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NSF > Rabbits 2 > Flashcards

Rabbits 2 Flashcards

1
Q

When do rabbits reach sexual maturity?

A

16 weeks.
Small breeds - 4-5 months
Large breeds - 5-8 months
(Does slightly earlier than bucks)

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2
Q

What is the reproductive capacity of rabbits per year?

A

60 kits per year

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3
Q

What allows rabbits to have so many kits per year?

A

They can rebreed immediately after giving birth

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4
Q

What is the term given to rabbits when they give birth?

A

Kindling

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5
Q

What is the name given to a group of rabbits?

A

Fluffle

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6
Q

What kind of ovulators are rabbits?

A

Induced ovulators

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7
Q

When does ovulation occur in rabbits?

A

Around 10-13 hours after coitus

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8
Q

What is the gestation length of rabbits?

A

30-33 days (31 days average)

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9
Q

How long does parturition last in rabbits?

A

Around 30 minutes

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10
Q

Is dystocia common in rabbits?

A

No, there are rarely problems with dystocia

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11
Q

Describe the young of rabbits.

A

Young born altricial and require maternal care

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12
Q

How often are kits fed?

A

Once or twice daily for 3 - 5 minutes at a time

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13
Q

Describe the nutritional value of rabbit milk.

A

Rabbit milk has higher fat, protein and calorie content than other mammalian milk.
High nutritive value.

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14
Q

Describe the level of immunity and the origin of this in kits.

A

They are born with a good level of immunity. Maternal immunity is placental.
However, hand reared kits are prone to mortality due to lack of milk oil as it’s hard to replicate.

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15
Q

At what age do kits start to take solid food?

A

Day 18 - 21

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16
Q

What is the term used for female rabbits?

A

Doe

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17
Q

What is the term used for male rabbits?

A

Buck

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18
Q

When is the best time to sex rabbits?

A

Best sexed at weaning (5 - 8 weeks) or later

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19
Q

How can you sex rabbits?

A

Only female rabbits have nipples

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20
Q

Why is the presence of testicles not a reliable way to sex rabbits?

A

They can retract their testicles due to an open inguinal canal.

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21
Q

Describe the penis of a rabbit.

A

Penis sits within rounded penile sheath.
Can be extruded using gentle digital pressure from 2 months old.
No os penis.

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22
Q

What are the two hairless ‘pockets’ that can be seen either side of urogenital area in rabbits?

A

These are scent glands (male and female).
These often have hard/crusty material within them.

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23
Q

At what age will the testes descend into the scrotal sacs in rabbits?

A

Around 10-14 weeks

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24
Q

Where are scrotal sacs located in rabbits?

A

Scrotal sacs are found cranial to penis

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25
Q

What accessory sex glands do male rabbits have?

A

Seminal vesicles, prostate, paired bulbourethral glands

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26
Q

At what age can castration be carried out from in rabbits?

A

About 3 months of age.
(Make sure testes present in the scrotum)

27
Q

Why castrate rabbits?

A

Stop ability to breed
Easier litter training
Reduced aggression
Allows safe pair bonding with other rabbits of either sex

28
Q

Describe the uterus, vagina and cervix of a doe.

A

Duplex uterus
Large saccular vagina (thin walled)
Two cervices (left and right)

29
Q

Describe the mesometrium of a doe.

A

Stores fat
Houses blood vessels
This increases with age - challenging to neuter late

30
Q

Describe the uterus and ovarian pedicle in a doe and what this means when performing surgery.

A

It is friable so you have to be extremely gentle when handling it.

31
Q

What factors cause variation in size of the reproductive tract in does?

A

Depends on breed and point of cycle

32
Q

When can female rabbits be neutered from?

A

10-12 weeks but the uterus can be hard to find.
Waiting until 16-20 weeks means they are slightly larger.

33
Q

Is pseudopregnancy possible in rabbits and if so what is it caused by?

A

It is possible.
Stimulated by infertile mating or presence of a male.
Caused by secretion of progesterone from corpus luteum.

34
Q

What are the signs of pseudopregnancy in rabbits?

A

See enlarged mammary glands and abdomen.
May pluck belly and make a nest.

35
Q

Why spay female rabbits?

