Rabbits are the third most commonly used laboratory animal globally and face unique welfare challenges including fear responses, skeletal injuries, and social deprivation in standard housing conditions.
Rabbits are prey animals whose stress responses differ markedly from predator species. Their tendency to hide illness means welfare problems can go undetected until severe. Single housing frustrates strong social drives, while barren cages deny essential enrichment. Skeletal injuries from panicked struggling during handling are common and painful, yet often preventable through improved handling protocols.