Rabbits require veterinary care from practitioners with rabbit-specific expertise, and the scarcity of this expertise creates significant welfare gaps.
The veterinary care gap for companion rabbits creates preventable welfare harm. Rabbits requiring treatment for GI stasis face life-threatening deterioration within hours; delayed treatment from inability to find available rabbit-experienced care during this window causes deaths that earlier access would prevent. Rabbits mask illness until severely compromised, meaning owners who do not seek care at subtle early signs arrive at veterinarians with critically ill animals. Building a relationship with a rabbit-savvy veterinarian before problems arise is the most important welfare preparation for rabbit owners. The scarcity of rabbit expertise requires active searching rather than assuming any veterinary practice can provide appropriate care.