Rabbits

What is the scientific name for rabbits?

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Names for Oryctolagus cuniculus

Males: bucks

Females: does

Neonates: kits

Are neonates born precocial or altricial?

Altricial

What kind of ovulaters are rabbits?

Induced ovulators

(T/F) Rabbits CANNOT vomit

TRUE

Why should you never dangle a rabbit?

Have high to muscle ration. Lumbar spine and long bones are at risk of fracture or luxation.

What kind of teeth do rabbits have?

Open rooted —> grow continuously

(T/F) Rabbits practice coprophagy

TRUE

(T/F) Rabbits can be litter trained

TRUE

What should you avoid, shelter-wise, since rabbits love to chew?

Avoid wires, carpets, window dressings, shows

Why should you protect rabbits from drafts and temp. extremes?

Heat stress

(T/F) It’s okay to house more than one rabbit together

False

(T/F) Environmental enrichment is important.

TRUE. Provide hiding places, chewing toys, hay.

How much do rabbits consume?

Generally, consume 5% of body weight in dry feed and 10% in water.

Signs of respiratory diseases “snuffles” in rabbits

Sneezing, conjunctivitis, mucopurulent discharge

What causes respiratory diseases in rabbits?

Pasteurella multocida or Bordetella bronchiseptica

What are some common digestive diseases in rabbits?

Coccidia, Tyzzer’s Disease, E. Coli

Coccidia

Fulminant diarrhea present

Occurs in juveniles kept in poor conditions or stress

What causes Tyzzer’s disease in rabbits?

Clostridium piliforme

Common in weanlings

E. Coli

Common in young rabbits

Yellow Diarrhea

High mortality rate ~ 48 hrs

What causes ear mite infestations “ear mange”/ ‘ear canker”?

Psoroptes cuniculi

Signs of ear mite infestation

Exudate and inflammation in the ear present, pruititis, head shaking, head tilt, stress

Another name for Venereal Spirochetosis

Treponema paraluis cuniculi

treponermiasis/cuniculosis

Vent disease

Rabbit syphyilis

How is Venereal Spirochetosis transmitted?

Coitus or facial-genital contact

Signs of Venereal Spirochetosis

Erythema and edema of: prepuce, vulva, scrotum, perineum, or anus.

What is moist dermatitis (‘blue fur disease”)?

Makes fur blue-green pigment

What causes moist dermatitis “blue fur disease” in rabbits?

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Signs of moist dermatitis

Blue-green pigment in perineal area from urine or diarrhea scalding “hutch burn”, or seen around face, neck, dewlap from malocclusion or continual moistening from water bowl “slobbers”

What is a common disease seen in lactating does?

Mastatisis

What causes mastitis?

Staphylococcus aureus

Streptococci

Pasteurella

Dermatophytosis (Trichophyton mentagrophytes)

Ringworm

Signs of ringworm in rabbits

Red raised lesions found around head and ears

How do you diagnose ringworm?

Skin scrape placed in DTM

What causes ringworm in rabbits?

Marginal husbandry, poor nutrition, environmental or internal stress factors, overcrowding, excessive heat, pregnancy, youth or old age.

Is ringworm in rabbits zoonotic?

YES

What are some ectoparasites that you may see in rabbits?

Cheyletiella parasitovorax “walking dandruff”

Burrowing sarcoptid mites

How would you diagnose salmonellosis in rabbits?

Culture: blood, feces, bile, lymph nodes, affected organs

Is there a rabies vaccine for rabbits?

No

What may cause traumatic vertebral subluxation or fractures?

Restraint

Improper handling

Sudden jumping

What may cause ulcerative pododermatitis?

Poor sanitation

Excessive environmental moisture

Foot stomping

Wire bottomed cages

When should you spay a female rabbit?

5 months

Precautions for handling/ restraining a rabbit

Improper handling can lead to injury to restrainer by rabbit’s rear nails

Can hurt themselves jumping back into cage

How to properly scruff a rabbit?

One hand scruff, other supports body and hindquarters

Tich in crook of elbow

Why should you not allow rabbit to leap from your arms when returning to cage or to a surface?

To prevent injury. Place rear end in first.

IV catheter placements

Marginal ear veins— most common

Cephalic veins

Lateral saphenous

Ways to collect urine for a urinalysis

Usually collected from a clean cage pan

Catheterization

Cystocentesis

IV administration of medications

Marginal ear vein

Cephalic

Saphenous veins

Holds up to 5 mL of fluid

DO NOT use central auricular artery

SQ administration of medications

Intrascapular region

Can hold 10-20 mL of fluids

IP administration of medications

Rarely used

Slightly to right of abdomen, caudal to umbilicus

IM administration of medications

Restraint is similar for what is used during examination

Lumbar muscles or quadriceps used (avoid sciatic nerve)

IO administration of medications

Indicated in situations where IV is not possible and delay may affect survival of rabbit

How to sex a rabbit?

Dewlap present = female

Vulva is located directly below anus

Ensheathed penis is located directly below anus similar to cats

Obvious testes present