Rabbits hide pain as a survival adaptation, making welfare assessment challenging; validated pain scales and behavioural indicators enable earlier intervention for suffering individuals.
The stoic nature of rabbits as prey animals means that significant pain often goes unrecognised by owners and even veterinarians. A rabbit that appears 'quiet' may be experiencing severe discomfort. Validated pain assessment tools including the Rabbit Grimace Scale provide objective measures based on facial expression changes that do not depend on overt pain behaviour. Training owners to use these tools and recognise subtle pain indicators dramatically improves welfare outcomes.