Rabbit

Reducing hay waste from New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) by switching to hanging wire feeders from conventional food bowls

Rabbits require daily dietary fiber (hay) to help maintain a healthy digestive tract. As per our standard operating procedure (SOP), we give the rabbits hay and other daily food enrichment in a bowl. Rabbits are intelligent, playful, and curious animals...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & Management, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Hayes, R. A., Baker, C. L., Birke, L. L. 2024. Reducing hay waste from New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) by switching to hanging wire feeders from conventional food bowls. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(3) (May/June), 40–42.

Easy rabbit intubation for all: Ear canal camera as an economical alternative to video laryngoscope

Endotracheal (ET) intubation is challenging in rabbits compared to other species due to their deep, narrow oral cavity, large incisors, and large tongue which hinders laryngoscopic visualization. When rabbit intubation is needed, a blind technique is commonly employed rather than...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Cannulation, Catheterization, & IntubationAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Moffitt, A. D., McDaid, K. 2024. Easy rabbit intubation for all: Ear canal camera as an economical alternative to video laryngoscope. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(4) (July/August), 16–19.

Pharmacokinetics, fecal output, and grimace scores in rabbits given long-acting buprenorphine or fentanyl for postsurgical analgesia

The New Zealand white rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a frequently used surgical model. Pain management after surgery is a critical aspect of animal welfare. Recently, a long-acting buprenorphine formulation (Ethiqa XR; EXR) was approved for use in rats and mice...

Year Published: 2024Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Farkas, M. R., Dorn, S., Muller, L. et al. 2024. Pharmacokinetics, fecal output, and grimace scores in rabbits given long-acting buprenorphine or fentanyl for postsurgical analgesia. JAALAS 63(3), 303–309.

The use of rabbits used to propagate human lice for research

The globally important human diseases of trench fever, epidemic typhus, and relapsing fever are vectored by the human louse Pediculus humanus humanus. Although these conditions are epidemically quiescent at present, they persist in socially dysfunctional situations of war, deprivation, and...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Weisbroth, S. H. 2024. The use of rabbits used to propagate human lice for research. Comparative Medicine 74(3), 135–141.

Guidance on the transport of laboratory animals

Report of the Transport Working Group established by the Laboratory Animal Science Association (LASA)

Year Published: 2005Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Amphibian, Cat, Dog, Ferret, Frog & Toad, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Salamander

Citation: Swallow, J., Anderson, D., Buckwell, A. C. et al. 2005. Guidance on the transport of laboratory animals. Laboratory Animals 39(1), 1-39.

Cage enrichment to minimize aggression in part-time group-housed female breeding rabbits

In most rabbit farms, breeding does kindle and nurse their kits in single-litter cages throughout their entire reproduction cycle. However, the protective behavior can lead to aggressive displays and injuries when the does are housed in groups. This study aimed...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Van Damme, L. G. W., Ipek, N., Verwaeren, J. et al. 2024. Cage enrichment to minimize aggression in part-time group-housed female breeding rabbits. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

Benchmarking enrichment efforts in the US & Canada across species and enrichment categories

Enrichment is important for animal welfare and data quality. Provision of enrichment opportunities varies between species and enrichment category. However, data benchmarking these differences does not exist. Our objective was to characterize enrichment provision and associated factors across species in...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Cat, Cattle, Chicken, Dog, Ferret, Goat, Macaque, Mink, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Sheep

Citation: LaFollette, M. R., Cloutier, S., Brady, C. M. et al. 2023. Benchmarking enrichment efforts in the US & Canada across species and enrichment categories. JAALAS 62(4), 303–316.

Effects of human observer presence on pain assessment using facial expressions in rabbits

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of a human observer on Rabbit Grimace Scale (RbtGS) scores. The study scored video footage taken of 28 rabbits before and after orthopedic surgery, as follows: 24 h before surgery...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Pinho, R. H., Justo, A. A., Cima, D. S. et al. 2023. Effects of human observer presence on pain assessment using facial expressions in rabbits. JAALAS 62(1), 81–86.

Method of measuring effects of study procedures in single and pair housed New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Social housing of laboratory rabbits is encouraged and thought to improve animal welfare due to the social nature of this species. However, there is limited published information comparing the physiologic and cardiovascular (CV) effects of paired and single housed adult...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Santos, R. V., Bhatt, S., Foote, S. et al. 2023. Method of measuring effects of study procedures in single and pair housed New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods 119, 107204.

Social behaviour and personality profiles of breeding does housed part-time in group

Housing breeding female rabbits in multi-litter instead of single-litter cages allows for more natural behaviour and social contact with conspecifics. Hierarchy fights among does, however, inhibit uptake on farms. Past focus on high reproductive performances in single-litter cages may have...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Van Damme, L. G. W., Ampe, B., Delezie, E. et al. 2023. Social behaviour and personality profiles of breeding does housed part-time in group. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 267, 106064.