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Stranger danger: the importance and perils of companionship in rabbits
Abstract
A rabbit's need for companionship is an important element of their welfare and husbandry. Increasingly, this fact is being recognised in both the laboratory and commercial settings and legislation and guidelines have been developed to enhance a rabbits social contact with members of their own species. Sadly, the social needs of pet rabbits are often not being met by owners. This may be through lack of education on the importance of companionship to their pets or through a lack of knowledge on how to introduce members of this territorial species together. The following article discusses the importance of social housing for rabbits and ways in which introductions can be made to reduce the likelihood of fighting.
Think of a group of wild rabbits, nibbling on grass, nervously looking around for predators, ready to run for a bolt hole at the slightest provocation. Those that have had the pleasure of seeing wild rabbits in their natural habitat, may take for granted that they are always in groups or pairs. It seems so… natural. This being the case, why, when it comes to pet rabbits, do an estimated 680 000 rabbits in the UK live alone (PDSA Animal Wellbeing report, 2015)? This equates to over 57% of the pet rabbit population. Is it ignorance on the part of the owner (the same report showed a staggering 93% of owners concurrently considered themselves ‘well informed’ about their pet rabbit's companionship needs)? Is it a misinterpretation of a rabbit's territorial behaviour? Those who tried to bond their rabbit with a companion incorrectly and perceived the failed attempt to mean their rabbit liked to live alone? Should the veterinary profession take more responsibility for this failure? When was the last time companionship needs were discussed with an owner bringing in a lone rabbit for a health check or vaccination? The following article is designed to highlight why companionship is so important and what factors contribute to the success and failure of rabbit bonding.
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