Toxic Plant

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binkies

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How toxic are mum's? My sister was doing a fall photo shoot with the kids and rabbits, Phillip grabbed a mouthful of flower.
 
Did he swallow it? Chrysanthemums are supposed to be a rabbit repellant. :(

Not sure what happens when they eat them, they just usually don't.

Watch for discomfort around his mouth right off the bat. I'll see what else I can dig up.

Silly rabbit!



sas :foreheadsmack:
 
Found some info! He should be ok, but keep an eye on him.

There are some known toxic effects if an active chemical from the plant is injected into lab animals. Dogs that took it orally for three weeks showed no signs of ill health.
http://www.mdidea.com/products/new/new013.html#title

It also appears to be used for herbal medicine (another reminder to check on the actual safety of herbal remedies before using them!)
 
Shew, now i'm just a little bit worried instead of petrified! I just lost Touille and can't handle the loss of Phillip.
 
Unfortunately toxic plants are a tough topic, and links pretty much have to be rabbit-specific, or at least include rabbits, seeing as they may not have the same sensitivities or treatments.

Just to illustrate the complexities, here's a Purdue article excerpt on Avocados:

(Warning: this kind of research is disturbing, because they do poison or attempt to poison lab animals, but it would be more tragic if they died in vain, so the info should be presented). :(

The point of this article to me is how the toxicity varies even with the type of avocado. (Just like the composite of timothy hay and various veggies varies quite drasically from area to area, depending on climate, soil and whoknowshateelse).

Toxicity
Unripe avocados are said to be toxic. Two resins derived from the skin of the fruit are toxic to guinea pigs by subcutaneous and peritoneal injection. Dopamine has been found in the leaves. The leaf oil contains methyl chavicol. Not all varieties are equally toxic. Rabbits fed on leaves of 'Fuerte' and 'Nabal' died within 24 hours. Those fed on leaves of 'Mexicola' showed no adverse reactions. Ingestion of avocado leaves and/or bark has caused mastitis in cattle, horses, rabbits and goats. Large doses have been fatal to goats. Craigmill et al. at Davis, California, have confirmed deleterious effects on lactating goats which were allowed to graze on leaves of 'Anaheim' avocado an hour each day for 2 days. Milk was curdled and not milkable, the animals ground their teeth, necks were swollen and they coughed, but the animals would still accept the leaves on the 4th day of the experiment. By the 10th day, all but one goat were on the road to recovery. All abnormal signs had disappeared 20 days later. In another test, leaves of a Guatemalan variety were stored for 2 weeks in plastic bags and then given to 2 Nubian goats in addition to regular feed over a period of 2 days. Both suffered mastitis for 48 hours. Avocado leaves in a pool have killed the fish. Canaries have died from eating the ripe fruit. The seeds, ground and mixed with cheese or cornmeal, have been used to poison rodents. However, tests in Hawaii did not show any ill effect on a mouse even at the rate of 1/4 oz (7 g) per each 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of body weight, though the mouse refused to eat the dried, grated seed material until it was blended with cornmeal. Avocado seed extracts injected into guinea pigs have caused only a few days of hyperexcitability and anorexia. At Davis, mice given 10 to 14 g of half-and-half normal ration and either fresh or dried avocado seed died in 2 or 3 days, though one mouse given 4 times the dose of the others survived for 2 weeks.


 
GREAT thread, guys!

I think THIS thread should be added, too...
 

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