Aim To evaluate liver histological lesions of atherosclerosis animal models induced by high lipid diet in New Zealand White rabbits. Methods Normal male New Zealand White rabbits (n=14) were randomly divided into two groups: control group (n=6) and atherosclerosis group (n=8). Atherosclerosis was induced by high lipid diet (92% normal rabbit chow with 2% cholesterol and 6% lard). Rabbits were sacrificed at the end of week 10. Serum aminotransferase, lipid levels and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels were examined dynamically and morphology changes in ascending aortas and livers were observed. The intima-to-media (I/M) ratio of ascending aortas was also measured. Results The levels of serum aminotransferase, lipid and FPG levels in atherosclerosis group were significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the livers presented the pathology of hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis in atherosclerosis group, and ascending aortas showed typical atherosclerosis changes. The mean I/M ratio in ascending aortas of atherosclerosis group (1.13±0.32) was higher than control group (0.12±0.04, P<0.05). Conclusion High lipid diet can induce an ideal rabbit model of atherosclerosis, and also induce severity liver histological lesion, and may be a right method to create the rabbit model in researching the relationship between fatty liver and atherosclerosis.