Rabbits and Ferrets

Question 1

Steps to sex a rabbit.

Answer 1

1. Part fur above genitals to see them more clearly.
2. Apply gentle pressure and the penis emerges if a male rabbit, and slit-like opening on the vulva if a female rabbit.
3. The anus sits at the lowest point below the genitals and is separate from them in males and the vagina and anus are immediately next to each other in females.

Question 2

Describe Dutch rabbit.

Answer 2

Medium sized rabbit with prominent black and white or brown and white banding.

Question 3

Describe English Spot rabbit.
Genetic predisposition to what condition?

Answer 3

Medium/large rabbit with dark pointes around nose, ears and around the eyes, and dark stripe down top of back from head to tail.

Predisposed to megacolon.

Question 4

Describe Dwarf lop rabbit.
What diseases are they predisposed to?

Answer 4

Small/medium sized rabbit with lop ears and brachycephalic features.

Predisposed to dental and ear disease due to conformation.

Question 5

Describe English lop rabbit.
What condition are they predisposed to and why?

Answer 5

Large rabbit with large lopped ears.

Predisposed to ‘diamond eye’ where the skin of the lower lid folds downwards and exposes the eye more than it otherwise would be. This is due to loose facial skin.

Question 6

Describe Belgian hare.

Answer 6

Large breed rabbit with long limbs and upright ears.

Question 7

Describe Lionhead rabbit.
What issues are they predisposed to and what is the likely reason for this?

Answer 7

Small/medium breed rabbit with long, fine fur around face and neck with brachycephalic features underneath.

Predisposed to GI issues, like due to ingestion of hair during grooming.

Question 8

Describe Angora rabbit.
Requirements?

Answer 8

medium rabbit with long, fine fur over most of body surface.
Require a lot of coat maintenance or regular clipping of fur to avoid matting.

Question 9

Describe Netherland dwarf rabbit.
Predisposed to what issues?

Answer 9

Small rabbit with brachycephalic features and short upright ears.
Dental issues due to brachycephaly.

Question 10

Describe Flemish Giant rabbit.
Weight range?
Prone to what issues and why?

Answer 10

Large rabbit with large upright ears.
6-12kg.
Spinal pathologies because of long backs.

Question 11

Describe Rex rabbit.
Predisposed to what issue and why?

Answer 11

Medium rabbit with short plush fur.
Predisposed to pododermatitis lesions due to very fine fur on plantar aspect of hindlimbs.

Question 12

Describe New Zealand White rabbit.
What establishment type most often use them?

Answer 12

Large breed rabbit with white fur.
Laboratories.

Question 13

What type of diet are rabbits designed for?
What do wild rabbits predominantly eat?
What were rabbits historically reared for?
–What diet were they fed as a result?
What does an inappropriate diet lead to?
An overproduction of what can be seen if the diet is too high in sugar?

Answer 13

Low nutrient and high fibre.
Grasses and wild herbs.
Historically reared for meat.
Higher protein diet for rapid growth.
Lead to poor dental and gastrointestinal health.
Overproduction of caecotrophs.

Question 14

Why is crown replacement so important in the rabbit?

Answer 14

To replace tooth surface that is worn down by the fibrous diet, so the rabbit can continue to eat and not die of starvation.

Question 15

What is the typical lifespan of rabbits?
At what age are farmed rabbits slaughtered?

Answer 15

5-10 years.
Slaughter at 8-12 weeks.

Question 16

What percentages of each food tyoe are aimed for for a good rabbit diet?

Answer 16

85% long fibre – good hay and fresh grass.
10% greens, plants, herbs.
5% complete pellets as a supplement.

Question 17

What method of water provision is more likely to encourage a rabbit to drink the amount of water they should?

Answer 17

Bowl rather than a bottle.

Question 18

What is the most stable pairing for housed rabbits?

Answer 18

Neutered buck and neutered doe.

Question 19

What is the issue with male/male pairing?

What is the issue with female/female pairings?

Answer 19

Likely to break down as they reach maturity, resulting in significant injury due to fighting.

Can be unstable during the breeding season due to hormonal surges.

Question 20

Should rabbits and guinea pigs be housed together?
What disease risk is associated with housing rabbits and guinea pigs together?

Answer 20

No – they are different species with different origins, different dietary requirements and behaviours.
Rabbits often carry bacteria Bordetella asymptomatically but can pass on to guinea pigs and cause significant respiratory disease.

Question 21

What is the guideline of minimum space that should be provided for a rabbit housed outdoors?
What should be provided for rabbits in an outdoor enclosure?

Answer 21

3mx2mx1m single enclosed area.
Multiple enclosed hides, shelter from direct sunlight and draughts, access to grass and space to exercise.

Question 22

What is the guideline of minimum space to be provided to a rabbit housed indoors?
What considerations must be made for an indoor rabbit?

Answer 22

3mx2mx1m single enclosed area.
Ensure wires are rabbit-proofed, ensure plants are non-toxic to rabbits and consider training rabbit to use litter trays and cat flaps.

