Rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small exotic pets frequently receive inadequate veterinary care due to insufficient owner knowledge, limited specialist veterinary availability, and underestimation of their welfare needs.
Small exotic pets suffer disproportionate welfare compromise from owner knowledge gaps and inadequate veterinary care. Rabbits kept alone, housed in undersized hutches, and fed wrong diets suffer chronic welfare deprivation. GI stasis kills rabbits within 24-48 hours if untreated but is commonly mistaken for normal behaviour by uninformed owners. Guinea pigs without adequate vitamin C develop painful scurvy that is entirely preventable. Access to exotic animal-trained veterinarians is geographically uneven. Improving pre-purchase education, clear welfare guidelines, and expanding exotic vet training are systemic welfare improvements.