Dermatological complaints are common reasons for small mammals to present for veterinary care.

While visiting the vet can be stressful for any animal, something as seemingly simple as a routine checkup tends to trigger more anxiety in rabbits than many other species. As a prey species, rabbits are also more susceptible to unpleasant physiological effects of stress than other animals.

This guideline has been developed to ensure the wellbeing of rabbits exhibiting signs of gastrointestinal stasis. The main goal is to provide information on how to recognise, manage and treat cases of gastrointestinal stasis in rabbits. Additionally, this guideline aims to establish a humane endpoint where euthanasia is indicated in order to alleviate suffering when necessary and to reduce premature euthanasia of Animals

Stress in rabbits is often caused by poor health and welfare standards, including inappropriate environment, lack of companionship and poor handling techniques.

It is imperative that RVNs are able to provide exemplary care to these patients. It is important that rabbits be treated according to their physiological needs, in order to minimise stress and improve survival rates in the peri-anaesthetic period.