Rabbits Flashcards
What is the scientific name for rabbits?
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Lagomorphs
What were rabbits originally raised for?
1600’s for meat and fur
What is a female rabbit called?
Does
What is a male rabbit called?
Bucks
What are rabbit neonates called?
Kits
What is the general behaviour of rabbits
Gentle, quiet, and rarely bite. Generally timid and often submissive
T/F sexually mature rabbits are more likely to be aggressive than neutered?
TRUE
How soon after parturition can does re-breed?
24 hours
How many litters can rabbits have a year, and how often do they nurse?
11 litters a year. Typically only nurse once a day
Are rabbits born altricial or precocial?
Altricial. Born blind and hairless
What does it mean if a rabbit is rubbing its chin on objects?
They are marking their scent
T/F rabbits can vomit
FALSE. Rabbits cannot vomit
What should you never restrain a rabbit by?
Its ears
What is the dental formula for rabbits?
2x(I2/1, C0/0, PM 3/0, M3/3)
What is the term for eating feces for gut health?
Cecotophs
What kind of teeth do rabbits have?
Open rooted, grow continuously
Which rabbit bones are prone to fracture or luxation?
Lumbar spine & long bones due to high bone to muscle ratio
What is Cecotophs?
Eat night feces to help guy health. Often mucin coated
What should you be careful of with rabbits?
Can not leave anything in enclosure because they love to chew
T/F rabbits do well in heat
FALSE. Can get heat stress
Why should you not house rabbits together?
Will get aggressive and fight
What are rabbits typically made of?
Alfalfa or Timothy hay
Is Timothy hay or alfalfa preferred for rabbits?
Timothy hay. Has lower calcium levels
Why should you ration rabbit pellets
Hey will get fat and can mess up their teeth
How much does a rabbit consume in a day?
5% of body weight in dry food and 10% in water
Common respiratory disease in rabbits and symptoms
“snuffles” sneezing, conjunctivitis, mucopurulent discharge
Which strains cause the snuffles in rabbits?
Pasteurella multocida & Bordetella bronchisepitca
What are the common digestive diseases in rabbits?
Coccidia, Tyzzers disease, E.Coli, GI statis
What are the symptoms of Coccidia & who does it most commonly happen to?
Fulminant diarrhea presents
Occurs most commonly in juveniles kept in poor conditions or in high stress
What causes Tyzzer’s disease and who is it most common in?
Clostridium piliforme
Common in weanlings
What are the symptoms of E.Coli and who does it happen most commonly to?
Most commonly young rabbits. Yellow diarrhea
Which rabbit disease has a high mortality rate within ~48 hours?
E. Coli
Common GI stasis in rabbits
Reduced/no fecal output, decreased/no appetite, grinding teeth (bruxism), bloating, diarrhea, abdo pain when touched, hutched position, low body temp (cold ears or limbs)
Which diseases happen most commonly in rabbits?
GI statis & dental disease
What are the symptoms of ear mites in rabbits and what causes it?
Exudate and inflammation in the ear.
Symptoms: pruititis, head shaking, head tilt, stress
Caused by: Psoroptes cuniculi
Which strains causes a lot of issues in rabbits?
Pasteurella multocida
What are ear mites infestations most commonly referred to as?
“Ear mange” or “ear canker”
What is “venereal Spirochetosis”
Rabbits syphilis. “Vent disease”
Symptoms of Venereal Spirochetosis
Erythema and edema of prepuce, vulva, scrotum, perineum, or anus
Which diseases is called “blue fur disease” in rabbits?
Moist dermatitis
What causes moist dermatitis?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Makes fur have a blue/green pigment
Where is moist dermatitis commonly seen?
Perineal area from urine or diarrhea scalding “hutch burn”
Around face, neck. dewlap
Why do you commonly see moist dermatitis around a rabbits face or ears?
Continual moistening of fur/skin from water bowl
“Slobbers”
Who most commonly gets mastitis?
Lactating does
What causes mastitis in rabbits?
Staphylococcus aureus
Streoptococci
Pasteurella
What is a zoonotic disease of importance with rabbits?
Ringworm
Cheyletiella parasitovorax
Salmonellosis
rabies
What is Dermatophytosis?
ringworm
What does ringworm typically look like?
Red raised lesion around head and ears
How do you diagnose ringworm?
Skin scrape or DTM
What are the most common causes of ringworm?
Marginal husbandry, poor nutrition, over crowding, excessive heat, pregnancy, youth/old age
Which ectoparasites is commonly seen in rabbits?