A

Negates risk or uterine pyometra or carcinoma.
Reduces risk of mammary tumours (uncommon but possible)
Reduces aggression and risk of fighting
Reduces phantom pregnancies
Population control

36
Q

At what weight does intubation become easier in rabbits?

A

1kg

37
Q

Describe the red blood cells of rabbits.

A

HCT 33-55%
RBCs smaller than canine but larger than feline.
Anisocytosis and polychromasia are normal on a smear.
RBC lifespan 57 days.

38
Q

Describe the white blood cells of rabbits.

A

Lymphocytes most common circulating leucocyte.
Neutrophils called heterophils as cytoplasm stains pink-red.
Eosinophils have a bilobed nucleus and bright pink staining granules.
(Can be difficult to distinguish these two cell types)

39
Q

What percentage of the rabbits body weight does the skeleton account for?

A

6-8%
The skeleton is very light and flexible

40
Q

Why might the lifestyle of a domestic rabbit make them prone to fractures and osteoporosis?

A

Low calcium diets.
Reduced exposure to sunlight (reduced vitamin D needed for calcium metabolism)
Lack of exercise
Handled a lot (potential to be dropped)

41
Q

What stance do rabbits have?

A

Plantar stance

42
Q

What is the vertebral formula of a rabbit?

A

C7, T12, L7, S4, Cd16 (variable)

43
Q

What muscles are particularly powerful in rabbits?

A

Powerful epaxial (either side of spine) and hindlimb muscles

44
Q

Describe the distal forelimb of a rabbit.

A

Tibia and fibula are partially fused

45
Q

How many digits are on the forelimb and hindlimb of rabbits?

A

5 digits on forelimb
4 digits on hindlimb
(At rest entire plantar aspect of hindlimb from toes to hock rests on ground)

46
Q

Describe the feet of rabbits.

A

No footpads
Furry feet

47
Q

Describe rabbit skin.

A

Really really thin
Incredibly elastic

48
Q

What are the three hair types of rabbits?

A

Long guard hairs
Short guard hairs
Undercoat

49
Q

What are the 4 fur types of rabbits?

A

Satin
Rex
Wool
Normal
(different proportions of hair types)

50
Q

What parts of the rabbits are hairless?

A

Nose, scrotum, inguinal area

51
Q

Describe the most of rabbits.

A

Have a twice yearly most - spring/autumn
Starts at head, travels down body.

52
Q

Is hair found in a rabbits stomach normal?

A

Yes, through self grooming however, can lead to problems if the GI tract motility is slow for any other reason

53
Q

What does the lack of footpads predispose rabbits to?

A

Ulcerative conditions -
Ulcerative pododermatitis
Generally exacerbated by hard cage surfaces and unhygienic conditions (feet getting wet).
More common in overweight animals or those with thin coat (rex).

54
Q

How many scent glands are found in rabbits?

A

3 sets of scent glands
Present in both sexes

55
Q

Where would you find the scent glands in rabbits?

A

Submental glands (chin)
Anal glands
Inguinal glands

56
Q

What does the term unipapillate mean when considering rabbit kidneys?

A

Single medullary pyramid (renal papilla and calyx)

57
Q

How does rabbit calcium absorption differ from that of most other mammals?

A

Rabbits absorb all available dietary calcium through the gut, and then deal with it by excretion via the kidney.

58
Q

How does the serum calcium concentration in rabbits compare to in most mammals?

A

Rabbits - 3.25 - 3.75 mmol/l
Most mammals - 1.25 -1.6 mmol/l

59
Q

How are dangerously high serum levels avoided in rabbits?

A

By the action of parathyroid hormones calcitonin and active vitamin D3.

60
Q

What happens once the reabsorptive capacity of a rabbits kidney is reached?

A

Forms calcium carbonate crystals in urine

61
Q

What is the normal colour of urine in rabbits?

A

Varies from pale yellow to dark red.
Usually cloudy to some extent (some calcium)
Colour is dietary dependent

62
Q

What is the effect of high levels of calcium in a rabbits diet on their urine?

A

Rabbits with high levels of calcium in diet produce thick creamy urine.
Can result in the development of urolithiasis.

63
Q

What is the urinary pH of rabbits?

A

8 - 9 (alkaline)

64
Q

What does the pH of rabbit urine predispose them to?

A

The formation of insoluble calcium precipitates in urine.
(Several husbandry factors feed into this)

NSF (8 decks)

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