Rabbits Flashcards
How do rabbits thermoregulate?
They cannot sweat.
They burrow or stretch out to cool down.
Ears are essential to aid heat dispersion.
What is a rabbits body temperature?
38.5-39.5*C
What is a rabbits pulse rate?
180-220 beats/min
What is a rabbits respiratory rate?
35-60 breaths/min
What are a rabbits ears useful for?
Communication.
Thermoregulation - cool down/heat up.
What is a rabbits potential blood sample sites?
Lateral ear vein.
Cephalic vein.
Saphenous vein.
Jugular vein.
What are a rabbits intramuscular injection sites?
Dorsal lumbar.
Quadriceps.
Where is the main IV access in rabbits and what is it used for?
The ears.
Fluid therapy, IV medications, Blood samples.
Rabbit Skeletal System
How much of the overall body weight is taken up by the skeletal system?
7-8%
Rabbit Skeletal System
What is the vertebral column?
C7, T12-13, L7, S4, CD16
Rabbit Skeletal System
What are some attributes of the vertebral column?
Cervical vertebrae appears mobile/box like.
Thoracic vertebrae have 12 paired ribs.
Rabbit Skeletal System
Explain the formation of the forelimb.
Radius and ulna are fused.
Rabbit Skeletal System
Explain the formation of the hindlimb.
Fibula is half the length of the tibia and is fused with it.
Rabbit Skeletal System
What is the accessory bone called that is unique to rabbits and what is it used for?
Os acetabuli.
Helps form the acetabulum (socket hip joint) along with the ischium and ilium.
Do rabbits have footpads?
No
Rabbit Skeletal System
How many digits do the fore and hind limbs have?
Fore = 5 digits
Hind = 4 digits
Rabbit Respiratory System
What extremity do rabbits breathe through?
Obligate nasal breathers.
Rabbit Respiratory System
How often does the nose twitch?
20-120 times per minute
Rabbit Respiratory System
Describe some attributes of the respiratory system.
Large immobile tongue makes glottis hard to visualise.
Thoracic cavity is small.
Breathing mainly involves the diaphragm.
Lungs have 3 lobes.
What do rabbits possess on their chins?
Submandibular chin glands to mark territory and mark their young.
Rabbit Dental
What is the dental formula?
I2/1, C0/0, PM3/2, M3/3 x2 = 28 teeth
Rabbit Dental
What teeth are present at birth?
Incisors, premolars, peg teeth
Rabbit Dental
Explain some attributes of a rabbits dentition.
All teeth are open rooted and grow continually throughout life.
Wear is kept down by lateral movement of the mandible.
No canines - diastema instead.
Rabbit Dental
What are the incisors used for?
Cutting grass
Rabbit Dental
What are the cheek teeth used for?
Grind vegetable material
Rabbit Nutrition
What diet do rabbits have?
Herbivores
Hind gut fermenters.
Rabbit Nutrition
What times of the day are rabbits fed?
Dawn and dusk
Rabbit Nutrition
What is included in a rabbits diet?
Indigestible fibre essential.
85% - hay/grass - aids gastrointestinal mobility and ensures sufficient dental wear.
10% - greens/veg/herbs - cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, parsley.
5% - commercial pellets - rich in vitamins and minerals.
Rabbit Nutrition
What is the RSPCA guideline regarding how much commercial pellet food should be given?
1 egg cup/day per kg of body weight
Rabbit Digestive System
What are the main attributes of the digestive system? (5 points)
Hind gut fermenters.
Large intestine is the main chamber for breakdown of planet material.
Allows for rapid gut transit.
Digestive tract relatively long.
Stomach never truly empties.
Rabbit Digestive System
Explain the attributes of the small intestine.
Duodenum and Ileum are long and have a small lumen.
Ileum terminated at the caecum at the sacculus rotundus.
Rabbit Digestive System
Explain the attributes of the large intestine - caecum.
Caecum is the longest organ in the abdominal cavity.
Lies to the right hand side.
Blind ended, thin-walled, sacculated (rounded), coiled around other organs.
Folds in on itself 3 times.
Rabbit Digestive System
State the sizes of the large intestine - colon.
Proximal colon - 50cm
Longer distal colon - 90cm
Rabbit Digestive System
Explain the attributes of the liver.
Has 4 lobes.
Bile pigment called biliverdin.
Rabbit Urinary System
Why do rabbits pass large amounts of urine?
They are thirsty animals and less able to concentrate their urine.
Rabbit Urinary System
What colour is rabbits urine?
Cream colour - varies from yellow to red
Rabbit Urinary System
What is the main route of calcium excretion?
The kidneys
Rabbit Reproductive System
Explain the attributes of the male reproductive system.
2 testes - contained in hairless scrotal sacs, cranial to the penis.
Testes descend around 12 weeks.
No Os penis.
No nipples.
Rabbit Reproductive System
Explain the attributes of the female reproductive system.
Ovaries elongated.
Oviducts coiled and long.
Reproductive tract bicornuate - has 2 separate uterine horns to hold litters of young.
Each horn has its own cervix opening to the vagina.
4-5 pairs of nipples.
What age does caecatrophy start in rabbits?
2-3 weeks of age.
Rabbit Housing
What is the minimum housing size requirements?
3m x 2m x 1m
Be able to lie stretched out and hope at least 3 times in hutch.
Rabbit Housing
What should the enclosure be made out of?
Wooden/plastic hutch with wire mesh sides.
Solid bottom and roof for protection against predators.
Sleeping area should have solid walls too for protection against draughts.
Rabbit Housing
What is a suitable bedding substrate?
Newspaper for lining and absorption of urine.
Wood shavings.
Straw or hay.
Peat for digging.
Rabbit Housing
What should be included within the enclosure?
Hides so they can feel safe.
- Tunnels
- Cardboard boxes
- low stools
One hiding place for each rabbit with multiple exits.
Rabbit Housing
What enrichment can be included?
Willow balls, puzzle feeders, tunnels, dig boxes, snuffle mats.
Scatter feeding and hay balls.
Rabbit Housing
What is the preferred temperature range for rabbits?
Cooler temperatures.
Minimum temp - 4*C.
Rabbit Veterinary Housing
What are the requirements when housing a rabbit in a veterinary practice?
Separate accommodation, away from cats/dogs to reduce stress.
Provide a hide, e.g., their carrier or cardboard box.
Place a blanket over the enclosure to reduce stress/make them feel safe.
Temperature is appropriate to prevent hypothermia in practice.