Question 23

At what temperature will a rabbit develop heat stroke?
What is the ideal ambient temperature fir a rabbit?
Why don’t rabbits tolerate higher temperatures well?

Answer 23

Above 27 degrees C.
Ideal is ~20C.
Only have sweat glands on lips and pant very ineffectively.

Question 24

How often will an unneutered female rabbit come into season?
What is a common behaviour for unneutered rabbits?
What does crepuscular mean?

Answer 24

Every 2-3 weeks.
Territorial marking.
Crepuscular = active at dusk and dawn.

Question 25

What is a common behaviour for a relaxed, happy rabbit with enough space?

Answer 25

"binkying"

Question 26

What are the main diseases to vaccinate rabbits against? How often are these vaccines given? What should rabbits be checked daily for evidence of?

Answer 26

Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD). Given annually. Check daily for fly strike.

Question 27

At what point do ferrets reach sexual maturity? When do the testicles become more prominent in male ferrets? At what point of the year should ferrets ideally be castrated or vasectomised?

Answer 27

During the first or second Spring following their birth dependent on point of birth. Spring. Spring.

Question 28

What occurs to the genitals of a female ferret when in season, why does this occur, and how long can it last? When does oestrus usually start in ferret females? How do you differentiate between male and female ferrets?

Answer 28

Vulva significantly enlarges, due to surge of oestrogen, lasts for a few weeks. February and March. Use anogenital distance to differentiate between males and females.

Question 29

What can occur if an entire female ferret is not mated and why?

Answer 29

They stay in oestrus which leads to the development of anaemia and is life threatening as they are induce ovulators and need to be brought out of oestrus by mating.

Question 30

What should be done to stop entire female ferrets facing health issues by not being brought out of oestrus?

Answer 30

If in breeding pair, it's ok because they will mate anyway. If you do not want a pregnancy, vasectomise male and mate him with jill. Ovariohysterectomy -- but can cause problems later in life. Proligestone (Delvosterone) injection. Deslorelin (Suprelorin) implant.

Question 31

Describe Polecat ferret.

Answer 31

Lighter mask marking around eyes and darker for rest of coat.

Question 32

Describe Dark Polecat ferret.

Answer 32

Lighter mask around eyes and darker rest of body but generally darker overall.

Question 33

Describe albino ferret.

Answer 33

White all over and lacking pigment in the eyes.

Question 34

Describe Black/Dark Eyed White ferret.

Answer 34

Similar to Albino but with darker features.

Question 35

Describe sandy ferret.

Answer 35

Sand-coloured fur.

Question 36

Are ferrets herbivores, omnivores or carnivores? Why is it important to feed a ferret ad lib? How does the digestive tract of a ferret differ from that of a rabbit?

Answer 36

Carnivores. They need food available all the time to maintain blood glucose at stable level as blood glucose can drop relatively quickly with periods of starvation. Ferrets have a short digestive tract but rabbits have long digestive tracts.

Question 37

What methods are there for feeding ferrets?

Answer 37

1. Whole carcass. 2. Complete dry diet.

Question 38

What diets should be avoided for ferrets and why?

Answer 38

Cat diets should be avoided because they contain bulking agents that are not good for ferrets.

Question 39

What are considerations to make for ferret housing (security, air quality, temperature, hygiene, enrichments)?

Answer 39

Safe, secure and escape-proof. Good ventilation. Not in direct sunlight, waterproof, raised off ground. Easy to clean. Provide nest boxes/tubes/hammocks.

Question 40

At what temperature do ferrets overheat?

Answer 40

over 30C

Question 41

Considerations for ferrets housed inside.

Answer 41

Have enclosure for when unsupervised. Good ventilation Escape-proof. Provide nest boxes/tubes/hammocks. Can litter-train them.

Question 42

What materials can be used for ferret bedding? How often should the ferret litter tray/latrine be cleaned? What should housing be checked for if feeding whole carcasses or fresh meat to a ferret?

Answer 42

Good quality hay/straw, shredded paper/newspaper. At least once daily. Food stashes should be checked for.

Question 43

What causes ferrets to smell? What can be done to reduce the smell?

Answer 43

Well-developed anal sacs and musky oils from glands throughout the skin. Neuter/GnRH agonist injection. Feed an appropriate ferret diet. Bath less and wash bedding more.

Question 44

What behaviours are increased in entire males that live together when they are coming into breeding season? What can be done to reduce this? What can be done at an early age to reduce biting?

Answer 44

Aggression and fighting. Castration or hormonal implant. Handle at early age.

Question 45

How can food be used as enrichment?

Answer 45

Hide food in toys or boxes. Scatter feed. Can provide occasional treats of raw eggs and raw bone.

Question 46

What can ferrets be vaccinated against? Risk of one of these? What type of virus are ferrets susceptible to?

Answer 46

Distemper -- none licensed in UK for ferrets so use dog one -- Risk of anaphylaxis. Rabies vaccination for overseas travel. Susceptible to human cold/flu viruses.