rabbits Flashcards
what is the body temp
38.5-39.5
what is the pulse rate
180-220 beats per min
how do rabbits deal with thermoregulation
rabbits are very sensitive to heat
cannot sweat
burrow or stretch out to cool down
ears are essential to aid heat dispersion
prone to hypothermia post anaesthesia
list the characteristics of a rabbits ears 7 marks
long and curved
used for communication
used for air conditioning or as radiators
main IV access
IV cannula placements can be used for fluid therapy, IV medications, blood samples
list 4 areas to blood sample
lateral ear vein
cephalic vein
saphenous
jugular vein
list to IM injection sites
dorsal lumbar
quadriceps
list characteristics of the skeletal system of a rabbit 10marks
rabbits are prone to fractures of the spine and hind limb
mandible is narrower than maxilla
C7 T12-13 L7 S4 Cd16
C vertebrae is mobile and box like
T vertebrae has 12 paired ribs
in the hindlimb the fibula is half the length of the tibia and is fused with it as well as radius and ulna
rabbits have an accessory bone called os acetabuli which helps form the acetabulum (socket hip joint) along with the ischium and ilium
rabbits have 5 digits in the forelimb and 4 digits in the hindlimb
respiratory system in rabbits 6
obligate nose breathers
nose twitched 20-120 times pm
large immobile tongues makes small glottis hard to visualise
thoracic cavity is small
breathing mainly involved the diaphragm
lungs have 3 lobes
digestive system in rabbits (teeth only)
I 2/1 C0/0 PM3/2 M3/3
2 peg teeth behind the upper incisors
all teeth are open rooted
wear down by lateral movement of the mandible
incisors/ premolars and peg teeth are present at birth
no canines instead a diastema
incisors are used for cutting grass
PM and M are cheek teeth and used to grind vegetable material
digestive system in rabbits 13 marks
rabbits are herbivores
hingut fermenters
large intestine for breakdown of plant material
digestive system allows for rapid gut transit
GI long
stomach is never empty
the duodenum and ileum are long and have a small lumen
ileum terminated at the caecum at the sacculus rotundus
the large intestine which is a well developed hind gut consists of the caecum and colon
the caecum is the largest organ in the abdominal cavity
the caecum is blind ended, thin walled, sacculated and coiled around organs
the colon has a proximal colon which is 50cm and a longer distal colon which is 90 cm
rabbits carry out caecotrophy
how does the process of caecotrophy take place 6 marks
- food accumulates in the proximal colon and reverses into the caecum
- bacterial and microbial fermentation occurs
- breaking down the tough cellulose and hemicellulose walls of the plant material
- the larger fibre particles which wouldn’t be digested adequately in the caecum are selected by the proximal colon and pass out of the gut as the caecotrophs pellet
- this is re eaten directly and undergo a second digestion process
- caecotrophs are covered in mucus to form a protection from the acidic stomach and then are broken down as far as possible to become a dry faecal pellet
how are hard faeces formed
- mechanical separation on proximal colon separates ingesta into solid indigestible particles and liquid contents
- faecal pellets pass down lumen and more water absorbed from it
- liquid fraction returned to the caecum by antiperistalsis for further fermentation
how many loves does the liver have and what is the bile pigment called
4 lobes
biliverdin
the male reproductive system 5 marks
almost hairless scrotum sacs which lie cranial to penis
scrotum lies caudal to testicles
inguinal canal remains open
no os penis
no nipples
the female reproductive system 6 marks
ovaries are elongated
oviducts are coiled and long
tract is bicornuate- has two separate uterine horns to hold litters of young
each horn has its own cervix ( d and c have 1 cervix)
4-5 pairs of nipples
induced ovulator (d is spontaneous, c is induced)
how to house rabbits
keep in groups of two or more
multi sexed groups both neutered
regular cleaning
large enclosure
run
state the nutrition for rabbits
herbivores
indigestible fibre is essential
fibre should make up most of the diet
hay and grass - high in fibre 85% , helps aid GI mobility and ensures sufficient dental wear, freshly cut grass should never be fed
greens 10% feed in moderation, leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, cabbage
commercial pellets 5% diet
not museli
rich in vitamins and minerals
1 egg cup per day per kg of body weight
how to handle an aggressive rabbit
caught and held initially by the scruff with one hand and the other supporting the back and hind legs. burrito the bunny in a towel
how to handle a docile rabbit
one hand should be placed under the thorax, securing the front legs with the thin band first two fingers scooping the rest of the hand around the chest, the other hand should support the hind legs to secure the back. the rabbit should then be held close to the handlers chest to minimise movement
what are the housing requirements 9
rabbit should be able to hop 3 times without touching side of cage, rabbit should be able to stand on hind legs without touching top of cage, must be a sleeping area, toilet area, and a feeding area
should have a run attached to cage
hay and straw as bedding material
room temp should not exceed 26 degrees
feeding and water bowl should be ceramic or metal
ball drip water bowl
pair in groups to live
clean cage every day
enrichment to express normal behaviours
solid floor and walls
what is the risk if rabbits don’t eat for longer than 12 hrs
go into gut stasis
what nursing intervention can be carried out to ensure a rabbit doesn’t go into gut status and how to carry out
provide the rabbit with food via a syringe or tube using a slurry of rabbit food or using a specific recovery diet for rabbits
thick mixture 1:1 minimum amount should be 10mins per kg every 4 hrs 5x a day
how much protein should a rabbit have in the diet
12-18%
how much fat should a rabbit have in the diet
2-4%
how water intake do rabbits have per kg per day
50-100ml/kg/day
