What is "rabbit starvation"

n. A form of acute malnutrition caused by excess consumption of any lean meat (such as rabbit), coupled with a lack of nutrients and usually other stressors such as a cold or dry environment.

Rabbit starvation, also referred to as protein poisoning, mal de caribou, or fat starvation, is a rare form of acute malnutrition thought to be caused by a complete absence of fat.

Excess protein is sometimes cited as the cause of this issue; when meat and fat are consumed in the correct ratio, such as that found in pemmican (which is 50% fat by weight), the diet is considered nutritionally complete and can support humans for months or more. Other stressors, such as severe cold or a dry environment, may intensify symptoms or decrease time to onset. Symptoms include diarrhea, headache, fatigue, low blood pressure, slow heart rate, and a vague discomfort and hunger (very similar to a food craving) that can be satisfied only by the consumption of fat.

Rabbit meat is very lean. Commercial rabbit meat has 50–100 g dissectable fat per 2 kg (live weight). Based on a carcass yield of 60%, rabbit meat is around 8.3% fat. For comparison, in terms of carcass composition, beef and pork are 32% fat and lamb 28%.