Rabbit

The effect of mirrors on the behaviour of singly housed male and female laboratory rabbits

It is widely recognised that single housing is detrimental to the welfare of social species. However, some experimental procedures dictate that laboratory animals are housed individually. There is evidence to suggest that, by mimicking social contact, mirrors are beneficial to...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Edgar, J. L., Seaman, S. C. 2010. The effect of mirrors on the behaviour of singly housed male and female laboratory rabbits. Animal Welfare 19(4), 461-471.

A jugular bleeding technique in rabbits

When studying pharmacokinetics in rabbits, researchers must often take multiple blood samples from conscious rabbits. Researchers usually collect these samples via the auricular vein, typically through a port or an indwelling catheter. The authors have developed an easy and efficient...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Cannulation, Catheterization, & IntubationAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Nelson, E. A., Keller, G. L., Mitchell, T. W. et al. 2010. A jugular bleeding technique in rabbits. Lab Animal 39(1), 17-22.

Floor housing rabbits to promote weight loss and species-specific behaviors

Standard rabbit caging offers little in the way of exercise, vertical space for species-typical movements (that is, standing on hind limbs), or ample space for proper social introductions. One commonly used rabbit breed, the New Zealand white, can grow quite...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Mayfield, K. L., Livingston, L. G., Kirby, D. W. 2010. Floor housing rabbits to promote weight loss and species-specific behaviors. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 706-707 (Abstract #P81).

A technique for single-person oral gavage in rabbits

The physiologic and anatomic structure of rabbits can cause high mortality rates in rabbit oral gavage. Rabbits are capable of a wide variety of jaw movement due to 3 jaw-closing muscle groups (masseter, temporalis, pterygoid). This complex and intricate architecture...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Van Dyk, A., Rickers, M. 2010. A technique for single-person oral gavage in rabbits. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 749 (Abstract #P215).

Modification of a dog cage for use as an exercise unit for rabbits

The Guide for the Care and Use of Animals and the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations (AWR) outline minimum space requirements for laboratory animals, including rabbits. These documents encourage housing of animals in enclosures that allow adequate freedom of movement and...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Williams-Fritze, M. J., Altieri, J. A., Clough, C. et al. 2010. Modification of a dog cage for use as an exercise unit for rabbits. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 703 (Abstract #P70).

Report of the 2010 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting – The effect of husbandry on welfare and promoting good practice

The RSPCA/UFAW Rodent Welfare Group holds a one-day meeting every autumn so that its members can discuss current welfare research, exchange views on rodent welfare issues and share experiences of the implementation of the 3Rs of replacement, reduction and refinement...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Drug/Substance Administration, Handling, Husbandry & Management, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hawkins, P., Burn, C., Hurst, J. et al. 2011. Report of the 2010 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting - The effect of husbandry on welfare and promoting good practice. Animal Technology and Welfare 10(2), 105-114.

Human handling promotes compliant behavior in adult laboratory rabbits

Routine laboratory procedures can be stressful for laboratory animals. We wanted to determine whether human handling of adult rabbits could induce a degree of habituation, reducing stress and facilitating research-related manipulation. To this end, adult New Zealand white rabbits were...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Swennes, A. G., Alworth, L. C., Harvey, S. B. et al. 2011. Human handling promotes compliant behavior in adult laboratory rabbits. JAALAS 50(2), 41-45.

Glucocorticoid metabolites in rabbit faeces – Influence of environmental enrichment and cage size

The concentration of glucocorticoid metabolites (GCM) in rabbit faeces has been suggested as a non-invasive indicator of stress. In the present study, GCM concentrations were measured in faeces of fattening rabbits kept in groups of eight, at seven different stocking...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Buijs, S., Maertens, L., Tuyttens, F. A. M. et al. 2011. Glucocorticoid metabolites in rabbit faeces - Influence of environmental enrichment and cage size. Physiology & Behavior 104(3), 469-473.

Environmental enrichment of New Zealand white rabbits living in laboratory cages

The primary goal of environmental enrichment should be the avoidance of abnormal behaviors in laboratory animals such as rodents, lagomorphs, dogs, cats, and nonhuman primates. A total of 13 male single-housed New Zealand White rabbits were offered 3 different toys,...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Poggiagliolmi, S., Crowell-Davis, S. L., Alworth, L. C. et al. 2011. Environmental enrichment of New Zealand white rabbits living in laboratory cages. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 6(6), 343-350.

Group housing male rabbits: Yes, it can be done

Since we receive rabbits at 10-12 weeks of age and we only house them for about 3 to 4 weeks, we decided to give group housing a try. Change is hard for most people and our staff proved no exception....

Year Published: 2012Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Scotto, J. 2012. Group housing male rabbits: Yes, it can be done. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 17(6), 3.