Cheyletiella parasitovorax
What disease is called “walking dandruff” in rabbits?
Cheyletiella parasitovorax
What are the symptoms of Cheyletiella parasitovorax?
White flakes that are visible to the human eye. +/- mild lesions
How do you diagnose Salmonellosis in rabbits?
Culture of blood, feces, bile, lymph nodes, or effected organs
T/F euthanasia should be considered if a rabbit has Salmonellosis?
True
Is there a rabies vaccine for rabbits?
No :(
What can cause traumatic vertebral subluxation or fractures in rabbits?
Restraint, improper handling, sudden jumping
What causes ulcerative pododermatitis in rabbits?
Poor sanitation, foot stomping, excessive environmental moisture, wire bottomed cages
What dental issue is common for rabbits?
Malocclusion of teeth due to overgrowth
What are the standard vaccines for rabbits?
None
When is it recommended to spay a female rabbit?
5 months
How should a rabbit be brought into the hospital?
Secure carrier
What can be dangerous about restraining a rabbit?
Improper restraint or handling can lead to injury of both handler and pet
What restraint technique is recommended for rabbits?
Scruffing, one hand scruffs and the other supports body & hind quarters
What should you never allow a rabbit to do when putting away?
Do NOT allow rabbits to jump from your arms when returning to a cage or surface
Can hurt themselves
Where can you place an IV catheter in rabbits?
Marginal ear veins
Cephalic veins
Lateral saphenous
Which vein is most commonly used in rabbits?
Marginal ear vein
How can you obtain a urinalysis from a rabbit?
Usually collected from clean cage pan
Catheterization
cystocentesis
T/F you cannot do fecals on rabbits
FALSE. Testing can be done to check for internal parasites
How can you give meds to rabbits?
IV, SQ, IP, IM, IO
Where can you give IV meds in rabbits?
Marginal ear veins
Cephalic
saphenous
How much IV meds can you give a rabbit per site, and what should you be cautious of?
Up to 5ml fluid
CAUTION of central auricular artery
How much fluids can you give SQ in a rabbit, and where can you give it?
Intrascauplar region
10-20 MLS
Where can you give IP injections in rabbtis
Rarely used
Can give slightly right of abdomen, caudal to umbilicus
Where can you give IM injection in rabbits and what do you need to be cautious of?
Restraint similar to exam restraint
Lumbar muscles and quads
(CAUTION sciatic nerve)
When do you give IO injections to rabbits?
Indicated in situations where IV is not possible and delay may effect survival of rabbit
How do you determine sex of a rabbit?
Dewlap present = female
Vulva is located directly below anus
Ensheathed penis is located directly below anus (similar to cats)
Obvious testes present
What sex is this rabbit?
Male. Has circular hole vs slit
What sex is this rabbit?
Female. Has slit vs circular hole
T/F it is normal for rabbits to have cloudy or mucus urine
TRUE
What causes GI statis in rabbits?
Poor diet (most common), stress, dental disease
How does diet effect GI statis in rabbits?
Should have constant access to high quality hay. Diet should be ~25% fibers. Low fiber and high carb diets can alter bacteria in GI tract and causes decreased muscle contractions in the intestines, leading to delayed food movement
What is ileus?
Decreased food movement in GI tract
How can dental disease effect GI stasis?
Improper alignment of rabbits teeth can cause poor digestion & make swallowing appropriate amounts of food difficult
How do you treat GI statis
Pain meds, fluids, gas & force feed. Get GI tract moving & pain meds. Most rabbits can heal
How can you treat overgrown teeth in rabbits?
Gas & cut teeth with Dremel. Do not use nail clippers or scissors, can split tooth
How do you diagnose GI statis in rabbits?
Diet history (any changes in diet), recent medication hx, most recent bowel movement, when they last ate, behavioural changes
What questions are important to ask rabbit owners?
Signalment, how they were acquired & how long ago (pet store, breeder), housing, environment, diet, animal specific
What questions should you ask about rabbit housing?
Cage type, flooring substrate, exercise amount & frequency, frequency of of cage cleaning
What questions should you ask about environment for rabbits?
Other animals in the house? Indoor, outdoors? Protential environmental hazards
What questions should you ask about diet for rabbits?
Type of food (hay, pellets, fresh foods)
Amount offered and amount eaten. When they ate last
What questions should you ask about the rabbit patient?
Changes in feces/urine, changes in appetite or diet preference, changes in behaviour, coughing/sneezing/nasal discharge.
Any meds (including herbal & supplements)
