Obesity in pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): A narrative review

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Introduction: Obesity reduces both the longevity and the quality of life of pet animals. For pet rabbits, there is a dearth of research focusing on obesity. This paper provides an overview of the available information on obesity in rabbits and discusses approaches to its prevention and treatment. Method: The prevalence of being overweight/obesity in pet rabbits varies from 5.9% to 35%, depending on study origin and assessment method. Six potential risk factors for rabbit obesity are identified, namely age, breed, sex and neutered status, diet, housing, and owner characteristics. Conclusion: Obesity in rabbits has myriad consequences, including osteoarthritis, pododermatitis, hepatic lipidosis, atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and increased risk of postanesthetic complications. Obesity in pet rabbits can be practically diagnosed with body condition scoring, but validation is needed. Prevention of obesity should be prioritized before treatment, but both involve facilitating more exercise, limiting concentrated calorie intake, and offering plenty of hay to pet rabbits.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Exotic Pet Medicine
Volume41
Pages (from-to)30-37
Number of pages8
ISSN1557-5063
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

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© 2022 The Author(s)

    Research areas

  • Body composition, Obesity, Pet rabbits, Prevalence, Risk factors, Weight loss intervention

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