BEHAVIORAL COMPLAINTS AND OWNERS’ SATISFACTION IN RABBITS, MUSTELIDS AND RODENTS KEPT AS PETS

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of behavioral complaints in rabbits, mustelids, and rodents that were kept as pets, to help veterinary practitioners while counseling prospective owners toward an informed and responsible choice of a pet. A total of 193 owners participated in the study, filling in a questionnaire, for a total of 371 pets (184 rabbits, 59 mustelids, 128 rodents). The prevalence reported by owners of behavioral complaints was 31.3% (29.3%, 52.5%, and 20.3% for rabbits, mustelids, and rodents, respectively; chisquare = 19.6; P = 0.001). Aggression toward people was reported in 13.2% of the sample (13.0%, 30.5%, and 5.5% for rabbits, mustelids, and rodents, respectively; chisquare = 9.4; P = 0.009). Stereotypic behavioral patterns were reported by owners in 26.4% of the cases (28.3%, 16.9%, and 28.1% for rabbits, mustelids, and rodents, respectively). The owners reported that the prevalence of stereotypies was higher in pets housed more restrictively (Fisher’s exact test; P = 0.001). The overall level of satisfaction was quite high (i.e., 8.6 ± 1.84 points out of 10), but was lower in pets declared to have unwanted behavioral patterns (P = 0.05).