, brain, metabolism, and much more.
Raspberry (leaves and fruit): Immune system, circulation, pregnancy, infertility in bucks, fevers, This is a great preventative for health problems during pregnancy and delivery. Safe for kits. Helps prevent miscarriage.
Red Clover: Weepy eye
Raw Pumpkin Seeds: De-worming
Rosemary (fresh is best, stems, leaves, dried): Immune system, circulation, digestion, respiratory, exhaustion, weakness, depression
Sages(dried and powdered): Flea and tick repellent, dries up does no longer nursing, do not use in pregnancy
Sassafras (dried and powdered): Fleas and ticks
Scotch Pine: Immune system, Respiratory
Shepherds Purse: Use sparingly, uterine disorders, diarrhea
Slippery Elm Bark: Shredded bark is great for rabbits digestion and it can also be ground and put in food or water. (about 1 teaspoon). This works wonders on any of the stomach viruses common to rabbits.
Sorrel: Great for cooling during the summer
Strawberries (fruit, leaves, dried): Immune system, antiseptic, cooling. Helps prevent miscarriage, rashes, sore eyes
Thyme (stems leaves, dried fresh): Immune system, anti-microbial, digestion, regulating body, worms
Turmeric: Anti-turmerol, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, great immune system builder
Uva Ursi: Works great in rabbits because they are very alkaline (eating lots of fresh veggies), this is not as effective for dogs and cats being meat eaters.
Willow Bark: Stomach ailments, gather in winter or keep dried for winter use, pain relief, arthritis,
Pregnancy: Combine organic dried raspberry leaf, nettle, and goats rue in equal parts and half part milk thistle. feed 1 Tbsp. per day to pregnant does and nursing does. We grind it with the magic bullet and add it to their food each day.
Bladder Infection: Combining these herbs in equal amounts along with consuming fresh or dried cranberries: dandelion root, echinacea, goldenseal, turmeric, oregon grape root, uva ursi
Arthritis: Chiropractic and acupuncture can be helpful to rabbits. Rabbits being sedentary and not hopping around and getting lots of jumping time can be the culprit to arthritis. These herbs can also help: licorice root, willow bark, Yucca, Feverfew, Echinacea
Transition time with rabbits: When rabbits are transitioning to a new home, this can be very stressful for a rabbit. Getting to know the rabbit slowly, along with the following herbs can be very helpful: Valerian root, Chamomile, Kava
Here is a link to a veterinary website with more information: https://www.aarr.ca/medicinal-herbs-for-rabbits
We have done most of these things ourselves, but some of these things we have gotten from other sources, online as well as from books. Having this page helps us to have an easy go-to when we are trying to cure an ailment we are dealing with as well. These, along with the preventative measures listed above helps us dramatically with keeping our rabbits happy and healthy.
If you would like us to add anything that has helped you to the list, please let us know.
