Rabbit Medicine and Surgery: Self-Assessment Color Review, Second Edition, Q&A 03

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Student tip: This case is highly relevant to practice.

A 2-year-old male Dutch rabbit has been obtained directly from the breeder at 20 months old. The owner has bought the rabbit a large two-tiered hutch and is trying to spend an hour a day with him. He is a very nervous rabbit and will avoid his owner if she tries to pick him up. The owner reports aggression if she does not leave him alone when he is ‘worked up’. She would like to have him castrated in the hope that he will calm down.

Question	Answer		Article
What advice would you give this owner?	As a prey species, rabbits are likely to develop fear-related behaviours at times when they feel threatened or unable to flee from the threat. Aggression is often used as a last-ditch attempt to survive and, if successful, may be used more readily in the future. It is highly unlikely that this rabbit was exposed to regular handling by a variety of people when it was a young rabbit. Studies suggest that regular handling between the ages of 10 days and 6 weeks leads to less fearful rabbits. For a rabbit to exist as a cuddled pet, it really should be obtained when it is approximately 8 weeks old from a breeder who handles regularly from a young age. Many attempts at handling are also inappropriate and an inexperienced person may increase the rabbit’s apprehension. The owner should be advised to slowly build a relationship between the rabbit’s favourite treat and stroking. With time and success this can progress to a lift on to the owner’s lap and so on. Each time the rabbit is handled, attention must be given to protecting the rabbit’s spine by keeping a hand under the rear end. The other hand can be placed over the shoulders or between the forelimbs. It is unlikely that neutering will help to solve this problem, as this behaviour is not linked to the sex hormones.		Link to Article

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