Assessing chronic pain in rabbits

This study aimed to look at how owners perceive pain in their pet rabbits because if owners were not thinking their rabbit was in pain, they would not be taken to veterinary professionals to be...

Anatomical evaluation of brachycephalism in cats and rabbits

Brachycephalic animals can be identified by their distinctive skull shape with a high cephalic index. Cat breeds affected by extreme brachycephaly include Exotic Shorthairs, Himalayans and Persians....

Ear base swellings in rabbits

Unlike canine and feline patients, rabbits do not have a distinct vertical or horizontal ear canal. The external ear possesses cartilaginous plates and a blind-ending diverticulum which is separated...

Nurse-led rabbit clinics

Any owner should be encouraged to do research if they are considering taking on a pet. A study by Winnepenninckx (2020) showed 65.5% of rabbit owners gain their information from online sources,...

Thymomas in rabbits

The thymus is the first of the lymphoid organs to be formed during embryonic development. As in other mammals, the rabbit thymus provides the body with the T-cell population of lymphocytes. In most...

Assessing pain in rabbits: how well does the Rabbit Grimace Scale work in the veterinary practice?

Rabbits constantly scan their environment, and at the first sign of danger, will attempt to flee (Varga, 2016). If this is not possible, the rabbit will hide, become silent, and mask signs of illness...

Healthy rabbits and communicating with owners

In order to keep rabbits happy and healthy, consideration must be given to their species-specific requirements. As a prey species, rabbits will readily hide signs of pain and illness. This acts as a...

Endo and ectoparasites in rabbits

There are numerous parasites, both endo and ectoparasites, that affect rabbits. Some of these are asymptomatic and may play a part in the healthy balance of the rabbit's gastrointestinal tract and do...

A preliminary study investigating the use of rabbit-related Facebook groups in relation to rabbit health information

A survey was developed consisting of three sections including: i) general FB and FB rabbit group use (e.g. frequency of use and reason for joining FB rabbit groups); ii) receiving of rabbit health...

Principles of rabbit anaesthesia for veterinary nurses

Pre-medications are routinely given to canine and feline patients but may be overlooked in small mammals. The aim of pre-medication is to calm the animal, promote smooth induction of anaesthesia,...

Factors contributing to fatalities in hospitalised rabbits

There is a general consensus among veterinary professionals that rabbits are at a greater risk of mortality than canines or felines when hospitalised for veterinary treatment (Lewis, 2010; Wenger,...

The veterinary nurse's role in recognition and management of pain in rabbits

Pain is both an individual and a subjective experience. An accurate assessment of pain is crucial to relieve animal suffering as part of our veterinary oath. Pain can be acute and chronic. Acute pain...

Stranger danger: the importance and perils of companionship in rabbits

The importance of companion rabbits for comfort, safety and to alleviate boredom cannot be underestimated. As prey species, an extra set of eyes on the lookout for predators can literally mean the...

There's no such thing as a free meal: environmental enrichment for rabbits

A rabbit's natural diet consists of very tough, fibrous foods of low nutritional value — they have a very diverse diet consisting of hay, grass, bark, and roots of many types of plants. Such low...

The chubby bunny: a closer look at obesity in the pet rabbit

The most common factors leading to obesity in rabbits are reduced activity level (often due to restricted access to space) and feeding of a highly calorific diet such as muesli, excessive pellets and...