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

Abstract

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.

A Survey of Rabbit Handling Methods Within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland

“…Although previous studies have indicated handling can be a negative experience for rabbits and should be avoided (Bradbury & Dickens, 2016;Rooney et al, 2014;Schepers, Koene, & Beerda, 2009), the wide range of reasons reported in this study suggests there is a need to handle rabbits, predominantly for moving them and for conducting health checks. It is encouraging to note that the majority of respondents recorded handling for health checking and many recorded handling for grooming procedures, both of which are activities that may have positive long-term health and welfare benefits for the rabbits as they enable health concerns to be identified early.…”

“…Rabbit breeds vary dramatically in size from miniature breeds (e.g., Polish at 1.1 kg) to giant breeds (e.g., Continental Giants at 7kg; British Rabbit Council, 2016). While medium and larger breeds are common in the laboratory and farm contexts, a range of different sizes of rabbits are kept as pets (Rooney et al, 2014). To the authors' knowledge, there has been no research investigating handling and breed differences.…”

“…The last 30 years have seen increasing research into the management and welfare of rabbits in the laboratory (e.g., Gunn & Morton, 1995;Lidfors, 1997;Verga, Luzi, & Carenzi, 2007). More recently, this research has extended to encompass pet rabbit caregiving and husbandry practices (e.g., Oxley, Previti, Alibrandi, Briefer, & Passantino, 2015;Rooney et al, 2014). Studies have highlighted the need for better understanding of the human-rabbit relationship and associated ownership practices to facilitate the production of effective and informed education for caregivers, be they pets owners, laboratory or veterinary staff.…”

“…Further, the term handling is used broadly, specific methods are rarely stated or clearly described, and methods differ between studies. Rooney et al (2014) also highlighted the lack of distinction in the literature between "lifting" and "handling." Lifting can be considered a specific state, when a rabbit's body is in the air and not in contact with any surface.…”

Dental anesthesia in small mammals on the example of domestic rabbits

“…W wielu krajach wysoko rozwiniętych, takich jak Wielka Brytania czy Niemcy, stanowi on trzecie (po psie i kocie) najczęściej utrzymywane w domu zwierzę towarzyszące (19). Medycyna weterynaryjna królików jest obecnie w fazie dynamicznego rozwoju i zmierza w kierunku stopnia zaawansowania specjalizacyjnego, z którego znana jest medycyna weterynaryjna psów i kotów.…”