Rabbits

What order are rabbits?

Lagomorpha

What family are rabbits in?

Leporidae

What is the genus of the cottontail rabbit?

Sylvilagus

What is the genus of the domestic rabbit?

Oryctolagus

What is the genus of the hare?

Lepus

What is the species of the domestic rabbit?

Cuniculus

Why do rabbits and hares not interbreed?

Rabbits have 44 chromosomes, hares have 48

What is a male rabbit called?

Buck

What is a female rabbit called?

Doe

What is a female rabbit who has given birth called?

Dam

What is a newborn rabbit called?

Kitten or kit

What is parturition called in rabbits?

Kindling

How many rabbit breeds are there?

47

What is the difference between lagomorphs and rodents?

Lagomorphs have four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two, the penis in lagomorphs has no bones, the male lagomorphs scrotum is in front of the penis

What are the four characteristics that categorize rabbit breeds?

Ear carriage, fur/wool, size, body type

What is unique in the hematology of rabbits?

Basophils are common, their neutrophils are called heterophils, they have atropinesterase in their serum (making it useless/unpredictable to use atropine)

What is unique in the respiratory system of rabbits?

They are obligate nasal breathers, meaning the epiglottis is covering the soft palate except when swallowing

What kind of ovulators are rabbits?

Induced ovulators

What is the gestation period of rabbits?

29-35 days

What is unique about the female rabbit reproductive system?

Each uterine horn has it’s own cervix, allowing them to carry two different pregnancies at once

What is unique about the rabbit digestive system?

Their stomach is never empty and it acts more as a storage organ

T/F- Rabbits can vomit

False

How much of the rabbit GI tract is the cecum?

40%

What does it mean when its said that rabbits are cecotrophic?

The cecum will form soft nutrient balls covered in mucin that the rabbit will consume directly after its been expelled from the body

What is the percentage of body weight in rabbits that is muscle?

13%

What is the pH of rabbits urine?

>8.0 (highly alkaline)

In what time period should pellets be used in?

3-6 months

What does indigestible fiber do for rabbits?

It is crucial for digestion because it stimulates ceco-colonic motility and motility will come to a stop without it

When do kits begin to wean and when are they done weaning?

2 weeks, 5-6 weeks

What is the usual cause of abnormal behavior in rabbits?

Boredom

What are the best ways to restrain rabbits?

Scruff rabbit and support body and hindquarters with other hand, “football hold” and allowing them to nestle into your arm

How do we determine the sex of a rabbit?

Apply digital pressure to both sides of the genital opening

What are some venipuncture sites in rabbits?

Marginal ear vein, central ear artery, lateral saphenous vein, jugular vein, cephalic vein

What are the best IM injection sites for rabbits?

Epaxial, quadriceps

What is a common respiratory disease in rabbits?

Pasteurellosis or “Snuffles”

What is tortocollis?

A head tilt

What are some common causes of diarrhea in rabbits?

Coccidia, rotaviruses/coronavirus, bacteria including E. coli and and Clostridium spiroforme

What are some common digestive system diseases?

Tyzzer’s disease caused by Clostridium spiroforme, pinworm (Passalurus ambiguus)

What is the scientific name of the ear mite in rabbits?

Psoroptes cuniculi

What is rabbit syphilis or vent disease?

Venereal spirochetosis - Treponematosis (caused by bacteria Treponema paraluis cuniculi)

What is the name of the disease that causes decubital ulcers on the plantar surfaces of the hind feet?

Ulcerative pododermatitis – “bumblefoot” or “sore hock”

What is RHDV2 and what is the mortality rate?

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease, 70-80%

What is the other name for Schmorl’s disease?

Necrobacillosis

What is the medical term for a hairball?

Trichobezoars

If necrobacillosis is untreated it will lead to what?

Moist dermatitis-”slobbers”

What are some common uses of rabbit animal models?

Atherosclerosis studies, antibody production, eye irritancy evaluations

How much food should pet rabbits receive a day?

50g/kg

How much water should pet rabbits receive a day?

50g/kg

What kind of teeth do rabbits have?

Hyposdontic

What is the rabbit’s diastema?

The space between their incisors and their molars

What is the scientific name for a rabbit?

Oryctolagus cuniculus

What is the rabbit breed used most often in biomedical research?

New Zealand White

The round, expanded, muscular sac found at the terminal portion of the ileum in rabbits is referred to as ?

Sacculus rotundus

What should be added to the diet to prevent trichobezoars in rabbits?

Proteolytic enzymes

Improper handling of rabbits that causes injury to its spinal cord results in the condition referred to as?

Posterior paralysis

What are the two most common blood collection sites in rabbits?

Marginal ear vein or central auricular artery

What is the most common bacterial infection in rabbits?

Pasteurellosis

What is the causative agent of the disease characterized by sudden death or abortion?

Listeria monocytogenes

Infection with the gram-negative organism Francisella tularensis is commonly referred to as?

Rabbit fever

What is the common ear mite for rabbits?

Psoroptes cuniculi