Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-25wd4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T09:19:32.991Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of blindfolding and swaddling on the stress response to handling in domestic rabbits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

KS McIndoe ,
R Saunders ,
EJ Blackwell  and
NJ Rooney
KS McIndoe*
Affiliation:
Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group, Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford BS40 5DU, UK
R Saunders
Affiliation:
Bristol Zoological Society, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, UK Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund, Enigma House, Culmhead Business Park, Taunton, Somerset TA3 7DY, UK
EJ Blackwell
Affiliation:
Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group, Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford BS40 5DU, UK
NJ Rooney
Affiliation:
Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group, Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford BS40 5DU, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence: km15575@bristol.ac.uk
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Stress during handling can negatively impact the welfare of an animal. Gradual habituation or systematic desensitisation can reduce this but is not always possible. Blindfolding has been shown to decrease stress indicators, including heart rate and struggling in cattle (Bos taurus), but has not been studied in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). We surveyed 49 wildlife rescues, rehabilitators and veterinarians, and found that blindfolding and swaddling are widely used and believed to reduce stress and struggling in rabbits. However, these methods may simply preclude escape and result in sensitisation over repeated exposure. We next conducted a controlled trial investigating the effects of blindfolding and swaddling repeatedly over five days on behavioural and physiological indicators of stress in 40 domestic rabbits. Neither blindfolding nor swaddling had significant impacts on heart or respiratory rate, compared to a partial hood control treatment, which involved similar levels of manipulation, but without visual or movement restriction. Behavioural responses showed variable trends, eg rabbits were more likely to approach food after handling with swaddling. Baseline levels varied significantly between individuals, suggesting previous experience to be an important determinant. Heart rates were universally high, showing that individuals in this study were stressed by handling to such an extent, that overall, effects of both blindfolding and swaddling on physiological indicators of stress were minimal. We suggest that blindfolding and swaddling may be useful as means of limiting the procedure duration and risk of injury by reducing struggling, but this study provides no evidence that welfare is otherwise improved.

