Types of Rabbit Pica: A Comprehensive Guide

Section 1: Types and Causes of Rabbit Pica

1. Neonatal Eating Disorder: After giving birth, some female rabbits may eat part or all of their offspring. This condition is most common in firsttime mothers and typically occurs within the first three days postpartum. The main reasons for this behavior include:

① Nutritional deficiencies in rabbits, particularly a lack of proteins and minerals, can lead to neonatal eating as the mother rabbit's body is depleted after pregnancy.

② Insufficient water intake before and after delivery can cause the mother rabbit to lick the placenta and its remnants. If the rabbit becomes excessively thirsty and the owner fails to provide water, the mother may eat her offspring.

③ High levels of stress during and after delivery can lead to disorientation if the rabbit is startled by noise or vibrations, resulting in cannibalism and other abnormal behaviors.

④ Unfavorable odors in the mother rabbit's surroundings or bedding during delivery can cause suspicion, leading her to eat the offspring as a form of defense.

⑤ If the mother rabbit tastes the taste of eating her offspring, she may develop a habit of doing so again in subsequent deliveries.

2. Hair Eating Disorder: In most cases, rabbits with this disorder do not show obvious symptoms, except for incomplete fur at the beginning, which is often mistaken for alopecia. As the condition worsens, large areas of fur may be eaten. Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the rabbit is suffering from a haireating disorder. Hair eating can be selfinflicted or inflicted by others, but it is predominantly selfinflicted. In group settings, if one rabbit starts eating fur, others may follow suit, often targeting the same individual. The primary cause of hair eating is a deficiency of sulfur amino acids in the diet, exacerbated by fluctuating temperatures, particularly in rabbits from weaning to 3 months of age.

3. Foot Eating Disorder: Rabbits may eat the skin and flesh of their own feet. This behavior is most common in rabbits with leg fractures, foot dermatitis, or ringworm. Due to the injury, circulation is obstructed, and metabolic waste cannot be expelled, leading to intense itching and the development of the footeating disorder.

4. Earth Eating Disorder: Rabbits may lick the soil, particularly around the base of walls and the alkaline residue on walls. Surveys have shown that rabbit farms where this behavior occurs often lack salt, calcium, phosphorus, and trace elements in their feed, suggesting that earth eating is caused by mineral deficiencies.

5. Wood Eating Disorder: Rabbits may chew on the cages or wooden products in the rabbitry. Research indicates that wood eating is primarily caused by a lack of roughage in the diet and insufficient hardness, leading to the rabbit's incisors not receiving adequate wear.

The above is a summary of the types and causes of rabbit pica by Oxygen Pet Doctor. We hope that owners will pay close attention to these causes to prevent their rabbits from developing pica.