Misconceptions regarding rabbit behaviour

Oxley, James A.; Ellis, Clare

doi:10.1136/vr.h1647

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…They also found behavioural changes indicative of fear during induction and emotional responses after the incident, suggesting that tonic immobility is perceived as unpleasant. Oxley & Ellis () recommend that more research is done on the reasons for tonic immobility use by owners. Varga () suggested that it was admissible for veterinary surgeons to continue to use tonic immobility for procedures such as radiography as it poses less risk than anaesthesia, but that it should only be used when necessary.…”

Section: Effects Of Carrying Rabbitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Appropriate handling of pet rabbits: a literature review

Bradbury

Dickens

2016

J of Small Animal Practice

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Many rabbits show fear behaviours when lifted off the ground. Estimates from owner surveys suggest that around 60% of pet rabbits struggle when lifted and fear-related aggression is common. This article integrates information from both laboratory and pet rabbit studies to formulate a list of recommendations for appropriate handling of rabbits. Reduction of the frequency of the stressor can be achieved by educating owners on alternative management practices to reduce the need to carry their rabbits. However, in some situations, it is unavoidable that a rabbit is lifted. Amelioration of the stress in these instances can be achieved by a 2 pronged strategy. First, the population of rabbits can be made more resilient to infrequent stressors by selectively breeding for confident rabbits and by better socialisation of unweaned kits, and, where possible, training of individual animals to permit handling. Secondly, any unavoidable lifting can be made less stressful by educating veterinary staff in appropriate methods of holding rabbits during both consultations and inpatient care. Better understanding of appropriate interactions with rabbits will improve welfare.

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Section: Effects Of Carrying Rabbitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Appropriate handling of pet rabbits: a literature review

Bradbury

Dickens

2016

J of Small Animal Practice

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“…Interestingly, catecholamine concentrations in the rabbit heart have been demonstrated to be notably higher (up to 3 times) than that of other species such as the rat or dog (Angelakos, Fuxe, and Torchiana 1963;Mukherjee et al 1983). Additionally, there is well-documented interindividual variation in the ability to respond/adapt to stress in NZW rabbits which may account for the observed differences in the severity of myocardial inflammatory findings (Giannico et al 2014;Hilton 1982;Oxley and Ellis 2015;Schadt and Hasser 1998;Trocino et al 2013;Burhans, Smith-Bell, and Schreurs 2015;Smith-Bell, Burhans, and Schreurs 2012;Lidfors and Edström 2010;Verga, Luzi, and Carenzi 2007;Weber and Van Der Walt 1975). Variation in individual susceptibility and adaptability to stress could explain the presence of mild and moderate severity heart findings in only a small subset of rabbits after increased handling and procedures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inflammatory Cell Findings in the Female Rabbit Heart and Stress-associated Exacerbation with Handling and Procedures Used in Nonclinical Studies

Sellers

Pardo

et al. 2017

Toxicol Pathol

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Despite the use of rabbits in biomedical research, including regulatory toxicology and cardiovascular studies, little data exist on heart findings in this species. This study was designed to document myocardial findings in female rabbits and the impact of study-related procedures typical for vaccine toxicology studies. One hundred and forty 6- to 8-month-old female New Zealand White rabbits were divided equally into 2 groups, high and low study procedure groups (group 1 and group 2, respectively). All animals received intramuscular (IM) injections of sterile saline every 2 weeks for 5 times and were necropsied 2 days after the final IM injection. Clinical chemistry, hematology, and urinalysis were evaluated. Blood for stress biomarkers (norepinephrine, epinephrine, cortisol, and corticosterone), C-reactive protein, cardiac troponin I, and creatine kinase were collected at time 0 (just before dose administration) and then at 4, 24, and 48 hr after dose administration in group 1 only. Hearts were assessed histologically. Focal to multifocal minimal inflammatory cell infiltrates were common (∼80%), particularly in the left ventricle and interventricular septum, and were similar to the types of infiltrates identified in other laboratory animal species. Additionally, study-related procedures elevated serum stress biomarkers and exacerbated the frequency and severity of myocardial inflammatory cell infiltrates.

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“…When faced with perceived threats or stressors, rabbits may enter a state of immobility, indicating their level of fear. This behaviour, characterized by sudden stillness and rigid posture, offers insights into the mechanisms underlying fear and stress regulation in these prey animals [ 9 ]. However, alternative housing system solutions proposed at the European Community level and subsequently incorporated into the Ministerial Guidelines for rabbit breeding are not always beneficial for both animal welfare and production performance [ 10 – 13 ] and the advantages of alternative breeding systems for slow-growing local rabbit breeds remain uncertain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behaviour and welfare assessment of autochthonous slow-growing rabbits: The role of housing systems

Ozella,

Sartore,

Macchi

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Understanding the farming system impact on animals is crucial for evaluating welfare. Rabbits exhibit distinct behaviours influenced by their surroundings. The conditions in which they are raised directly influence behaviour and stress responses, emphasizing the importance of providing an optimal environment for their overall well-being and growth. In this study, we assessed the behaviour and welfare of two Italian local rabbit populations, namely the grey rabbit of Carmagnola and the grey rabbit of Monferrato. These rabbits are not yet officially recognized as breeds, but they are commonly used in Italy for meat production and represent a distinctive phenotype and local heritage among farmers and consumers. We analysed the behavioural patterns, physiological responses, and blood parameters of the animals to assess the influence of both age and three distinct housing systems (traditional single cages, group farming, and a mixed system) on rabbits’ welfare. In this study, 294 weaned males with 35 days old were divided into three housing systems with seven replicates each until reaching slaughtering age (100 days of age). A traditional single cage system, a group farming with 10 animals each replicate and a Mixed pilot system with 10 rabbits initially grouped, then transferred to single cages. The findings from the behavioural analysis and the evaluation of salivary and hair corticosterone levels demonstrate that both the housing system and the age of the rabbits exerted significant effects on their welfare. Rabbits in group housing displayed a wider range of behavioural patterns, including increased kinetic activities such as running, walking, and exploration. However, this housing system was associated with higher levels of both salivary and hair corticosterone, indicating a high acute and chronic stress condition. The single cage system was associated with higher levels of acute stress and a low frequency of kinetic activities and social interactions, with a predominant behaviour of turning on themselves. The age factor significantly influenced the occurrence of behaviours, with younger rabbits exhibiting higher levels of kinetic activities, while social behaviours such as attacks and dominance were more prevalent as the rabbits reached sexual maturity (around 80–85 days of age). Moreover, the attainment of sexual maturity coincided with an increase in salivary corticosterone levels. We found a significant association between attack behaviours, escape attempts, and elevated corticosterone levels, by demonstrating that these behaviours can be used as indicators of decreased animals’ well-being. Our findings underscore the importance of considering both the housing environment and the temporal dimension in the study of behaviour and welfare. This enables a comprehensive assessment of appropriate rearing management techniques. By understanding the social dynamics and stress sources within housing systems, farmers can implement measures to enhance animal welfare and create a conducive environment for the health and behaviour of rabbits.

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Misconceptions regarding rabbit behaviour

Cited by 8 publications

References 1 publication

Appropriate handling of pet rabbits: a literature review

Appropriate handling of pet rabbits: a literature review

Inflammatory Cell Findings in the Female Rabbit Heart and Stress-associated Exacerbation with Handling and Procedures Used in Nonclinical Studies

Behaviour and welfare assessment of autochthonous slow-growing rabbits: The role of housing systems

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