Rabbits are widely used in safety testing and immunology research. Their welfare needs are distinct from rodents and require specific refinement approaches in laboratory settings.
Laboratory rabbits face welfare challenges from social isolation, inappropriate housing surfaces, and handling stress that arise from historical husbandry practices rather than scientific necessity. Social housing with compatible companions dramatically reduces behavioral indicators of stress and improves rabbit welfare without compromising research validity for most applications. Replacing wire floors with appropriate solid or rubberized surfaces prevents sore hock development. Training-based handling techniques using positive reinforcement reduce fear responses and improve cooperation during procedures. The continued use of rabbits in eye irritation testing despite the availability of validated alternatives reflects regulatory inertia rather than scientific need. Phasing out the Draize test in favor of validated alternatives would eliminate a significant source of rabbit welfare harm.