Effect of handling in pre-weaning rabbits

Zucca, D.; Redaelli, Veronica; Marelli, S.P.; Bonazza, V.; Heinzl, E.; Verga, M.; Luzi, F.

doi:10.4995/wrs.2012.1083

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The value of early positive handling has been demonstrated for laboratory rabbits (e.g. [ 29 ]) but further attention and research is needed to determine and promote optimal protocols for pets.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The current state of welfare, housing and husbandry of the English pet rabbit population

et al. 2014

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BackgroundThe welfare of pet rabbits is an area of growing interest in Europe and the UK. This study analyses questionnaire results from a diverse population of 1254 rabbit owners from three different geographical areas in England with the aim of providing an accurate representation of how pet rabbits are currently housed and cared for and key aspects of their health and welfare.ResultsRabbits were kept in a variety of different housing types, the most common being a traditional hutch/cage (59%). Although the majority had additional exercise areas, access was often unpredictable, or ill-timed, which may compromise welfare. Only 41.9% of owners kept their rabbit with conspecifics, limiting their ability to engage in social behaviour. Of those rabbits housed with a companion, although many were reported to be amicable and to engage in positive interactions, over a quarter were reported to fight at least occasionally (25.3%), whilst 22.7% guarded resources and 27.1% avoided one another. Whilst low levels of some of these behaviours may be a normal part of social interaction, the relatively high levels reported here suggest that not all cohabiting pairs of rabbits are compatible, which is potentially a significant welfare issue.Although the vast majority of owners fed hay for over 10% this was less than daily. Pelleted foods were very popular (71.4% at least daily) compared to commercial muesli mixes (32.6%). As in previous studies, dental problems were commonly reported (12.2% of rabbits); however, so were eye problems (12.9%), digestive problems (11.5%) and parasites (11.3%). A large proportion of rabbits (58%) were thought to be fearful of loud noises, and 61% were not reported as calm when handled by their owner, which may be a significant concern for this species.ConclusionThis study has confirmed and expanded on previous findings: many pet rabbits were found to be in good health, had compatible companions and were provided with enriched living areas. However, it also found numerous welfare issues that affect large numbers of pet rabbits. We suggest further studies are required exploring the accuracy of owner reports (which possibly under-report many problems) and prioritising the issues raised here.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The current state of welfare, housing and husbandry of the English pet rabbit population

et al. 2014

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“…Early handling of rabbits is widely recognised as an effective method of preventing fear during handling later in life (Magnus, 2005;McBride, 2014). Research on laboratory populations shows handling kittens within the first week of life significantly affects their later behavioral responses (Bilko et al, 2000;Zucca et al, 2012) and handling around the time of nursing reduces fearfulness as an adult (Bilko et al, 2000;Pongrácz and Altbäcker, 2003). The technique used to handle rabbits is ` also important.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the value of Pet Remedy in ameliorating fear of handling of companion rabbits

Unwin

Saunders

Blackwell

et al. 2020

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

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The domestic rabbit is a popular companion animal in the UK with an estimated population of 0.9 million. Research has highlighted a large number of welfare issues related to the way rabbits are commonly kept, affecting a majority of the population. One major welfare issue is the large proportion of pet rabbits that are fearful when handled. Pet Remedy ™ (Unex Designs) is an herbal product containing valerian, marketed as a natural calming aid for reducing stress in all companion animal species. Its efficacy for domestic rabbits is previously untested. We describe a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial into the effectiveness of Pet Remedy when sprayed on an object in the environment and the clothing of a novel person handling the rabbit. A rehoming population of 50 rabbits each underwent a baseline test followed by both a placebo and a Pet Remedy treatment on three consecutive days (following cross-over design). On each day, a novel arena test was conducted, and the rabbits' behavioral responses to the experimenter measured when in its home enclosure and when being handled. Heart and respiratory rates were measured during handling. Repeated measures ANOVAs tested within-subjects differences between Pet Remedy and placebo trials, while taking into account rabbits' individual baselines. Treatment with Pet Remedy was associated with a significant decrease in heart rate during handling (F(1,42)=4.41, P=0.042) and a significant increase in the number of positive behaviors observed in a novel arena test (F(1,47)= 4.52, P=0.039). Rabbits took marginally longer to be picked up at the start of a Pet Remedy trial (F(1,47)= 4.08, P=0.049). Other variables which may have been predicted to change were unaffected. Overall the amount of rearing in the novel arena increased with day (F(1,45)=6.91,P=0.012), showing an increase in exploratory behavior with habituation. Significant individual variation occurred throughout, with almost all variables being markedly affected by an 2 individual's baseline data, and heart rates were universally high suggesting that handling is generally aversive to many rabbits. The results of this study suggest that Pet Remedy may have some potential value for rabbits during periods of acute stress, slowing heart rate and allowing the performance of more positive, relaxed behaviors. It may thus be useful during veterinary visits and during initial handling. However, given the high levels of physiological and behavioral stress exhibited, effects were small and hence we suggest optimal handling and appropriate habituation, desensitisation and counter-conditioning protocols should also be simultaneously implemented. The efficacy of pet remedy for long-term use remains untested.

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“…In their review of appropriate handling of pet rabbits, Bradbury and Dickens8 report the importance of early exposure to both human scent and to lifting, which will assist rabbits in coping with being lifted or carried in the future. Although there is limited evidence to provide guidance on when to socialise rabbits with humans, evidence from commercial rabbits suggests that early handling in the first week of life can reduce fear of humans 23 24. Rooney et al 12 suggest that it is important to start the exposure to humans and handling during the immediate postnatal period, meaning the onus for adequate socialisation is placed on rabbit breeders.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rabbit welfare: determining priority welfare issues for pet rabbits using a modified Delphi method

Rioja-Lang

Bacon

Connor

et al. 2019

Veterinary Record Open

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BackgroundRabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK, but little research into their welfare needs has been conducted.MethodsA modified Delphi method was used to generate expert consensus on the most important welfare issues for rabbits in the UK. The study involved 11 experts, recruited from a range of disciplines. The experts generated an initial broad list of welfare issues via an online discussion board. Two rounds of online surveys were conducted to prioritise these issues. The final round was a workshop with a subsection of experts. The experts decided that welfare issues should be ranked considering: (1) severity, (2) duration, and (3) prevalence.ResultsExperts considered that rabbits were often kept in inadequate housing, were not handled or socialised properly, were fed inappropriate diets and owners failed to vaccinate their rabbits against preventable diseases. Rabbits were thought to experience a reduced life expectancy. Lack of owner knowledge of rabbit husbandry and behaviour and, in some cases, also lack of veterinary knowledge, contributed to poor rabbit welfare.ConclusionsThe Delphi process resulted in consensus on the most significant welfare challenges faced by rabbits and can help guide future research and education priority decisions.

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Effect of handling in pre-weaning rabbits

Cited by 14 publications

References 21 publications

The current state of welfare, housing and husbandry of the English pet rabbit population

The current state of welfare, housing and husbandry of the English pet rabbit population

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the value of Pet Remedy in ameliorating fear of handling of companion rabbits

Rabbit welfare: determining priority welfare issues for pet rabbits using a modified Delphi method

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