Rabbits are among the most commonly kept but poorly understood pet species, and many suffer from inappropriate housing, diet, and social arrangements that are readily preventable.
The gap between common rabbit husbandry practices and evidence-based welfare guidelines is striking. The traditional hutch-and-run approach, solitary housing, and commercial pellet-based diets are all associated with chronic welfare problems including dental disease, obesity, gastrointestinal issues, and psychological distress. Rabbits are intelligent social animals whose welfare needs are substantially more complex than commonly assumed.