Rabbits

Lagomorphs

the taxonomic order that is only pikas, rabbits, and hares

what makes an animal a lagomorph

their digestive physiology

eating classification of rabbits

non-ruminant herbivores

fiber and rabbits

critical for them, fiber content cannot vary too much without th

circadian rhythm of rabbits

• Unique, during the night the bacteria in their cecum and colon make

  • Cecotropes are formed by bacteria, they are high protein fecal pellets which the rabbits consume

    • Rabbits can capture more nitrogen through cecotrophy of the protein from the cecotropes

    • **they need a high fiber, low energy diet to do well

teeth structure of rabbits

sharp teeth, wide variety of foods, forages keeps in shape, if diet not appropriate, they need to be trimmed

jaw structure of rabbits

unique jaw, upper are lower biting incisors, sharp broad grinding teeth, large gap to accommodate long forages

GIT vs horse

up to the large intestine it is the same as the horse

cecum structure

• Anaerobic, cellulolytic bacteria

• Plant cell walls → cellulose → glucose

  • Fermented for energy for bacteria

  • Excess VFAs absorbed for energy in rabbit

cecotropes and circadian rhythm

• Nervous system alters activity

• Day → Night normal microbial activity

• Night → motility changes (slows)

  • Pellets called cecotropes formed

what are cecotropes

fecal pellets with enriched population microbes

composition of cecotropes

• Build up in greater concentrations

• More concentrated in crude protein, lower in fiber

  • Most of the fiber was digested by the microbes

• Eat the poop 🤮

  • Digested in the small intestine

what is cecotrophy

when rabbits consume cecotropes

what is coprophagy

the consumption of fecal material

what does cecotrophy allow rabbits to do

• Utilize bacteria-produced amino acids

• Can survive in environments with low-protein plants

suckling of rabbits

usually only allowed to suckle a few times per day because they are a prey species, learned to stay quiet and hide litter

what are kinled

rabbits when born

what are kits

baby rabbits

how to wean rabbits

• Gradual - so digestive tract can adapt

  • Small amounts of high-quality forage

    • Preferably green

  • Small amount grower pellet

how to feed rabbit once weaned

high quality forage, small amount grower pellet, primarily supplement, exercise

primary food sources and content of nutrients for rabbits

forage, best for teeth and GI function, 12-16% crude fiber, 16-18% crude protein

maintenance

adult rabits will spend the majority of their lifetime here, basic bodily functions, temperature, and voluntary activity

feeding rabbits cat/dog food

provide a rabbit with too much protein and energy and not enough fiber

gestation length and yield

32 days, 4-10 kits per litter

what are dams

pregnant female rabbits

gestation requirements

• they can be given a small increase in grain but watch weight gain

• the requirements do not increase significantly until about 15-20 days

gestation around 3 weeks

•  addition of a supplement for growth and lactation can slowly be increased to ensure enough vitamins, minerals, and dietary proteins

end of gestation

 rabbit should be consuming primarily forage with high quality supplements provided as needed

energy requirements of gestation

they will increase 10-25% depending on litter size

nesting behavior

begins 2-4 days prior to kindling

feed intake and kindling

decreases 24-48 hours prior to kindling

lactation feed requirements

• Once lactation begins, requirements increase rapidly

  • Still free-choice forage and complete supplement

  • Be observant, if she is always hungry and losing weight, she should be allowed to eat more

loss of teeth due to aging

reduced ability to forage or reduced ability to chew long forage

feeding senior rabbits

A high quality balanced pellet should be provided, may be wetted slightly for the rabbit to chew it

effects of obesity

• Reduced drive to forage

• Decrease in exercise

• Heart weakness, skin and kidney problems

problems when rabbits do not get a high-fiber, low energy diet

Passage of nutrients slowed → decreased saliva consumption → starch builds up in small intestine → less fiber gets to cecum → boluses of undigested feed cause an impact in the GIT (GI tract can be an intense pain and starving)

• gastric stasis

• cecotropes not formed

grooming and saliva

• Lots of hair get into the GIT

• Normally saliva production stimulated by fiber intake keeps the hair and digesta moving through GIT and out

what is gastric stasis

• Happens when diets contain too much grain, too litter fiber

• Hair and other material in gut builds up into a trichobezoar (hairball)

• Usually in the stomach

what happens if cecotropes are not formed bc they are not given high fiber low energy feed

chronic soft stools, not useful to the animal because they cannot meet nutrient requirements

what are symptoms of trichobezoar

feed and water intake decreases, waste droppings become smaller, refusal of pellets, chewing the cage, lethargy and depression, can’t vomit

causes of trichobezoar

• Hair is mixed with stomach contents

• Dehydration leaves largest particles behind, includes hair

• Turns into a  solid, tightly adhered mass

• Long hair breeds can have excessive hair (brush them)

how to treat if trichobeozar is caught

rehydrate, use mineral oil to increase gastric motility, feed fiber, however it is usually late by the time someone figures it out

exercise and rabbits

• Ability to graze

• Induces normal intestinal motility

• Reduces risk of problems