Preference of rabbits for drinking from open dishes versus nipple drinkers
- A. Tschudin, MedVe,
- M. Clauss, DrMedVet, DrMedVethabil, MSc, DiplECVCN,
- D. Codron, PhD and
- J-M. Hatt, DrMedVet, DrMedVethabil, MSc, DiplECAMS, DiplACZM
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Wildlife and Exotic Pets, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Correspondence to Dr Clauss, e-mail: mclauss{at}vetclinics.uzh.ch
ADEQUATE provision of water is essential for animal welfare. Insufficient water intake can have various adverse effects in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), including reduced food intake, increased risk of urinary tract infections and urinary concretions (Kamphues and others 2009), dehydration with subsequent haemoconcentration, hyperthermia, exhaustion and finally death (Pond and others 2005). In rabbits with urinary tract disease, high water intake is particularly important and should be encouraged (Ewringmann 2005).
In rabbit husbandry, water is supplied by various drinking systems (Tetens 2007), but pet rabbit owners mostly use open dishes or nipple drinkers (Tschudin and others 2011). This study evaluates these two methods of providing drinking water, and the influence of restricted access to water (for 12 or six hours per day), on the preference and water intake of pet rabbits, as well as the time spent drinking and the number of visits to the drinker and of drinking bouts.
Twelve dwarf pet rabbits (bodyweight ≤2.3 kg) of various age, sex and breed were kept individually in open boxes with woodshavings as bedding material. Food and water were offered on an elevated area and the intake of each was recorded daily. Hay and grain (Hobby Cornmix; Landi) were provided as feed, and six of the …
