Rabbit Grimace Scale

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 2sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 8 months ago by Reesebun.

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- 07/20/2016 at 6:11 AM
  Azerane
  Moderator
  4691 posts
  I saw this today and thought it was interesting. Unfortunate circumstances probably that the research was undertaken in but I think a visual guide like this could be worthwhile to some people.
  
  It’s called the Rabbit Grimace Scale and was developed by lab researchers to determine indicators for levels of pain in rabbits. They also developed ones for mice and rats as well.
  
  Click here to see a page with images and a with a link to the PDF about the scale: https://www.nc3rs.org.uk/rabbit-grimace-scale
  
  Or click here to see a poster version of the scale (a bit small and difficult to read): https://www.nc3rs.org.uk/sites/default/files/Grimace_scales/RGS%20poster%20image_0.png
  
  While we all have pet rabbits here, I think it’s good for people to be able to see visual indicators of pain so that they can know what to look for in their own rabbit. It may help someone determine if their rabbit is unwell, given that we all know how well rabbits can hide illness sometimes, it’s subtle body language like this that can help us make a decision as to whether a vet trip is needed with the potential to save a bunny’s life.
- 07/22/2016 at 2:26 AM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  That is very interesting (but like you noted, I hate to think about how they got them to grimace). And yes, this can be useful to help people read their bunny’s body language. I recognize those “grimaces” when my own bunnies were dealing with painful or stressful health issue. I think it’s important to note that if your bunny isn’t eating or lethargic, (abnormal other behaviors) mixed with the grimace then yes something is wrong. Otherwise I think people could read a relaxed bunny, whose just settling in, half closing eyes, and slowed breathing, lowered head as sick.
  
  Thanks for the resource Azerane – it’s those subtle clues that we have to work with when dealing with bunnies, and so something like this can be helpful!
- 08/26/2016 at 10:46 AM
  Reesebun
  Participant
  1037 posts
  I wonder what they did to the poor bunnies to make them do those things!
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