Keywords

animal welfareblindfoldinghandlingrabbitstressswaddling
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 31 , Issue 1 , February 2022 , pp. 27 - 36
Copyright
© 2022 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Bataller, N and Keller, WC 1999 Monitoring adverse reactions to veterinary drugs. Pharmacovigilance. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 15: 13–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-0720(15)30204-8Google ScholarPubMed
Bradbury, AG and Dickens, GJE 2016 Appropriate handling of pet rabbits: a literature review. Journal of Small Animal Practice 57: 503–509. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12549CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bozovic, D, Racic, M and Ivkovic, N 2013 Salivary cortisol levels as a biological stress reaction. Medical Archives 67: 371–374. https://doi.org/10.5455/medarh.2013.67.374-377CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Broom, DM 2007 Causes of poor welfare and welfare assess-ment during handling and transport. In: Grandin, T (ed) Livestock Handling and Transport, Third Edition pp 30–43. CAB International: Wallingford, UK. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845932190.0030CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burn, CC and Shields, P 2020 Do rabbits need each other? Effects of single versus paired housing on rabbit body temperature and behaviour in a UK shelter. Animal Welfare 29: 209–219. https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.29.2.209CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buseth, ME and Saunders, RA 2015 Rabbit Behaviour, Health and Care. CABI: Wallingford, UK. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781780641904.0000CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cliff, G and Thurman, GD 1984 Pathological and physiological effects of stress during capture and transport in the juvenile dusky shark, Carcharhinus obscurus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A: Physiology 78: 167–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/0300-9629(84)90111-7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collewijn, H 1977 Eye and head movements in freely moving rab-bits. The Journal of Physiology 266: 471–498. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1977.sp011778CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Conner, MC, Soutiere, EC and Lancia, RA 1987 Drop-netting deer: Costs and incidence of capture myopathy. Wildlife Society Bulletin 15: 434–438Google Scholar
Cope, I and Hawe, J 2018 Minimising stress during rabbit examinations. https://veterinary-practice.com/article/minimising-stress-during-rabbit-examinationsGoogle Scholar
Dantzer, R and Mormede, P 1983 Stress in farm animals: A need for re-evaluation. Journal of Animal Science 57: 6–18. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1983.5716CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DeCubellis, J 2016 Common emergencies in rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas. Veterinary Clinics of North America, Exotic Animal Practice 19: 411–429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvex.2016.01.003CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Diverio, S, Goddard, PJ and Gordon, IJ 1996 Use of long-acting neuroleptics to reduce the stress response to management prac-tices in red deer. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 49: 83–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(95)00670-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisher, PG 2010 Standards of care in the 21st Century: The rab-bit. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 19: 22–35. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2010.01.004CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grandin, T 1997 Assessment of stress during handling and trans-port. Journal of Animal Science 75: 249–257. https://doi.org/10.2527/1997.751249xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gray, JA 1987 The Psychology of Fear and Stress, Second Edition. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UKGoogle Scholar
Green, P 2003 Deer. In: Mullineaux, E, Best, D and Cooper, JE (eds) BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties pp 166–180. British Small Animal Veterinary Association: Gloucester, UKGoogle Scholar
Harcourt-Brown, F and Whitwell, K 2003 Rabbits and hares. In: Mullineaux, E, Best, D and Cooper, JE (eds) BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties pp 109–122. British Small Animal Veterinary Association: Gloucester, UKGoogle Scholar
Jones, RB and Waddington, D 1992 Modification of fear in domestic chicks, Gallus gallus domesticus, via regular handling and early environmental enrichment. Animal Behaviour 43: 1021–1033. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-3472(06)80015-1Google Scholar
Krall, C, Glass, S, Dancourt, G, Adams, M, Koenig, K and Hutchinson, EK 2019 Behavioural anxiety predisposes rabbits to intra-operative apnoea and cardiorespiratory instability. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 221: 104875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2019.104875CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lehmann, M 1991 Social behaviour in young domestic rabbits under semi-natural conditions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 32: 269–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(05)80049-8Google Scholar
Maier, SF, Watkins, LR and Fleshner, M 1994 Psychoneuroimmunology: The interface between behavior, brain, and immunity. American Psychologist 49: 1004–1017. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.49.12.1004CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mantor, M, Krause, S and Hart, LA 2014 Trapping and handling squirrels: Trap modification and handling restraint to minimize injuries and stress. Wildlife Society Bulletin 38: 152–159. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.371CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mateos, GG, Rebollar, PG and de Blas, C 2010 Minerals, vita-mins and additives. In: de Blas, C and Wiseman, J (eds) Nutrition of the Rabbit, Second Edition pp 119–150. CABI: Wallingford, UK. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845936693.0119CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McBride, EA 2014 Normal behaviour and behaviour problems. In: Meredith, A and Lord, B (eds) BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine pp 45–52. British Small Animal Veterinary Association: Gloucester, UK. https://doi.org/10.22233/9781910443217.5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McDonnell, SM, Miller, J and Vaala, W 2013 Calming benefit of short-term alpha-casozepine supplementation during acclimation to domestic environment and basic ground training of adult semi-feral ponies. