Rabbits

kits

Born hairless, blind and deaf Open eyes at 12-14 days of age Start to leave nest and eat solid food at 3 wk Start eating mother's feces first Can be weaned at 4-8 wk of age Keep kits together for 1-2 wk after weaning

important cage features

Enough height to allow rabbits to stand on hind legs with ears up Enough horizontal space to allow hopping Solid floor (over at least some of cage) to reduce sore hocks Elevated platforms Enclosed area for resting

species

O. Cunnililus

Genus

Oryctolagus

Kingdown Phylum Class

animalia chordata mammal

bones

are lightweight Half as dense as cat bones of a similar size animal

Intestine and cecum

are rather large Why? What do rabbits eat?

Once classified ____ but now _____

as Rodentia, but now classified as Lagomorpha.

check ups

every 3 months

Rabbits are NOT

rodents

prolific

sexual

rabbit foor thumping

signal danger

Heart

small

Alfalfa

Alfalfa (either in hay or pelleted form) is rich in protein and calcium More than mature non-breeding rabbits need Rabbits absorb calcium relative to how much they are fed, not based on need Feeding alfalfa may contribute to urolithiasis (formation of stones) in the urinary tract Feeding greens that are high in oxalic acid (like kale) can also contribute to the problem

Fur & pelts

Angora fur

Laboratory testing

Antibody production AIDS research Cosmetic testing

Rabbit Pet Pros

Can be trained to use a litter box Require little special care May live up to about 10 years Come in a variety of sizes, coat types & colors From dwarf to Flemish giant sizes From satin to angora coat types From albino white to black From solids to spotted to otter

putting it together

Can you explain why the anatomical features labeled in this diagram are important in understanding rabbits? What is unique about these features in rabbits?

Gastric hairballs

Caused by slow movement of GI tract Due to diet too low in indigestible fiber Leads to impaction, dehydration, death

housing

Consider some key rabbit behaviors Locomotion via hopping Erecting ears to listen & convey information to other rabbits Stand up on hind legs to look for danger or explore Rest in burrows What else do rabbits do? Are they social?

litters of rabbits

Does prepare a nest prior to giving birth Give her a box with hay, straw or shavings She will add fur from her belly Quiet is needed to avoid disturbing her She may kill the young if stressed Does stay away from kits during the day Nurse only 1-2x/day

sore hocks

Hair loss or sores on bottoms of feet Caused by wet, wire abrasion, thin soles

feces forms

Hard, dry pellets: feces excreted throughout the day. Not ingested Cecotropes: night feces that rabbits ingest to recover protein and vitamins. Produced by the cecum (rabbits are hindgut fermenters like horses). What is eating feces called? Coprophagia

Order

Lagomorpha

Rabbit History

Lagomorpha fossils 30-37 million years old Very similar to modern rabbits Other wild lagomorphs = hares, American cottontail, pica, jackrabbit What does the fact that rabbits have changed little over millions of years mean? Rabbits domesticated from European rabbit ~1,400 years ago No interbreeding with wild lagomorphs

Family

Leporidae

reading rabbits

Look at ears, eyes, whiskers, nostrils, and cheeks Different positions indicate pain, discomfort, fear

reproduction

Males are bucks; females are does; Young are kits (or kittens) Rabbits are long-day breeders Normally don't breed in fall They be receptive year round if maintained under 14L : 10D light cycle Rabbits are induced ovulators They ovulate 9 to 13 hours after copulation

pellets

Most pellets were originally formulated for breeders to be 'complete' and are very nutrient dense More energy, protein & nutrients than mature non-breeding rabbits need

urine forms

Rabbit urine is... Cloudy due to calcium carbonate crystals Alkaline Ranges from light yellow to reddish-orange

vocalizations

Rabbits are not completely silent—though they are much quieter than most pets Purr: contentment or pain (if loud) Grunt: territoriality, aggression Squeal/Scream: fear

rabbit feeding

Rabbits are strict herbivores Rabbits chew food to extremely small size prior to swallowing Normally eat grass, clovers, flowers, and also some woody shoots, tree bark Best diet for domestic rabbits = grass hay Available ad libitum Supplement with leafy greens, small amount of fruit Some pellets (timothy-based) Growing kits and lactating does need alfalfa

teeth distinction

Rabbits have 4 upper incisor teeth arranged one pair behind the other How is this arrangement different from rodents? rodents have 2 incisor teeth in each jaw Like rodent teeth, rabbit teeth are open-rooted This means they are continuously growing They are worn down by abrasion of foods or grinding against opposing teeth

treatment

Rehydrate rabbit Leafy greens Syringe feeding of electrolytes blended with greens IV fluids

treatment

Soft, dry bedding Remove wet and soiled bedding frequently

viruses

There are no common viral diseases for domestic rabbits in the U.S.

Rabbits as pets cons

There are some negatives of rabbits as pets Powerful rear legs - can kick and inflict severe scratches with rear feet If picking up an adult or large rabbit by the scruff, without support underneath, they can kick and break their backs May bite - use judgment where you put your fingers! NOTE: rabbits should never be picked up by the ears! (Scruffing is not ideal either.)

Rabbits need a diet high in fiber in order to stimulate gut motility and reduce the risk of gastric hairballs. Which diet below is best for a grown rabbit that is not breeding?

Timmothy or grass hay

pets

US

Meat

White meat; low in cholesterol, fat, sodium and fiber; high in protein. Easily chewed & digested

Kindling

giving birth in a rabbit Does will breed within hours of kindling This means they can be nursing one litter and already be pregnant with the next

cecotropes

night feces Rabbits obtain much of their protein and vitamin requirements by eating cecotropes

orange red urine is

okay