Website addresses change
periodically. The selected sites listed are current as of August 2006. It should
be noted that the recommendations on the proper care of rabbits vary widely
depending on many factors including what breed, type of housing, and for what
purpose the rabbits are kept. The following sites include rabbit care and
welfare information for companion, commercial, and laboratory rabbits.
Animal Ethics Infolink
http://www.animalethics.org.au/reader/animal-care
This website has been
developed by the Animal Research Review Panel and NSW Agriculture’s Animal
Welfare Unit. Its aim is to assist researchers, teachers and members of Animal
Ethics Committees to access information about the operation of the Animal
Research Act 1985, Animal Research Regulation 1995 and The Code of Practice in New South Wales.
Included under the Animal Care section of this site is a link to a full text
document entitled Guidelines for the Housing of Rabbits in Scientific
Institutions August 2003. The document reviews housing, both group and single,
pen design, management, care, handling, environmental enrichment, and record
keeping for rabbits kept at scientific institutions.
Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC)
http://awic.nal.usda.gov
National Agricultural
Library,
10301 Baltimore Ave., Room 410,
Beltsville, MD 20705,
Tel: (301) 504-6212,
Fax: (301) 504-7125,
E-mail: awic@nal.usda.gov
The Animal Welfare
Information Center (AWIC) located at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
National Agricultural Library provides reference services primarily for patrons
using animals covered by the Animal Welfare Act. AWIC produces bibliographies
on the welfare and husbandry of dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, swine, cattle,
horses, sheep, poultry, and other species. The Animal Welfare Information
Center Bulletin contains articles on environmental enrichment programs,
refinement techniques, regulatory issues, and more. Full text information to
many important regulatory documents are provided.
Database on
Refinement of Housing and Handling Conditions and Environmental Enrichment for
Animals Kept in Laboratories
http://www.awionline.org/Lab_animals/biblio/refine.htm
An annotated database of
articles, abstracts, book chapters, and books, on all aspects of refinement and
environmental enrichment strategies for laboratory and farm animals are
available at this site. The database is regularly updated and information on
rabbits is included.
Audio Visuals Relating to
Animal Care, Use and Welfare
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/pubs/aw200001.htm
This document is a listing
of audiovisuals related to animal care that are currently in the National
Agricultural Library (NAL) collection. All audio visuals are available to
others on an interlibrary loan basis (see Document Delivery Services for more
information and restrictions). They cannot be purchased from NAL. If you would
like copies of the materials, please contact the producer. Use the find command
in your browser and search on the word "rabbit" to find audiovisuals
relating to the humane care and use of rabbits.
Biology of the Rabbit
http://www.lvma.org/rabbit.html
One in a series of
publications aimed at educating the general public, developed by the Louisiana
Veterinary Medical Association. This resource covers the biology of a rabbit,
taxonomy, origin and habitat, uses, handling, anatomy, physiology, nutrition,
reproduction, and diseases.
Care of Rabbits
http://www.spca.bc.ca/AnimalCare/rabbitcare.asp
Produced by the British
Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, this fact sheet is
aimed at pet owners and provides general information on the care of rabbits.
Topics covered include housing, food and water, handling, exercise and medical
problems.
Code of Recommendations for
the Welfare of Livestock: Rabbits
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/farmed/
This document is produced
and made available by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
(DEFRA), United Kingdom.
Click on the rabbit icon and follow the link to welfare code. These recommendations are aimed at those
involved with the rearing of rabbits, and focuses on the importance of high
standards of animal husbandry. Topics covered include housing, emergency
precautions, accommodation, floors, ventilation, lighting, mechanical
equipment, space allowances, feed and water, toe nail trimming, marking,
handling and slaughtering, and care of rabbits that are kept outside.
Comfortable Quarters for
Rabbits in Research Institutions
http://www.awionline.org/pubs/cq02/Cq-rabbits.html
Full text article
discussing improvements that can be made in the housing of laboratory rabbits
kept in research institutions. Topics covered include pen design, species
specific behaviors, social interaction, dominance hierarchies, physical
substrates, environmental enrichment, bedding, straw, shavings, shredded paper,
gentle handling techniques, and human animal interaction.
CSIRO Crusader Meat Rabbit
Production
http://www.csiro.au/csiro/content/file/pf9a,,.html
This site focuses on
research and development of meat rabbit production in Australia.
Links to full text articles on common rabbit diseases with photos, spreadsheets
on expected farm income, information on rabbit breeds, husbandry, equipment,
and other information.
Digital Resources for
Veterinary Trainers
http://www.digires.co.uk/index.html
This site offers a large
range of teaching materials - both digitized 35mm slides and digital video
clips for those involved in training laboratory animal staff. Teaching
materials are made available for purchase through the University of Newcastle,
United Kingdom. Subject coverages of the materials include care, handling,
husbandry, welfare, anesthesia, and surgical procedures of rabbits and other
laboratory animal species.
DORA: Diseases of Research
Animals
http://www.radil.missouri.edu/info/dora/frame1.htm
DORA (Diseases of Research
Animals) is a teaching resource compiled by faculty and graduate students in
the Laboratory Animal Medicine Area Program, Research Animal Diagnostic
Laboratory (RADIL), University
of Missouri. Information
provided for ferrets, gerbils, guineapigs, hamsters, mice, rabbits, and rats.
This resource contains images, bibliographical references, and slides. Disease
diagnosis, treatment, control, etiology, transmission, clinical signs, and
pathologies are reviewed.
Exotic pet vet.net
http://www.exoticpetvet.net/
This site is owned and
administered by two veterinarians with many years of exotic pet experience. The
site contains information on the general health, diseases, and medical care of
exotic pets including rabbits.
