Emergency

If your pet has eaten something worrying, contact a vet who treats small mammals now. Do not wait for signs to appear.

What to do now

1. Move your pet away from whatever it ate, and take away anything left.
2. Call a vet who treats small mammals. Say which animal it is, what it ate, roughly how much, and when.
3. Keep the packaging, label or a piece of the plant to show the vet.
4. If you cannot reach a vet, call a poison line that covers small mammals (below). Some charge a fee.
5. Do not try home treatment, and do not give food, drink or medicine unless a vet tells you to.

Why it matters which vet

Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice and ferrets are not small dogs or cats. Not every vet or emergency clinic treats them. Find one near you before you need one, and save the number in your phone.

• Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians: Find a Vet (opens in a new tab)Members with an interest in exotic companion mammals. Checked 10 October 2026.
• Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund: Rabbit-Friendly Vets Directory (opens in a new tab)Practices reviewed by the charity's vet adviser; mostly UK, some other countries. Checked 10 October 2026.
• House Rabbit Society: Find a Veterinarian (opens in a new tab)Lists kept by affiliate groups, mainly in the United States. Checked 10 October 2026.