Rabbit health research and the RWF
Rabbit medicine has come a long way in a short space of time, but there's still a fundamental lack of evidence about many common health problems, forcing rabbit veterinarians treating our beloved rabbits to make decisions based upon incomplete information . This is why one of the key aims of the Rabbit Welfare Fund is to promote humane research that will increase understanding of common health problems in pet rabbits.
The RWF does not support research projects that cause harm or suffering to rabbits.
We aim to fund clinical studies, seeking answers to problems affecting pet rabbits by studying pet rabbits. Ideally, we prefer to support projects which actively benefit the individual rabbits taking part, as well as providing answers to questions that will ultimately benefit all our rabbits.
But we have several other important criteria that must be met, too. The study must seek to address a question which is relevant to the health and welfare of pet rabbits. It must be well designed and rigorously conducted, to ensure it will stand up to scientific scrutiny. And it must stand a very good chance of being published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Good quality research is very expensive. Even small, simple projects cost thousands of pounds, which is why the RWF Trustees will make every effort to ensure that each and every RWF health research grant is used to support high-calibre projects. Obviously, the more financial support we receive from rabbit lovers, the more vital, humane, research projects we can pay for. If you believe that "rabbits deserve better", as we do, please consider making a donation to the Rabbit Welfare Fund.
We are also keen to learn more about how the general public view pet rabbits and where we can improve our educational literature to get our key messages across.
If you are a vet and have an idea for a research project, please feel free contact the RWF trustees via our enquiry form . Judith Brown heads up the rabbit health liaison team, working closely with our team of veterinary advisors to decide upon the suitability of rabbit health research grant applications. Rachel Todd is in charge of processing grant applications. Or you can download a grant application form .
Current projects/grants- Attitudes towards rabbits by Joanne Edgar
Joanne Edgar is conducting surveys of the general public (mainly in pet shops and garden centres) to establish what they already believe about keeping rabbits as pets and their attitudes towards them in general. WE hope the results of this study will give us an idea of how pet rabbits are perceived and therefore where we need to target and reinforce our key messages to help towards improving the lives of pet rabbits in the UK
- Myxi study by Diana Bell
Dr Diana Bell is conducing a study into the ‘vectors' that spread myxi in a wild rabbit population. From this we obviously hope to be able to transfer results to pet rabbits and suggest new ways of reducing the risk of myxi amongst our much loved pets.
- Heart study by Brigitte Reusch
Planned & pending projects/grants
Completed projects/grantsWe regret that the RWF cannot make grants available to individual rabbit owners, only to properly designed research projects.
