Rabbits Flashcards
Classification
Order: Lagomorpha
Species: Oryctolagus
Genera: Lepus (hares) and Sylvilagus (cotton tails)
Characteristics
Coprophagous (cecotrophs- night feces consumed)
Rarely bite
Light skeleton and prone to fractures
Unable to vomit
Ears
Highly vascular and serve as heat regulation, sound gathering, and detecting predators
Heart
AV heart valves are bicuspid for both ventricular chambers
Estrus
Induced ovulators
Have 1-2 days of loss of receptivity every cycle
Kindling
Parturition in rabbits
Reproduction
Gestation: 28-36 days
Litter size: 4-10 (7-8 ave)
# of litters: 4-5 litters per year
Pseudopregnancy: 15-17 days (common)
Weaning age
4-8 weeks (nurses young only once a day)
Lifespan
5-15 years depending on the breed
Recommended husbandry
Temp: 61-72
Humidity: 50-60%
Light: 14 hours per day
Blood sampling
Marginal ear veins, central artery of the ear, heart, saphenous vein, jugular vein (sedate)
What enzyme do rabbits have in their system?
Atropine esterase enzyme in their serum to degrade the atropine into inactive products
Uses in research
Embryology, reproductive studies, eye research, antibody production
Names
Females: does
Males: Bucks
Neonates= Kits
_______ is a sign of stress/ warning
Thumping
Nutrition
Herbivores
High fiber pelleted diet
High calcium content diet
Diets too high or low in vitamin A
Reproductive dysfunction
Congenital hydrocephalus
Signs of illness
Teeth grinding, orbital tightening, pale eyes, perineal staining (diarrhea), etc.
Anorexia
Dental disease
Trichobezar (hairball)
Metabolic disease
Toxicity (lead poisoning)
Dehydration
Diarrhea
Inadequate dietary fiber
Coccidiosis (intestinal parasite)
Enterotoxemia (C. spiroforme)
C. piliforme (Tyzzer’s disease)
Encephalitozoonosis
Encephalitozoon cuniculi
Zoonotic
Transmitted via direct contact, environmental contamination, urine and vertical transmission
Treatment ofEncephalitozoonosis
Fendendazole
Ear mites
Psorptes cuniculi, nonburrowing mite, pruritic
Diagnosed by mites under dissecting scope
Treatment of ear mites
Clean ears to remove exudate
3% rotenone in mineral oil
Ivermectin
Selamectin
Eprinomectin
P. multocida
Causes head tilts/ abscess
Common cause of upper resp. disease (Snuffles)
Treat with antibiotics (fluorquinolones, tetracycline, doxycycline, florfenicol)
Cheyletiella spp. (MITES)
Non-burrowing skin mites and nonpruitic
Causes hair loss
Treat with selamectin, ivermectin and environmental sanitation
Dermatophytosis
Tricophyton mentagrphytes (ring worm)
Zoonotic and causes hairloss
Diagnosed with fungal culture (gold standard)
Treatment for Dermatophytosis
Self limiting in immunocompetent animals
Systemic: griseofulvin
Sarcoptic Mange
Sarcoptes scabiei
Burrowing mite, worldwide, pruritic, hair loss
Diagnosed by skin scarping
Treatment for Sarcoptic mange
Ivermectin and selamectin
What are other causes of hair loss?
Barbering (dewlap)
Urine scald (inguinal area, obese and aged)
Generalized Psoroptes (mite infection on feet)
Posterior paresis/ paralysis
Traumatic vertebral fracture (acute onset)
Encephalitozoonosis
CNS bacterial infection from P. Multocida
Hematuria
Uterine hyperplasia or neoplasia
Urolithiasis
Bleeding from rectal papillomas
Hypersalivation
Dental disease/overgrown teeth
Oral foreign body
Nasal discharge
Treponema cuniculi (rabbit syphilis)
Bacterial rhinitis (P. multocida)
Self trauma
Stressed animals may perform self multilation
Improper IM injection
Ulcerative pododermatitis
Sore hocks
Secondary to cage floor
Common in obese animals
Urine scald
Injection sites
SC: flank, scuff
IM: epaxial/ quads
IV: marginal (ear) vein
Repeat blood collection attempts may lead to ___________
Hematomas
IV Catheter
Marginal ear vein
Cephalic vein
Use aseptic technique
Sedation/ Anesthesia
Ketamine cocktails (injectable)
Acepromazine, dexmedetomidine, midazolam/ glycopyrrolate (premed) , propofol (induction), telazol
Opiods
May causes ileus
Buprenorphine HCL or SR, morphine
NSAIDS
Use low en of dose
Meloxicam, carprofen, ketoprofen