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 33: 101–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2012.05.060CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mentaberre, G, Lopez-Olvera, JR, Casas-Diaz, E, Bach-Raich, E, Marco, I and Lavin, S 2010 Use of haloperidol and aza-perone for stress control in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) captured by means of drive-nets. Research in Veterinary Science 88: 531–535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2009.11.001CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miller, NE 1960 Learning resistance to pain and fear: Effects of overlearning, exposure, and rewarded exposure in context. Journal of Experimental Psychology 60: 137–145. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0043321CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mitchell, G, Hattingh, J and Ganhao, M 1988 Stress in cattle assessed after handling, after transport and after slaughter. Veterinary Record 123: 201–205. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.123.8.201CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mitchell, KD, Stookey, JM, Laturnas, DK, Watts, JM, Haley, DB and Huyde, T 2004 The effects of blindfolding on behavior and heart rate in beef cattle during restraint. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 85: 233–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applan-im.2003.07.004CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oxley, JA, Ellis, CF, McBride, EA and McCormack, WD 2018 A survey of rabbit handling methods within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 22: 207–218. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2018.1459192CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Parker, R, Watson, R, Wells, E, Brown, SN, Nicol, CJ and Knowles, TG 2004 The effect of blindfolding horses on heart rate and behaviour during handling and loading onto transport vehi-cles. Animal Welfare 13: 433–437Google Scholar
Podberscek, AL, Blackshaw, JK and Beattie, AW 1991 The effects of repeated handling by familiar and unfamiliar people on rabbits in individual cages and group pens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 28: 365–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(91)90168-WCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richardson, J and Keeble, E 2014 Physical examination and clinical techniques. In: Meredith, A and Lord, B (eds) BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine pp 80–107. British Small Animal Veterinary Association: Gloucester, UK. https://doi.org/10.22233/9781910443217.7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rooney, NJ, Blackwell, EJ, Mullan, SM, Saunders, R, Baker, PE, Hill, JM, Sealey, CE, Turner, MJ and Held, SDE 2014 The current state of welfare, housing and husbandry of the English pet rabbit population. BMC Research Notes 7: 942. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-7-942CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Salimetrics 2014 Expanded range high sensitivity Salivary Cortisol Enzyme Immunoassay Kit. Salimetrics.com: 1-21Google Scholar
Sellers, RS, Pardo, I, Hu, G, Nasir Khan, K, Perry, R, Markiewicz, V, Rohde, C, Colangelo, J, Reagan, W and Clarke, D 2017 Inflammatory cell findings in the female rabbit heart and stress-associated exacerbation with handling and procedures used in nonclinical studies. Toxicologic Pathology 45: 416–426. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192623317700519CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stephens, DB and Toner, JN 1975 Husbandry influences on some physiological parameters of emotional responses in calves. Applied Animal Ethology 1: 233–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3762(75)90016-4Google Scholar
Stodart, E and Myers, K 1964 A comparison of behaviour, repro-duction, and mortality of wild and domestic rabbits in confined population. CSIRO Wildlife Research 9: 144. https://doi.org/10.1071/CWR9640144CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trocino, A and Xiccato, G 2006 Animal welfare in reared rab-bits: A review with emphasis on housing systems. World Rabbit Science 14: 77–93. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2006.553Google Scholar
Unwin, SL, Saunders, RA, Blackwell, EJ and Rooney, NJ 2019 A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the value of Pet Remedy in ameliorating fear of handling of companion rabbits. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 36: 54–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2019.10.001CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Varga, M 2014 The rabbit-friendly practice. In: Meredith, A and Lord, B (eds) BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine pp 59–79. British Small Animal Veterinary Association: Gloucester, UK. https://doi.org/10.22233/9781910443217.6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vennen, KM and Mitchell, MA 2009 Rabbits. In Mitchell MA and Tully TN (eds) Manual of Exotic Pet Practice pp 375–405. Elsevier Inc: St Louis, Missouri, USA. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-141600119-5.50017-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Verga, M, Luzi, F and Carenzi, C 2007 Effects of husbandry and management systems on physiology and behaviour of farmed and laboratory rabbits. Hormones and Behavior 52: 122–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.03.024CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
White, J 1990 Raptor restraint. Association of Avian Veterinarians 4: 91–92. https://doi.org/10.2307/30136887CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilczyń ska A, Zię tek J, Teodorowski O, Winiarczyk S and Adaszek Ł 2021 Effect of tonic immobility induction on selected physiological parameters in Oryctolagus cuniculus f. Domesticus rab-bits. Medycyna Weterynaryjna 77: 295–299. https://doi.org/10.21521/mw.6541CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilkinson, GR 2005 Drug metabolism and variability among patients in drug response. New England Journal of Medicine 352: 2211–2221. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra032424CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Supplementary material: File

McIndoe et al. supplementary material
Download undefined(File)
File 138.5 KB
Supplementary material: File

McIndoe et al. supplementary material
Download undefined(File)
File 123.6 KB
Supplementary material: File

McIndoe et al. supplementary material
Download undefined(File)
File 123 KB
Supplementary material: File

McIndoe et al. supplementary material
Download undefined(File)
File 166.9 KB