Rabbits: classification, anatomy, reproduction
How much water does/should a rabbit consume a day on average?
100ml/kg/day > h2o consumption = > urine production
Domestic Rabbit Vitals
101.3-104 f HR-180-250 bpm RR- 30-60 bpm Female 2-6 kg Male 2-5 kg Larger breed Lifespan 6-8 yr Smaller breed 8-12 yr Sexual Mature 22-25 wks
How many families of Lagamorphes are there? Genra? Species?
2 families 12 genera 81 species
Reproductive cycle of the Domestic Rabbit
22-25 weeks Puberty Induced ovulators 30-33 days gestation 4-10 litter size Kits are born atrical Weaning 4-6 weeks
How much of the rabbit cornea makes up the globe?
30%
What is the gestation of the Lagomorph?
30-32 days
How many pairs of mammary glands does the doe have?
4 pairs (8-10 teats)
What is the life span of RBC's?
60-70 days Increased polychromasia
How many kits will a doe have in a litter?
8-12 young/larger breeds 4-5 young/smaller breeds
Disastema
A long gap sits between the incisors and premolars
What are some factors in rating tooth growth?
Age Pregnancy Diet
How do you determine if the domestic rabbit is male/female?
Apply Pressure above genitalia Vulva- slit like appearance with pointed protrusion Penis- rounded protrusion with circular hole (urethra)
Do Domestic rabbits do good as single pets?
Better housed together as bonded pairs or trios that a single house pet.
Why might a rabbits urine color vary from yellow, to orange, red, brown?
Biological pigments from endogenous metabolism or ingested plants are excreted in urine making it change in color
What characteristic do hares have that no other species has?
Black hair at the tips of the ears
What are rabbits sensitive to developing?
Bladder stones
(One, Both) lungs are lobed in the rabbit.
Both are lobed Right Lung is lobed in the rodent.
Male Rabbit
Buck
The male penis is _____ to the testes.
Caudal
Where are the scent glands located?
Chin glands Anal glands Inguinal glands/perineal glands
What is poorly developed in the rabbit eye?
Ciliary Body
Group of rabbits
Colony/Nest
What is the behavioral characteristics of the domestic rabbit?
Crepuscular Affectionate Playful/Social Intellegent Quiet
What might cause WBC fluctuations?
Diet, stress, age, season
Female Rabbit
Doe
What is larger in hares than in domestic rabbits?
Ears/Pinna
Open rooted, continuously growing
Elodont
What is your most common domestic rabbit?
European Rabbit
What is located behind the globe of the rabbit eye?
Extensive Orbital Venous Plexus
Most Important sensory organ of the rabbit?
Eyes
T/F Lagomorphs and Rodents are closely related.
False
T/F Rabbits soles are not covered in fur
False
T/F The female rabbits has a uterine body.
False; Does have 2 uterine horns and 2 cervices
T/F Rabbits have a large spleen
False; Rabbits have a small spleen
When urine from bladder gets expressed before on OHE resulting in urine pooling in the vagina and backflowing into the abdominal cavity
Flaccid vagina
Brachylagus
Genus -Pygmy rabbits
Oryctolagus
Genus- European Rabbits
Sylvilagus
Genus- cottontail rabbits
Lepus
Genus-hares and jack rabbits
What can be used as substitute for rabbits milk?
Goats milk
Feeding rabbits ___&___ causes ____ mastication and allow better tooth wear
Grass, Hay, horizontal
Feeding rabbits ____ items causes a more ___ chewing, stimulating ____ ____.
Harder, vertical, tooth growth
What is the difference between rabbits and hares when they are born?
Hares are born precocious Rabbits are born altrical
Long crowned incisors
Hypsodont
What is the dental formula for lagomorphs?
I 2/1, C 0/0, P 3/2, M 3/3
Where are the testes located?
In 2 individual walled scrotal sacs cranial to the penis
Female rabbits (does) are what kind of ovulators?
