Rabbit Care & Diseases Flashcards
What is the scienfitic name for the ‘Domestic rabbit’?
Oryctolagus cuniculis
How many pairs of the following do bunnies have in their UPPER dental arcade?
Incisors:
Premolars:
Molars:
Incisors: 2
Premolars: 3
Molars: 3
How many pairs of the following do bunnies have in their LOWER dental arcade?
Incisors:
Premolars:
Molars:
Incisors: 1
Premolars: 2
Molars: 3
What are the “extra” upper incisors called in rabbits and what is the purpose of these teeth?
peg teeth
they are used as an additional flat surface for cutting greens.
T/F: Rabbits have all open rooted teeth that grow continuously throughout their life at a very rapid pace
true
they grow 10-12 cm per year.
What is unique about the rabbits skeleton?
it is very lightweight
Their muscling is much stronger than their bones
Rabbits have 340 degree vision. Where can they NOT see?
their nose
T/F: rabbits are hindgut fermenters
true
T/F: rabbits have large lung volumes
false – small
T/F: rabbits are predators
false they are prey species
How does spaying/neutering bunnies reduce fighting?
Fighting is hormone-dependent; so if you get rid of the hormones through altering them, they fight less.
How does traumatic castration typically occur?
fighting males have a goal of ripping the others testicles out.
what is the typical lifespan of bunnies?
6-15 years
MUCH shorter in unspayed females (<6-7yr) d/t uterine adenocarcinoma
T/F: rabbits are induced ovulators
true
What is the gestation length in bunnies?
29-35 days
At what age do rabbits go through puberty?
females - 4-9 m
male - 6-10 m
How should you restrain bunnies?
in a towel – scoop up and put into bunny burrito
prevent them from kicking out and injuring themselves.
T/F: you can potty train a rabbit
false – they have “preferred bathroom areas” but they are NOT trainable.
Why do rabbits need heavy water dishes?
they pick things up and knock them over.
Rabbits are prone to heatstroke when exposed to temperatures above ____F
85
Rabbits are (High/Low) volume, (High/Low) extraction feeders.
Rabbits are high volume, low extraction feeders.
they have a very large volume GI tract
Describe the DIFFERENCE in day feces versus night feces
Day – high fiber, dry, hay (majority)
Night – high protein, low fiber, soft, brown, shiny; eaten directly from anus and critical for proper nutrition
Which portion of the GI tract of rabbits is referred to as the “pacemaker” of the system and thus should be completely avoided during surgery?
Fusi coli
If a rabbit is NOT eating their night feces, what could be the issue?
- diet may be too high in CHOs (too many pellets, not enough hay)
- rabbit may have arthritis and cannot reach
- rabbit may be obese and cannot reach
What kind of diet do rabbits require?
- High-fiber pellets (timothy-based)
- Timothy hay (free choice)
- Dark greens
Why should adult rabbits NOT be fed alfalfa based foods/hay regularly?
these diets are for GROWING kits only.
What are heterophils?
rabbits version of a neutrophil
they look a lot like eosinophils.
In a normal rabbit, what should the het:lymph ratio be?
3:7-5:5
(ie more LYMPHS than hets)
if acute infection, this ratio will reverse.
lymphopenia indicates stress or steroids
Describe the following about NORMAL rabbit urine:
Color:
Mineral content:
pH:
Color: yellow-white and turbid
Mineral content: calcium (CaCO3)
pH: 8.2 (alkaline, bc herbivores)