ANFS251: Rabbits

Rabbit Classification

monogastric herbivore

Lagomorph Species

pika, rabbits, hares

Lagomorph Characteristics

non ruminant herbivores and cecotrophs, fiber is critical, circadian rhythm

Rabbit Teeth

sharp for cutting forage, broad grinding surfaces

Rabbit Incisiors

upper and lower for biting, must eat forage to maintain length

Rabbit Diastema

gap between incisors and molar to accommodate large forages

Rabbit Gastrointestinal Tract

similar to horses, cecum is highly functional

Rabbit Cecum

contains anaerobic cellulytic bacteria that breakdown cellulose to glucose, VFA absorption

Rabbit Circadian Rhythm

normal microbial activity in the day, slow passage and cecotrope formation at night

Rabbit Cecotropes

fecal pellet enriched with microbes, higher protein as fiber is digested by microbes

Rabbit Cecotrophy

consumes cecotropes to gain microbial protein

Coprophagy

eating fecal material

Cecotrophy

eating cecotropes or cecal pellets

Rabbit Cecotrophy Purpose

allows for survival with only low protein forages available

Rabbit Stomach Function

keeps reingested fecal pellets separate from other material

Rabbit Kindling

giving birth to kits

Rabbit Suckling

only a few times per day, prey animals that only tend to young rarely

Rabbit Weaning

provide forage and pellets to kits, wean gradually

Rabbit Growth Feeding

high quality green forage should be main nutrient source

Rabbit Growth Nutrient Percentages

12-16% crude fiber, 16-18% crude protein

Rabbit Gestation

32 days, 4-10 kits per litter

Rabbit Gestation Feeding

requirements increase at 15-20 days, introduce a balanced supplement at 3 weeks

Rabbit Gestation Energy

increases by 10-25% depending on the litter size

Rabbit PreKindling

nesting for 2-4 days before, decreases feed intake 24-48 hours before

Rabbit Lactation Feeding

free choice forage and a good supplement

Rabbit Senior Feeding

loss of teeth affects forage consumption, may need to wet supplements

Rabbit Obesity Related Conditions

heart weakness, skin problems, kidney problems

Rabbit Obesity Causes

age reduces drive to forage, exercise decreases

Rabbits on Low Fiber

passage through GI tract slows, saliva decreases, bolus can cause impaction

Rabbit Saliva Purpose

helps move hair and food through GI tract

Rabbit GI Statis Cause

too much grain, too little fiber

Rabbit Grooming Result

hair in GI tract, not normally an issue

Rabbit Trichobezoar

hairball, buildup of hair and feed material in the stomach

Rabbit Trichobezoar Treatment

rehydrate, mineral oil, increase motility, feed fiber

Rabbit Trichobezoar Symptoms

feed and water intake decrease, waste stops, refuses food, chews cage, lethargy, depression

Rabbit Trichobezoar Prognosis

usually fatal by the time an owner notices, prevent by feeding proper diet

Rabbit Trichobezoar Formation Process

hair mixes with stomach components, dehydration leaves large particles, mass dries out and tightly adheres

Rabbit Soft Stools

when chronic with no cecotrope formation can cause nutrient deficiencies

Rabbit Exercise

mimics grazing, induces normal motility and reduces gi stasis risk