Induced-No estrogen cycle
Birth of rabbits
Kindling
Young rabbits
Kits/kitten
What is the order for hares, pikas and rabbits?
Lagomorpha
Characteristics of ear sensory organ.
Large Pinna- Thermoregulatory organ Vertical ear canal- Tragus
What are the 2 families of the order laomorpha?
Leporidae - hares, jackrabbits, rabbits Ochotonidae - pikas
What is the most dominating characteristic of the lagomorph?
Long hindlegs; jump very high
Which incisors have enamel on both surfaces? (Upper/Lower)
Lower
Most common luekocyte seen in young rabbits?
Lymphocytes
Do rabbits have sweat glands?
No
What is unique about the dental anatomy of the rabbit?
No canines 2 pairs of upper incisors (peg teeth) Disastema
What is important to know about the fundus?
No tapetum lucidum Optic nerve above horizontal midline Retinal vessels spread horizontally
Can rabbits vomit?
No, they have no cardiac sphincter in stomach
alpine pika
Species - Ochotona alpina
american pika
Species - Ochotona princeps
Most important organ of the lagomorphs?
Spleen
Lymphocytes can be induced by _____.
Stress
What is the species of the Eastern Cottontail?
Sylvilagus floridanus
What do the rabbits use thier scent glands for?
Territorial Marking
What is VERY IMPORTANT to remember when neutering a male rabbit?
They have an open inguinal canal and needs to be closed after castration otherwise rabbit can prolapse abdominal organs. Same goes for females-Vaginal tunic must be closed after a spay.
Why are rabbits sensitive to you touching their faces and noses?
They have tactile vibrissae on face over eyebrows and lips. These whiskers help navigate underground and are used in food discrimination
What does normal rabbit urine look like?
Thick, cloudy, creamy, gelatinous
T/F Bucks have no baculum. (penis bone)
True
T/F Lagomorphs are distributed worldwide
True
T/F Rabbit milk is high in fat and protein?
True
T/F Rabbits are obligate nasal breathers
True
T/F Rabbits have very delicate, thin skin, very fine hair
True
T/F You may have to stretch the pinna to see the Tempanic Membrane in the rabbit ear
True
Where is the blind spot in a rabbit?
Under nose Uses sensory vibrissa for food discrimination Easily startled when touched on nose
Which incisors have enamel on labial/anterior surface, Dentin on inner surface (Upper/Lower)
Upper
Major route of calcium excretion
Urine 45-60%
Family Leporidae
jackrabbits, hares, rabbits
Family Ochotonidae
pikas
Genus Ochotona
pikas
What are cecotrophes?
"Night Feces" Rich in Vitamin B and Protein Coprophagia
The rabbit is known as a (predator, prey) animal.
Prey
How many times will dams feed the kits?
Once a day
What is the nictating membrane associated with?
Orbital glands White Tear Secretion-Normal
What is the species of the European Rabbit?
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Characteristics of the eye sensory organs.
Panoramic Field vision Spherical large lens Nictating Membrabe-3rd eyelid prominent Nasolacrimal Duct
Does have a dewlap and do what 24 hours before giving birth?
Pluck fur from the dewlap to line the nest
What is important to remember about rabbits CV system.
Rabbits are prey animal Stressed sensitive catecholamine secretion-(reaction to stress) can cause cv response-overloading cvs cardiac arrest
What is unique about the rabbit heart?
Right AV valves 2 tricuspidal valves Left and Right vena Cava Aorta rythmic contractions neurogenic in orgin
Lymphatic tissue of the small intestines only found in rabbits?
Sacculus Rotundus (ileocecal junction)
What is to be considered about the lagamorph heart?
Since it is small in size, it has limited collateral coronary circulation. anesthetic vasoconstriction-cardiac ischemia (decreased blood flow/oxygen to heart)
Rabbits have a (small, large) thoracic cavity
Small
The rabbit has a relatively (small, large) heart.
Small
What is a good indicator of disease in the eyes?
Yellow/Green tear secretion could indicate illness.
What are pikas known to do?
Whistle