Rabbits Flashcards
Rabbit genus species
Oryctolagus cunniculus
Rabbit order
Lagomorpha (not rodents!)
what are the main differences between rabbits and hares
hares have longer ears and more powerful legs
breed most used in research
new zealand white (albino, see vasculature v easily)
use of rabbits in research
produce antibodies for vaccines (bc large ear veins give more blood), human male reproductive toxicology, study of bronchial asthma, stroke prevent/treat, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis studies, drugs screening and testing
how many incisors rabbits have
6 (2 pair upper, 1 pair lower)
the 2nd set of upper incisors, located directly behind first set, are called
auxiliary incisors, PEG teeth, or wolf teeth
why rabbits are v difficult to intubate
large fleshy tongue, also way anatomy is
the vascularity of their pinna helps with
thermoregulation
why rabbits, especially females, are prone to dermatitis on chin area
prominent dewlaps, like a double chin
where rabbits ferment
hind gut fermenters, cecum
rabbits neutrophils are called ____
what do they look like?
hetrophils or psedo-neutrophils; lobulated nucleus and small red cytoplasmic granules (mistaken for eosinophils)
why we must be careful w rabbits (esp overweight rabbits) on wire cages
no foot pads, only hair
what are cecotropes and where are they made in body
large colon helps w production, aka night feces; eaten straight from anus in evening to regain water, nitrogen, electrolytes, and B vitamins
what kind of diet to feed to prevent trichobezoars and what are they?
high fiber diet (10% fiber, 15% protein), hair balls
rabbits prefer warmer or cooler temps? what temp range and humidity range?
cooler, 60-70 degrees, 30-70% humidity
high temps can cause
trichobezoars due to shedding
cages should be cleaned how often and why
daily, keep ammonia levels low
why we should avoid clay litter and wood shavings
may eat
rabbit urine is v (alkaline or acidic), what is its pH
alkaline, usu. >8 pH
what kind of crystals normal in rabbits
struvite and calcium carbonate
color of rabbit urine
dark brown-yellow (creamy w lot of protein)
how to sex
visualize penis or vulva (cannot use anogenital distance, also testicles may be retracted)
birthing is called ___ in rabbits, when do they usually birth
kindling, usu morning hours
when puberty usually occurs
5-6 months (dwarf species develop faster)
when puberty usually occurs in new zealand whites
F= 5 months
M=6-7 months
why we bring the doe to the buck when mating
females territorial during mating
rabbits are induced ovulators and ovulate __hours after coitus
10hr
rabbits have a ___ uterus
duplex uterus (no uterine body, 2 separate uterine horns, each opens into uterus separatley)
how long gestation
29-35 days
average litter size
4-12 kits
how often young nurse
few minutes a day (v concentrated milk, eat 20% of body weight in a few minutes)
what may cause pseudo pregnancy and how long it lasts
mounting by other does or stimulation from nearby males, lasts 15- 17 days)
when cannibalism of young typically occurs
1st litter or due to stress
does normally fight unless
males usually fight when?
introduces at young age
males fight during mating season (territorial)
why rabbits thump
warn of danger
list outbred stocks
new zealand white, california, dutch belted
what the watanabe hyperlipedemic strain was developed for
heart disease/ atherosclerosis studies (suseptible to high cholesterol and plaque build up in arteries)
what is the draize eye test
rabbit eyes v suseptible to irritation bc v low tear production to dillute out toxins, acute toxicity test done for safety determination
what is atherosclerosis
fatty material collects along walls of arteries, thickens/hardens to form calcium deposits (plaque), may block arteries
why we would feed high cholesterol/ high fat diets to rabbits in research
plaques form (artherosclerosis), also see hypertension
what is pasteruellosis, how is it spread
snuffles, bacterial gram neg cocobacillus, resp disease w internal abcesses, spread via direct contact or aerosol transmission
most common bacterial infection in rabbits
pasteruellosis (snuffles)
why we shouldnt house rabbits and guinea pigs together
pasteruellosis (snuffles) transmissible to guinea pigs (rabbits may be carriers)
signs of pasteruellosis (snuffles)
abcesses on neck and mammary glands, torticollis (head tilt), can die from bronchoneumonia
prolonged use of antibiotics can cause what in rabbits
fatal diarrhea
what is mucoid enteropathy and signs
usu affects young (7-10 wks), usu caused by e coli or clostridium spiroform, signs= constipation w mucous- water diarrhea, hypothermia, crouched, lethargy, rough hair coat
what typically causes mastitis in rabbits
poor sanitation, usu staph infection
what is tularemia, how transmitted
rabbit fever, usu of wild rabbits; transmitted by direct contact, bite wound, inhalation, ingestion, or vectors. zoonotic!
what tularemia causes in humans
lymphadenopathy
what is myxomatosis
virus transmitted via insect vector and direct contact, resorvoir in wild rabbits. cause conjunctivitis, fever
what is rabbit pox and signs, and how to prevent
viral disease, highly contagious, high mortality, signs= fever, rash, lacrimal nasal discharge. prevent w small pox vaccine
roundworms are what kind of parasite?
cestodes?
round worms= nematode
cestodes= tapeworms
causal agent of coccidiosis, how transmitted, and 2 types of coccidiosis
eimeria, transmitted via fecal oral route,
2 types= hepatic form and intestinal form
what is baylisascaris, what does it cause in rabbits?
raccoon roundworm, may cause visceral larval migrans in rabbits
