Rabbit Nutrition

Question 1

How much of day spent eating?

Answer 1

70%

Question 2

Too many cereals can cause..

Answer 2

Enteritis

Not enough teeth wear down

Question 3

Fibre..

Answer 3

Need high fibre
Indigestible fibre e.g. grass/hay for intestinal health (gastro motility) and teeth wear
Digestible fibre for fatty acids - 50% of energy req.

Question 4

Calcium

Answer 4

Rabbits keep absorbing Ca, don’t provide too much

Question 5

P:Ca

Answer 5

1.5:1

Question 6

Causes of dental disease (4)

Answer 6

• Congenital/hereditary - born with skull abnormality
  e. g. Netherland Dwarf
• Accidents e.g fractured jaw
• Calcium/Vit.D deficiency (selective feeding/lack of sunlight)
• Lack of chewing/grinding (fibrous food e.g. hay)

Question 7

Consequences of malocclusions

Answer 7

• hooked on cage bars/wire (overgrown incisors)
• cheek abscesses (elongated crowns of molars)
  Elongated crowns on lower cheek teeth - spikes:
• anorexia/weight loss (not eating)
• excess salivation
• lacerated tongue
• flystrike

Question 8

Consequences of poor bone & tooth quality

Answer 8

• periodontal disease
• tooth fractures
• tooth rot abscesses
• nasolacrimal duct infection

Question 9

Grade 1 dental disease

Answer 9

Normal, healthy teeth

Question 10

Grade 2 dental disease

Answer 10

Early signs of disease, no clinical signs

Question 11

Grade 3 dental disease

Answer 11

Teeth start to grow out of alignment and become maloccluded

Overgrown crowns and hooks (can be trimmed but regrow)

Question 12

Grade 4 dental disease

Answer 12

Advanced

Roots affected, crowns break off

Question 13

Grade 5 dental disease

Answer 13

Infection, poor quality bone, abscesses

Poor prognosis for rabbit

Question 14

Treatment options

Answer 14

• Surgical removal of incisors
• Trimming of incisors and molars (Ev. 4-6wk)
• Provide sufficient Ca & Vit. D

Question 15

Gap where canine teeth usually are

Answer 15

Diastema

Question 16

Rate teeth grow

Answer 16

2-3mm/week

Question 17

Hay and grass should make up what % of diet?

Answer 17

80% min.

Question 18

Alfalfa hay

Answer 18

Should be avoided

High Ca content can lead to bladder stones or crystals

Question 19

Digestion of caecotrophs provides..

Answer 19

Vit. K & B

Question 20

Protein % for adult, neutered rabbits

Answer 20

12-17%

Question 21

Protein % for growing or lactating rabbits

Answer 21

18-19%

Question 22

Dried food should make up no more than…

Answer 22

5%

Question 23

Rabbits drink..

Answer 23

50-100ml/kg/day water

Question 24

Dehydration can result in

Answer 24

Gastro-intestinal stasis, urinary crystals, trichobezoars (hairballs)

Question 25

Rabbit tastebuds

Answer 25

approx. 17,000

Question 26

Fruits and carrots

Answer 26

High in sugar so only small amounts | High sugar can affect gut microflora (dysbiosis) because rabbits can't digest sugars effectively

Question 27

Fresh food (e.g. green leafy veggies) should make up..

Answer 27

15% DI

Question 28

Avoid feeding..

Answer 28

Raisins, corn cobs, peanuts | Choking hazard

Question 29

When altering diet..

Answer 29

Do it slowly | Gut flora sensitive to change, can cause severe diarrhoea

Question 30

Obese/overweight rabbits prone to

Answer 30

osteoarthritis, pododermatitis, heart disease, flystrike