Ch23 - Rabbits Flashcards
Rabbits are particularly susceptible to what injury?
Broken back
At what age should rabbit kits be weaned?
5-8 weeks
What would NOT be considered appropriate EE for rabbits?
Hammocks
True or False: Rabbits frequently bite and should be handled with leather gloves
False (rabbits are relatively calm and nonaggressive)
True or False: Rabbits have a high flight response to fear.
True
What are 3 signs of sickness and stress in rabbits?
Lethargy, tooth grinding, anorexia (low appetite)
What would happen if a buck were placed in a doe’s cage?
The doe would attack the buck (and therefore not mate. for mating, place the doe in the buck’s cage)
What is the most common breed of rabbit used in research labs?
New Zealand White
How to rabbits thermoregulate?
Long, vascular ears allow for blood vessels to dilate and allow greater blood flow if overheating. The air circulating around the ears cools the blood as it flows through the ears and back into the body.
What is the scientific name for rabbits?
Oryctolagus cuniculus
True or False: When holding a rabbit by the scruff of the neck, its hindquarters should always be supported.
True
Female rabbits are known as ______ _______, meaning that they ovulate ___ - ___ hours after mating (don’t ovulate before mating)
induced ovulators; 10-12 hrs
What are 4 anatomical characteristics of lab rabbits?
Peg teeth (malocclusion), light skeleton, muscular hind limbs, long vascular ears
A male rabbit is called a ______ and a female is called a ______.
Male = buck, female = doe
What precaution should be taken when placing an ear tag on a rabbit?
Avoid the central ear artery
What is the best method to remove an aggressive rabbit from it’s cage?
Throw a drape (or 2) over the rabbit and scoop it out of the cage.
What are “peg teeth”?
a set of small incisors behind the upper front incisors
Why do rabbits ingest night feces?
To recycle protein, B vitamins, and water
One of the first things to check if a rabbit stops eating is the:
water supply
What is the ideal room temperature for rabbits that reduces shedding and the development of hairballs?
61 - 72 F
A rabbit’s skeleton makes up __% of its body weight.
8%
True or False: Female rabbits do not have a true estrous cycle.
True
True or False: Normal urine for the rabbit varies from clear, to red, to yellow.
True
True or False: when manually restraining a rabbit, failure to support the hindquarters and back can result in injury to the handler and the rabbit.
True
True or False: rabbits can be fed ad libitum because they rarely overeat.
False; they should be fed measured quantities of food once per day
What does it indicate when a rabbit stomps its feet?
The rabbit is unhappy
Name 2 edible enrichment items and 2 inedible enrichment items often given to rabbits
Edible: carrots, kale, broccoli, other veggies
Inedible: hard plastic balls, chains with metal pendants, nylon chew bones, chew blocks, and pineapple sticks
What is the best method to euthanize a rabbit?
Overdose of barbituates
Why should antibiotics only be given to rabbits sparingly?
Antibiotics may destroy the rabbit’s gut flora, which can be fatal
What is the term for the fold of skin under a female rabbit’s neck?
Dewlap
What item should be provided in the cage before a female gives birth?
A nestbox
