Can dogs eat rabbit meat?

Rabbit is low in fat, with cooked meat providing roughly 170 calories per 100 g, and it is a protein fewer dogs have eaten before. That makes it a common choice in limited-ingredient diets. For a healthy dog, rabbit is simply a tasty lean option.

If your dog is on an elimination diet, do not add rabbit without asking your vet, because a new protein can spoil the trial.

Rabbit bones are small and thin. Once cooked they splinter easily, and even raw they can be gulped by an eager eater. Strip the meat from the carcass and check for small rib bones before sharing. Rabbit stews and casseroles for people are usually cooked with onion, garlic, wine, and mustard, so cook a plain portion separately.

A medium dog might have 40 to 60 g (1.5 to 2 oz) of cooked rabbit as a meal topper.

Dogs that eat wild rabbits, particularly the organs, can pick up tapeworms. Wild rabbits may also carry fleas and ticks. If your dog regularly hunts, ask your vet about a worming schedule that covers tapeworm. Rabbits that have been poisoned by pest control are another rare but real concern in rural areas.

Myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic disease affect rabbits, not dogs, but a sick rabbit is easier for a dog to catch.

Dried rabbit ears are a popular dog chew. They are generally soft enough to be safe, but the fur can pass through undigested, and they are still calories. Give one at a time, and supervise small dogs, who can try to swallow an ear whole.