Rabbits
temp:
101.3-104 degrees F
what should the light/dark cycle be like for the rabbit?
12/12
pulse:
180-250 bpm
male adult weight:
2-5 kg
female adult weight:
2-6 kg
what is the puberty age for rabbits?
22-25 wks
how much floor space should the rabbit have in its cage?
3 times its length
what is the gestation period for lagomorphs?
30 to 32 days
the rabbit's large cornea makes up how much of their globe?
30%
respiratory rate:
30-60 bpm
what temperature should a rabbit's climate be?
39-82 degrees F
how many pairs of mammary glands do does have? teats?
4 pairs of mammary glands and 8-10 teats
when are kits weaned?
4-6 wks
how many kits (young) are in each litter?
8-12 in smaller breeds and 4-5 in larger breeds
what is the dental formula for rabbits?
I 2/1, C 0/0, P 3/2, M 3/3
rabbits do best in what type of housing situations?
as bonded pairs or trios that are fixed
which lungs in the rabbit are lobbed?
both
what is a male rabbit called?
buck
urine is the major route for excretion of what in rabbits?
calcium
rabbits are stress sensitive and release a secretion of what? what does this lead to?
catecholamines--> cardiac arrest
where is the penis?
cauda; to the testes
what are "night feces"?
cecotrophes from the cecum that are high in vitamin B and protein and covered in mucus to protect from further digestion, which the rabbit eats (coprophagia) to recycle nutrients
what substrates should be avoided?
cedar and pine shavings
what scent glands do rabbits posses for territorial marking?
chin, anal, and inguinal
what filling for the litter box should you avoid?
clumping, clay, or corncob litters
what is a group of rabbits called?
colony or nest
biological pigments from endogenous metabolism or ingested plants excreted in the urine cause what affect on the urine?
color varying from yellow to orange, red, brown
avoid ______ sunlight and provide shade.
direct
what is a female rabbit called?
doe
rabbits have _________ dentition, meaning their teeth are open rooted and continuously growing.
elodont
rabbit's lower incisors have _________ on both sides.
enamel
rabbit's upper incisors have ________ on the labial/ anterior surface and _______ on the inner surface.
enamel; dentin
what is a rabbit's food intake determined by?
energy needs, filling stage of stomach, environment, and fiber content
what feed should you avoid for rabbits?
feed mix containing seeds, dried fruits, nuts, and dried peas
what are the distinguishing characteristics of hares?
generally longer ears tipped with black hair
if needed, what milk could you substitute with?
goat milk
why should rabbit's have an unlimited access to grass hay?
gut motility and dental health
what animals are in the order lagomorph?
hares, pikas, and rabbits
what is the neutrophil equivalent on a rabbit WBC?
heterophil
what type of diet do rabbits need?
high fiber and low carb
what type of fermenters are rabbits?
hind gut (cecum)
the rabbit's retinal vessels spread which way?
horizontally (rotate pic slightly to see horizontal midline alignment)
rabbits have ________ teeth (incisors), meaning they are long-crowned.
hypsodont
where are the testes found?
in 2 individual thin-walled scrotal sacs
what type of ovulators are rabbits?
induced
the rabbit's aortic rhythm contractions have what type of origin? how can this be an issue?
neurogenic; any stress can affect their blood system
are lagomorphs and rodents closely related?
no
do rabbits have a baculum (penile bone)?
no
do rabbits have a tapetum lucidum?
no
do rabbits have sweat glands?
no
rabbits are __________ nasal breathers.
obligate
how often are the babies fed?
once a day
is the inguinal canal open or closed?
open
rabbits have what type of field of vision?
panoramic
what is the second pair of upper incisor teeth in the rabbit called?
peg teeth
because the rabbit's RBC life span is so short, what will you often see on their blood film?
polychromasia
the ciliary body is (poorly or well) developed.
poorly
how are hares born?
precocious (fur and open eyes)
do rabbits have a subtle or prominent nictitating membrane?
prominent
what substrates are acceptable to use?
recycled newspaper, shredded paper towels or newspaper, straw or hay, and aspen wood shavings
what is the life span of the rabbit's RBCs?
short (60-70 days)
how big is the rabbits spleen because they have a sacculus rotundus?
small
what size thoracic cavity do rabbits have?
small
what is the one blind spot of the rabbit?
the tip of the nose
what is the diverticulum with cartilaginous bridge in the rabbit's ear known as?
the tragus
what is the affect of rabbits excreting so much calcium in their urine?
their urine is thick and cloudy, and they are sensitive to developing bladder stones
the rabbit's ears act as what type of organs?
thermoregulatory
rabbits have an extensive orbital _______ plexus behind the globe.
venous
describe the skin of rabbits?
very delicate and thin
what type of hair do rabbits have?
very fine
what color of tear secretion is normal for rabbits?
white
what is unique about the rabbit's water consumption rate?
it is fairly high at 100 ml/kg/day
what age should have an unlimited amount of pellets?
juveniles
what is the act of giving birth to rabbit kits called?
kindling
how big is the rabbit's cecum?
large
life span:
larger= 6-8 y smaller= 8-12 y
rabbits have a _____ and ______ vena cava.
left; right
what should be included in the rabbit cage?
litter box, hideout, heay dishes, water bottle, substrate, and rabbit safe toys
what is the most common WBC found in young rabbits?
lympocytes
what type of milk the mothers produce?
milk high in fat and protein
rabbits are crepuscular, meaning what?
more active during dusk and dawn
the cage floor should be ________.
solid
where do does pluck fur from 24 hours before giving birth?
the dewlap (fold on ventral neck)
what is the area in the rabbit mouth lacking teeth known as?
the diastema
where do our domestic rabbits come from?
the european rabbit
what lagomorph is know as the whistling rabbit?
the pika
what is the special lymphatic tissue f the small intestines that only the rabbit has?
the sacculus rotundus (c &d)
what prevents rabbits from vomiting?
the strong cardiac sphincter in the stomach
the right atrioventricular (AV) valve has how many valves?
two cuspidal instead of three
does have a flaccid vagina, meaning you should not express the bladder before the OHE as urine may pool in the _________ and backflow into __________ _________.
vagina; abdominal cavity
a rabbits diet should also include a selection of fresh, dark green, leafy _______________.
vegetables
how many lacrimal punctum do rabbits have in each eye?
a single ventral lacrimal punctum that is small and narrow
where is the rabbit's optic nerve found?
above the horizontal midline
what is the normal behavior of rabbits?
affectionate, playful, intelligent, quiet
rabbit WBCs fluctuate depending on what factors?
age, diet, and stress level
what hay should you avoid in non-breeding adults? why?
alfalfa, because it is high in calcium and proteins
how are rabbits born?
altricial (blind and hairless)
because rabbits have a relatively small heart, they have limited collateral coronary circulation leading to what?
anesthetic vasoconstriction- cardiac ischemia
doe reproductive system:
*notice the lack of uterine body and 2 cervices*