House Rabbit Society
http://www.rabbit.org/
The House Rabbit Society is
an international nonprofit organization that rescues rabbits and educates the
public on rabbit care and behavior. This site contains many quality photos and
is very comprehensive. Information is presented on the general care, diet,
litter training, housing, mental health, caring for babies and orphans,
grooming, handling, and environmental concerns for companion rabbits.
How to Care for Rabbits
http://www.hsus.org/ace/11808
A fact sheet produced by
the Humane Society of the United
States. Basic information for the rabbit pet
owner on housing, litter training, feeding, toys, and providing a safe
environment.
Humane Husbandry Criteria
for Rabbits
http://www.awionline.org/farm/standards/rabbits.htm
The Animal Welfare
Institute outlines humane husbandry standards for farm animals including
rabbits. The premise of AWI's humane husbandry program is that animals are
allowed to behave naturally. The infliction of pain and fear are strictly
prohibited. The major benefits of these criteria are increased space available
to each animal and the increased opportunity for social interaction, comfort,
and physical and psychological well-being. Housing, social interaction,
physical substrates, environmental factors, lighting, hutch, cages, breeding,
nesting, feeding, handling, transport, and slaughter guidelines are covered.
Missouri Alternatives Center
http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/links/index.htm
Through this site links to
extension guide sheets from university research centers in the United States
are made available. Information on raising meat rabbits, running commercial
rabbitries, nutrition, housing, and slaughter methods are included. Click on
“R” and follow the link to “rabbits.”
Pan-American Rabbit Science
Site
http://www.pan-am.uniserve.com/
Comprehensive site
containing articles written by Robert McCroskey, from the Canadian Centre for
Rabbit Production Development. Information is provided on rabbitry management
for home or commercial meat production including recommendations on feeding,
housing, breeding, health, disease and slaughter. Access to an in house
database containing literature citations on rabbit production is available for
a nominal fee. Links to other rabbit production science resources listed.
The Rabbit
http://www.aquavet.i12.com/Rabbit.htm
This is an overview article
written by veterinarian Anna Meredith, Head of Exotic Animal Services, Royal
(Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, covering the
biology, husbandry, common clinical conditions and veterinary management of
rabbits.
Rabbit Medicine
http://www.exoticpetvet.net/smanimal/rabbit.html
An article written by
veterinarian Margaret A. Wissman, outlining basic information on breeds, life
span, reproduction, feeding, and health.
Rabbit Pathology
http://oslovet.veths.no/teaching/rabbit/pathology/text.html
This collection of
photographs on rabbit pathology is made available on the Web by the Laboratory
Animal Unit, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science. Images of various diseases
and conditions affecting the teeth, intestines, kidneys, brain, and skin of the
rabbit are included.
Rabbit References
http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabrefs.html
This site was developed by
dedicated pet rabbit owners. The rabbit reference sections contain links to
information resources regarding rabbit health and medicine, care and feeding,
health hazards, rescue and adoption, and rabbit related mailing lists.
RabbitRehome.org.uk
http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/rabbitcare.asp
Information on the basic
care of the pet rabbit including housing (indoor and outdoor), diet, handling, and
companionship.
Rabbit Research Center at
Texas A&M University Kingsville
http://users.tamuk.edu/kfsdl00/rabb.html
Description of the Rabbit
Research Center at Texas A&M University Kingsville. An overview of the
facility, research, management, breeds of rabbits, and out reach programs.
Rabbit Welfare Association
http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/
The Rabbit Welfare
Association is a UK based organization for those who own or are interested in
rabbits. The Association works with UK veterinarians to promote better
veterinary care for both house rabbits and outdoor rabbits.
Raising Healthy Rabbits
http://gardencenter.southernstates.com/rabbit/index.shtml
Southern States feed
company provides an online guide to raising healthy rabbits. The focus of the
guide is on rabbit nutrition and health. Topics covered include: selecting
stock, building hutches, breeding, gestation, birth, record keeping, feed and
water requirements, diseases, and parasites.
Raising Rabbits for Fun and
Food: A Primer on Backyard Meat Rabbit Raising Practices
http://www.rudolphsrabbitranch.com/rrr.htm
A backyard rabbit meat
producer shares information on raising meat rabbits for family consumption.
Tips listed on breeding, feeds, feeding, and watering, how many rabbits to
start with, housing, climate, performance goals, diseases, drug use,
by-products and other markets, identification, sanitization, slaughtering and
butchering, and start-up cost considerations. A listing of meat rabbit
breeders, a recommended reading list, and related web links are available.
VeterinaryPartner Home Page
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/
VeterinaryPartner.com
provides reliable, up-to-date animal health information from the veterinarians
and experts of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). Quality information on
rabbit care, health, surgery, feeding, behavior, and exercise written by Susan
Brown, DVM.
World Rabbit Science
Association (WRSA)
http://world-rabbit-science.org
The World Rabbit Science
Association is an international association that federates national and
regional associations (branches) with the objectives of: exchanging knowledge
and experience among members in all parts of the world who are contributing to
the advancement of various scientific aspects of rabbit production; to promote
the extension of knowledge by encouraging teaching, scientific research,
practical experimentation, the collection and publication of useful statistics
and documents in relation to rabbit production; to promote world rabbit
congresses alone or in cooperation with other international bodies; and to
cooperate with the FAO and other world organizations interested in rabbit meat,
pelt or fur production.
Yahoo! Groups:
rabbitvetlist
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rabbitvetlist/
An unmoderated discussion
group for clinical discussions on rabbit health. Associated with the British Houserabbit
Association (BHRA), membership of this discussion forum is restricted to veterinary professionals and invited laypeople. Hosted by Yahoo Groups.