The Rabbit
Normal Rectal Temp
101.3-104
Heart Rate
180-250 beats per min
Kits can consume this much body weight in minutes
20%
Gestation
29-35 days
Respiration Rate
30-60 breaths per min
Pasteurellosis
A.K.A. Snuffles. this is a upper respiratory tract infection
Urine PH
Alkaline
Handling and Restraint
Approach slow and calmly. Basic restraint involves scruffing the neck
Fancy Breeds
Belgian Hare, lop, dwarf rabbits.
Reproduction
Doe matures earlier than bucks. New Zealand white female are sexually mature around 5month.
Psoroptes cuniculi
Ear Mites
Identification
Ear Tags, Tattoos, microchips.
Rabbit Head and Neck
Ears are highly vascular and serve as a thermoregulatory organ. Pinnae of ears are longer than wide. A large fleshy tongue with posterior elevation makes intubation challenging. Skin folds under the neck called the Dewlap.
Animal Models
First model of atherosclerosis. Used in eye irritancy evaluations. Ease of handling and large accessible ear veins makes them useful in antibody production and studies that require large volumes of blood.
How to determine gender in rabbits
For males you will apply a digital pressure
Anestesia
Greater risk to rabbits over any other lab animal. Easily stressed, very difficult to intubate, highly variable response to anesthetic. Can not vomit, high metabolic rate predisposes to hypoglycemia, fasting a few hours before anesthesia aid in obtaining accurate weight. High reserves of body fat complicate anesthesia with barbiturates.
Rabbit Diet
Herbivorous and Coprophagic, commercial rabbit feed. Higher fiber diets are required to prevent Trichobezoars.
Unique Anatomy of the Rabbit
High muscle to bone ratio. Large body fat reserves that contribute to their lightweight compared to their size. Females are larger than males. No footpads. short tail and will sometimes be marked
Strain
Inbred
Tularemiax
Is also known as rabbit fever. Zoonotic. inhalation, ingestion, bite wounds.
Parturition in Rabbits
Is known as kindling.
Order of Rabbit
Lagomorpha
Family of Rabbit
Leporidge
Genus of Hares and Jackrabbits
Lepus
Reference Values
Life span is 5-8 years old, adult body weight is 2-5kg for buck, 2-6kg for the doe.
Rabbit Behavior
Make great pets and rarely bite. Can be trained to use litter box. Rabbits tend to develop specific dominance hierarchies. Most active at twilight.
Blood Collection Site
Marginal Ear Vein, Auricular Artery, Jugular (sedation). Cephalic, Lateral Saphenous, cardia
New Zealand White
Most commonly used rabbit in research.
Rabbit Typically used in research
New Zealand White
Cheyletiella Parasitovorax
Nonburrowing fur mite with zoonotic potential. Walking dandruff.
This occurs for a few minutes each day.
Nursing
Genus of Domestic Rabbits
Oryctolagus
Stock
Outbred
Euthanasia
Overdose with inhalant or injectable agent.
Encephalitozoonosis
Protozoal parasite, shed in urine.
Rabbit Skeletal Anatomy
Radius and ulna are fused together.
Thoraxic Cavity
Relatively small heart. Right lung is larger because of the 3 lobes.
Fur Breeds of rabbits
Rex, angora, satin
First to domesticate rabbits
Romans
Rabbit Teeth
Second pair of incisors. Peg teeth or wolf teeth. Located just posterior to first incisor. Rabbit teeth are hypsodontic. Malocclusion can result from overgrown incisors.
Husbandry
Stainless steel or plastic cages. Cages should be open in front. Need to be at least 3 times the size of the rabbit. Must be cleaned daily to keep ammonia levels down. Litter boxes may be used. Temp rang is 62-70 degrees. Temp higher than 85 means they die. Humidity of 30-70%
Genus of cotton tails
Sylvilagus
Urine is
Thick and creamy
Atropine
This is contraindicated and ineffective in rabbit.
Normal in Rabbits
albuminuria and proteinuria
Rabbits neutrophils
are more properly term hederphils
Altricial
born blind, hairless and deaf.
Terminal Portion of ileum
consists of sacculus rotundus
colon
divided into a distal and proximal portion
Oral Medication Administration
in water source, feeding tube
Uterus of Bunny
is duplex with 2 cervixes and 2 cervical orifices and without a uterine body. Cervix opens directly into the vagina.
Characteristic of Hares
longer feet than rabbits and usually have longer ears. Most live in the open country. Born fully furred and ready to hop. Diet consists of grasses, leaves, buds, tree bark and roots.
SQ
loose skin, max vol of 100ml
Litter size of rabbits
normally 4-12 kits.
Rabbits are cecotrophs
production of cecotrophs
Hybrid
single mating between two inbred strains
SPF
specific pathogen free
myxomatosis
viral disease, Highs mortality rate. Insect vectors. No effective treatment. Conjunctivitis. No effective treatment.