Dr. P & the Case of the Runaway Rabbit

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A 5-month-old female rabbit presented to Dr. P for a wellness examination. When Dr. P entered the exam room, the client stated that the rabbit had jumped off the examination table while the technician was present and had since been returned to the carrier. When the client went to take the rabbit out of the carrier for Dr. P and place her back on the exam table, the rabbit jumped again, this time landing awkwardly. Dr. P stated that after the second jump, the rabbit was noticeably lame. It was unclear whether the lameness had been present prior to the second jump. Radiographs were performed at no charge and revealed a distal femoral fracture. The rabbit was stabilized and referred for surgical repair. A cross-pin procedure was performed and the rabbit made a full recovery.

The client requested reimbursement for the surgical repair, alleging that Dr. P's staff had not advised them of the risks of injury to the patient and had not prevented the injury during the visit. A professional liability claim was filed, and upon review of the claim, it was determined that the rabbit was able to jump from the exam table on two different incidents while under clinic supervision. If the veterinary technician communicated the first jump to Dr. P prior to Dr. P entering the exam room, this was not documented. The review noted that the owner was not advised to avoid placing the rabbit on the table after the first jump, and that additional restraint/handling could likely have prevented both falls. The case was settled for $5,200, which covered the costs of the subsequent medical care.


Understanding the Case

This case highlights how quickly routine appointments can escalate, and how restraint decisions (particularly restraint with client involvement) may directly affect both patient safety and professional liability exposure. It is always important to educate veterinary staff and clients on the safe handling of animals. Staff should be provided with training on the effective restraint of all species that the practice treats to prevent injury to patients, staff, and clients. It is also important to note that it is extremely difficult to defend claims where clients have become injured due to participation in the transfer or restraint of their animals, so trained staff should be handling patients at all times during the veterinary visit. Additionally, it's crucial to note that:

  • Rabbits are prey species with powerful hind limbs, fast reactions, and low tolerance for restraint. Even calm rabbits can panic and leap unexpectedly, which is why rabbit handling should be staff-managed (and in this case, especially after an initial jump). Improper restraint can further injure a rabbit, so best practice is to control both ends of the patient to prevent kicking or jumping. Here are some recommended restraint techniques:
    • Football Hold: Place the patient’s head in the crook of the arm and support the body and hindquarters while holding the scruff of the neck.
    • Burrito Hold: Wrap the patient in a towel, preventing any limbs from kicking out, using caution to avoid restricting the airway and breathing. Rabbits thermoregulate through their ears, so be sure to keep their ears exposed to prevent overheating.
  • Clear communication between the technician, the veterinarian, and the client(s) is essential to ensuring that everyone understands how the patient in question should be handled. It is also important to communicate to the client that even rabbits that are thought to be securely restrained can kick their rear legs and cause spinal injuries. In this case, early staff-led restraint could have reduced the risk of a second fall and potentially prevented injury to the patient, as well as the professional liability claim.


Additional Resources:


2. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Animal Care Program: "Rabbit restraint diagrams and physiological data"

3. The Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians: General Guidelines

4. Oxley JA et al. from The Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (2019): “A Survey of Rabbit Handling Methods Within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland”