Rabbit starvation, also known as rabbit emaciation, is a type of malnutrition that is not common today. It occurred primarily among hunting Native Americans, but also among early naturalists who relied on hunted animals as a food source for extended periods of time. In modern society, some diets based on high levels of protein in the diet pose a risk of developing rabbit starvation.
What is rabbit starvation?
Rabbit starvation is a disease caused by inadequate nutrition. It is caused by a diet of only lean meat over a long period of time. In addition, environmental factors such as cold and drought must be present as stressors for the disease to develop. The disease was first observed among the Indians of North America, who fed themselves mainly by hunting. If there was not enough prey, the lean rabbits had to suffice as food, which led to health problems. These occurred especially in the winter months, when the stress factors of cold and drought were added to the lack of fruits and vegetables, which provided further nutritional basics. Today, the low carb as well as the paleo diet pose a risk for the occurrence of the disease if the nutrients necessary for the body are not provided.
Causes
The exact cause is as yet unclear, and several possible modes of action are being considered. The only thing that is known for certain is that a long-term diet of lean meat leads to the symptoms. One of the possible causes is that a large amount of the lean and thus low-calorie meat must be consumed to meet the calorie requirement. Offal is also consumed to provide energy. In this context, the liver in particular has a high content of vitamin A. This theory states that too much vitamin A in the diet leads to the health problems. A second theory states that the lean meat is not sufficient to meet the calorie requirement and that the lack of calories causes physical complaints. This seems likely due to the fact that an adult would have to consume eight medium rabbits a day to meet caloric needs, even with little physical exertion. If we take the Indians as an example, we can assume that the physical exertion of hunting consumed far more calories than could be obtained from the lean meat. Looking at today’s lifestyle, this theory seems unlikely at first. However, the energy consumption of the body during mental work should not be underestimated. The third theory is that an excess of proteins is responsible for the development of the disease. The high protein content places a heavy burden on the kidneys, which are also no longer able to filter the urea produced from the blood. This accumulates in the body and leads to symptoms of poisoning. As different as the possible explanations are, they all seem conclusive. It is also possible that a combination of the different modes of action leads to the occurrence of the disease. The only thing that is certain is that the excessive consumption of low-calorie meat leads to the health complaints described.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Typical symptoms of rabbit starvation are headache, fatigue and general malaise. The cardiovascular system is also often affected by the deficiency disease. Patients suffering from rabbit starvation may have low blood pressure. Medical science refers to hypotension when an adult’s blood pressure is below 100/60 mmHg. Blood pressure is usually measured using a special cuff on the upper arm. Low blood pressure can lead to other symptoms. Characteristic symptoms include fatigue, headache, lack of concentration and palpitations. Patients are often pale and trembling. Dizziness and weakness are also possible, with circulatory collapse resulting in brief unconsciousness. Doctors also refer to such a circulatory collapse as syncope. Patients with rabbit starvation may further exhibit a decreased heart rate. This symptom is known as bradycardia. A rough average for a normal heart rate is often given as 60 beats per minute.Depending on age, fitness and other factors, the individual normal value may differ. Another symptom of rabbit starvation is diarrhea, in which the stool is more liquid than usual. The intestines empty more than three times a day, causing the body to lose a lot of fluid. Indirectly, therefore, rabbit starvation can lead to dehydration. Electrolytes may also go up as a result of the diarrhea.
Diagnosis and course of the disease
Diagnosis can only be made based on a history of symptoms and dietary habits. If symptoms occur, the diet should be looked at more closely. Sometimes the symptoms occur even if the diet consists not exclusively but only predominantly of lean meat. From a proportion of proteins in the daily diet that varies from person to person, they can no longer be optimally utilized by the body and health problems arise. If the physical warning signs are observed, the disease is usually not fatal and heals without further late effects. For example, there are no known cases among Native Americans in which the disease did not subside when the diet was changed accordingly. For modern cultures, there are no reliable studies on the course of the disease due to the rarity of its occurrence in this cultural area. However, it can be assumed that the disease will not have any late effects if the diet is changed accordingly. Only if the symptoms are ignored and the unhealthy diet is continued can late effects be assumed. If the symptoms are not observed over a long period of time, the disease can lead to protein poisoning and be fatal.
Complications
Nowadays, rabbit starvation is one of the rarely occurring diseases, so consequently complications are also limited. However, if the complaint does occur and persists for a longer period of time, irreversible damage to the organism may occur. In most cases, those affected suffer from relatively severe headaches and diarrhea. Circulatory problems also continue to occur and sufferers complain of low blood pressure. They can also lose consciousness and complain of fatigue. This can usually not be compensated with sleep. Likewise, the low pulse can also lead to a loss of consciousness. The general resilience of the patient decreases significantly and a general malaise occurs. As a rule, rabbit hunger can be combated relatively well and quickly with the help of a change in diet. No particular complications occur and the complaints disappear again. Complications can occur if rabbit starvation continues over a long period of time and organs may have been damaged as a result. Life expectancy may be limited and reduced.
When should you go to the doctor?
People whose primary long-term diet is very lean meat and whose primary diet includes rabbits should see a doctor periodically for a checkup. Rabbit starvation indicates malnutrition, which can be quickly diagnosed by targeted testing even without the presence of specific symptoms. If digestive symptoms such as diarrhea or stomach pain occur, a visit to the doctor is advised. In case of recurring headaches, persistent fatigue despite sufficient night sleep or low blood pressure, a visit to the doctor should be made. If the affected person suffers from a general feeling of malaise, fatigue or reduced performance, a doctor should be consulted to clarify the cause. If there is a permanent feeling of hunger, severe changes in weight, and a continuous feeling of cold, a doctor is needed. Without adequate medical care, the affected person may suffer permanent damage to the organism. The lack of care leads to organ damage and, in severe cases, loss of consciousness. In acute cases, an ambulance service must be alerted. Until their arrival, first aid measures must be applied by persons present to ensure the survival of the affected person. A drop in the usual level of performance, reduced drive or an increased need for sleep are signs of existing irregularities.A visit to the doctor is necessary in case of irritability, feeling sick, as well as cravings for fatty foods.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment usually consists of dietary changes. Thus, eating higher-calorie foods is recommended to treat the disease. With timely appropriate dietary changes, symptoms usually disappear within a short time. Late effects, on the other hand, are to be feared if the symptoms are not taken seriously and treated appropriately.
Outlook and prognosis
The prognosis in rabbit starvation is usually favorable. As soon as the patient is willing to cooperate, a change in diet is made. Some time later, the first changes in the symptoms that have occurred are already apparent. Under optimal conditions, a significant alleviation of the irregularities is observed within a week. With a permanent change in food intake, recovery occurs. Rabbit hunger is based on malnutrition. Medical treatment is not always necessary for this reason. The intake of food can be changed and optimized on one’s own responsibility. The natural needs of the human organism should be taken into account. If the measures taken are not sufficient, the support of a physician or nutrition expert should be sought. Often, a consultation with a physician who points out the necessity of certain vitamins, nutrients and trace elements is sufficient. If the affected person is not prepared to optimize his or her food intake, there is a risk of late complications. This results in a worsening of an otherwise very favorable prognosis. The late effects have a negative influence on the general well-being as well as the quality of life. In addition, circulatory collapse or unconsciousness can lead to further secondary diseases. The functional capacity of the heart is the focus of attention and can be damaged. In particularly severe cases, the patient faces sudden death.
Prevention
The best and simplest way of prevention is to avoid the causes. A balanced diet, taking into account the nutrients required by the body, is the best prevention option against rabbit starvation. Warning signals from the body should also be taken seriously. If a craving for fatty or sweet foods occurs on a diet of lean meat, this should be interpreted as the first warning signal and the diet should be changed before further, more serious symptoms occur.
Follow-up
In most cases, no special or direct measures and options of aftercare are available to the person affected by rabbit starvation. As a rule, the measures are not really necessary, since the disease itself hardly occurs in modern times and therefore does not need to be treated. However, in rabbit starvation in general, early diagnosis and treatment of the disease always has a very positive effect on its further course. In this way, complications or further deterioration of the symptoms can be prevented. In most cases, rabbit starvation is treated by a proper change in diet. In this case, the doctor can provide the affected person with a restrictive diet plan, which must be followed in any case. In the case of children, especially the parents must properly implement this plan and also control the child while eating. As a rule, rabbit hunger can be completely treated in this way, so that there are no particular complications. If the disease has occurred over a long period of time, the internal organs may need to be examined and controlled. In this case, it is also often necessary to take various supplements, making sure that the dosage is correct and also that it is taken regularly.
This is what you can do yourself
Based on how rabbit hunger develops, the best form of self-treatment is a change in diet that provides sufficient calories and fat. For this, it is only necessary that the affected person eats a more or less balanced diet, and the amount of fat should be temporarily increased to regulate the metabolism and satisfy the craving for fat. There are also numerous remedies for the symptoms that may appear in the course of rabbit starvation. It is recommended to reduce movements to a minimum, because the body has little energy due to malnutrition.Bed rest helps against the dizziness. Due to the diarrhea, which is particularly frequent, a larger drinking quantity is recommended. It should also be noted that the pulse and blood pressure may drop sharply. Jerky standing up and similar movements should therefore be refrained from to protect against collapse. The change in diet usually only needs to last one to a few days for the body to recover. The diet should nevertheless not become a malnutrition again afterwards, but for the future attention should be paid to an adequate supply of fats and carbohydrates.