Pain and analgesia in pet rabbits: a survey of the attitude of veterinary nurses

Abstract

Objectives: To gain insight into veterinary nurse knowledge of pain recognition and control in rabbits. Materials and Methods: We used a survey to establish current attitudes amongst veterinary nurses towards pain management in pet rabbits and factors that might shape those attitudes. The survey was advertised at national and international veterinary conferences, in veterinary publications and on social media. Results: A total of 284 questionnaires (95% from the UK) were completed and analysed. The majority of respondents (78%) nursed 1–10 rabbits per month and 5.6% of the respondents reported regularly running a rabbit clinic. The respondents were regularly involved in nursing during common procedures such as castration and ovariohysterectomy. Responsibility for post-operative pain assessment was reported to be by “nurses only” (50%), “nurses and vets” (42%) and occasionally by “vets only” (3%). The majority of respondents reported that they did not use a pain scale but often relied on behavioural indicators, while 20% used the Rabbit Grimace Scale. The majority of the respondents reported being “fairly confident” at recognising pain in rabbits. Clinical Significance: Veterinary nurses are involved in many aspects of rabbit care, and they are generally confident at nursing this species. This survey also suggests the need for more data on the use of pain assessment tools in rabbits and the importance of teamwork between nurses and veterinarians.