Rabbit Reproduction, Urinary, and Endocrine

What type of uterus does a female rabbit have?

Duplex uterus

How many cervices does a female rabbit have?

Two

Where do the cervices of a female rabbit enter?

Vagina separately

What is the shape of a rabbit's ovaries?

Elongated

Where are a rabbit's ovaries located compared to a dog's?

More caudally

What type of ovulator is a rabbit?

Induced/Reflex ovulator

How long is a rabbit's gestation period?

30-33 days

What is the average litter size for rabbits?

4-12 kits

What is the term for a baby rabbit?

Kit (Kitten)

How many testes does a male rabbit have?

Two

When do a male rabbit's testes descend?

10-12 weeks of age

What is unique about a male rabbit's inguinal canal?

Remains open throughout life

What is the function of the cremaster muscle in male rabbits?

To retract testes into abdomen

How many mammary glands does a rabbit typically have?

4 pairs

How many ductal systems are in each rabbit mammary gland?

6-7

What type of placenta do rabbits have?

Hemochorial and discoid

How is a rabbit's kidney described?

Unipapillate

How many nephrons are in an adult rabbit kidney?

200,000

What is unique about calcium absorption in rabbits?

Passive absorption from gut

What is the pH of rabbit urine?

Alkaline (pH 8.2)

What is the main stress hormone in rabbits?

Cortisol

How many adrenal glands does a rabbit have?

Two

Where is the thymus located in rabbits?

Upper chest region, in front of heart

What is unique about the rabbit thymus?

Persists into adulthood

How many parathyroid glands does a rabbit have?

Two

At what age do small breed rabbits typically reach sexual maturity?

4-5 months

When do a rabbit's testes typically descend?

10-12 weeks of age

What is the average volume of a rabbit's ejaculate?

0.3-0.6 ml

How many spermatozoa are typically present in a rabbit's ejaculate?

150 to 500 × 106 per ml

What allows male rabbits to retract their testes into the abdomen?

Cremaster muscle

Does a rabbit have an os penis?

No

What are the two types of inguinal glands in male rabbits?

White and brown

How many uterine horns does a female rabbit have?

Two

Where is the bulbourethral gland located in female rabbits?

On the dorsal wall of the vestibule

What type of breeders are rabbits considered?

Long day breeders

How long is the typical oestrus period in rabbits?

Up to 14 days

How soon after mating does ovulation occur in rabbits?

Within 10-13 hours

What is the average breeding life of a doe?

Up to 3 years

What is the average breeding life of a buck?

Around 5-6 years

What is a sign that a doe is ready to mate?

Lordosis

How long does rabbit parturition typically last?

30 minutes to a few hours

At what age do rabbit kits typically open their eyes?

10-12 days

When do rabbit kits typically start showing interest in solid food?

2-3 weeks

When does caecotrophy typically start in rabbit kits?

3 weeks

What is the pH of an adult rabbit's stomach?

pH 1-2

What is the pH of a rabbit kit's stomach?

pH 6

How many nephrons are in an adult rabbit kidney?

200,000

Which kidney is positioned more cranially in rabbits?

Right kidney

What is the typical pH of rabbit urine?

8.2 (alkaline)

What is the daily urine output for rabbits?

130 ml/kg/day (very variable)

What is the main stress hormone in rabbits?

Cortisol

How many parathyroid glands do rabbits have?

Two

Where is the rabbit's thymus located?

Upper chest region, in front of the heart

What is a duplex uterus? – 2 Completely separate uterine horns with their own cervix, which enter the vagina separately, no uterine body