Rabbit form and function Flashcards by Olivia Jones

What is the lifespan of the rabbit? What is the gestation period?

5-10 years

1 month

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What is the HR and RR of a rabbit?

HR = 150-300bpm
RR = 30-60 brpm

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What is the tidal volume and body temperature of a rabbit?

Tidal volume = 4-6ml/kg

Body T = 38.5-40

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What is the function of the large pinnae?

Sound

Thermoregulation

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What are the vessels used on a rabbit for venipuncture?

Marginal vein
Auricular artery 
Lateral saphenous vein
Cephalic vein 
Use local anaesthesia

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What type of lip do rabbits have?

Cleft lip

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How often do rabbits nose twitch? Why do rabbits have a very sensitive nose that they don’t like to be touched?

150 times/min

Nose is their only blind spot

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Why are rabbits eyes at particular risk of trauma?

Protuberant

Dental disease

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What produces the tear film of rabbits? What does this allow?

Harderian glands

Allows periods without blinking

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Do rabbits have a tapetum lucidum? What is distinct about their retina?

No tapetum lucidum

Merangiotic retina - localised blood vessels

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What can cause exopthalamus in rabbits? What is responsible for this?

Increased blood pressure if frightened, disease

Retrobulbar venous plexus

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What is the additional extraocular muscles in the rabbit?

Palpebral depressor

Part of rectus dorsalis

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The eye drains via what vein?

External jugular

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What is the dental formula of a rabbit?

I 2/1
C 0/0
PM 3/2
M 3/3

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What type of teeth do rabbits have?

Hypsodont - high crown, enamel past gumline
Aradicular - continuously grow
Elodont - no true root

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At what rate do rabbit teeth grow?

Incisors = 3mm/week
Cheek = 3mm/month

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Why are rabbits hard to ET tube?

Laryngeal spasm
Large cheeks,
Long tongue
Small glottis
Narrow oropharynx

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What type of breathers are rabbits? Where is their epiglottis located?

Obligate nasal

Rostral to soft palate

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Do rabbits have a large or small thoracic cavity? How do they maintain respiratory efficiency?

Small

High chest wall compliance, low residual capacity

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What muscle drives breathing in a rabbit?

Diaphragm

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What are the lung lobes of the rabbit?

Left = cranial, middle, caudal 
Right = cranial, middle, caudal, accessory

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Do rabbits have much collateral circulation? which vein has no anastomoses (cf to dog)?

External jugular

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What type of fermenters are rabbits? Do they have a gallbladder?

Hindgut - very efficient

Yes

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What helps mastication in a rabbit? How many layers of muscle are in the oesophagus?

Strong tongue

3 layers - striated muscle

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What are the 4 salivary glands of the rabbit? What are they rich in?

Sublingual, mandibular, zygomatic, parotid | Amylase rich

Can rabbits vomit? Why?

No - well developed cardiac sphincter

What shape and pH is a rabbit stomach?

J-shaped | pH 1-2

The SI in the rabbit is short. What does it secrete? What is this?

Motilin | Enzyme that stimulates motility

What is found at the ileocolic junction of a rabbit? What is this?

Sacculus rotundus | Enlargement of intestines, contains lymphoid tissue

What is found at the end of the proximal colon of a rabbit? What is this?

Fusus coli | Part of colon that separates soft and hard faeces

How many sacculations do the proximal and distal colon of rabbits have?

``` Proximal = 3 Distal = 0 ```

Rabbits have a giant caecum. What is the purpose of this?

Microbial fermentation of carbohydrates and production of caecotrophs

What happens to carbohydrates after they are fermented in the caecum?

Become VFAs | Absorbed across the caecal wall

Give examples of 2 indigestible gut fibres of the rabbit. What do these do?

Lignin, cellulose | Encourage motility, reduce caecal retention time

What are the soft and hard faeces of a rabbit?

``` Soft = caecotrophs Hard = indigestible fibre ```

What are caecotrophs covered in?

Mucus | Prevent stomach acid killing bacteria - bacteria need to continue replicating

What causes caecotrophs to be returned to the caecum? why? What happens after this?

Peristalsis allows further fermentation Caecum contracts and expels caecotrophs to proximal colon - moves through rapidly with no absorption

What is coprophagy? What nutrition does this provide?

Eating of caecotrophs directly from the anus | Vitamins B and K, protein

What protein and fibre composition encourages and discourages caecotroph consumption?

High protein, low fibre - encourages consumption | Low protein, high fibre - discourages consumption

Why are rabbits prone to osteoporosis and fractures?

Light fragile skeleton | Indoor life - little sunlight, poor diety

The skeletal formula of the rabbit varies. What is the usual formula?

``` C7 T12 L7 S4 Cd16 ```

What muscles are particularly powerful in a rabbit?

Hindlimb | Epaxial

Rabbits have furry feet. Why are feet prone to ulcers? When might this be more common?

No footpads | If overweight or poor hygiene

Do rabbits have thick or thin skin? What are the 3 types of hair they have?

Thin skin | Undercoat, short guard hair, long guard hair

How often do rabbits moult? When? Where does moulting begin on the body?

2x year In Spring and Autumn Head - works down

What are dewlaps? Do both sexes of rabbits have them?

Fat under the chin | Yes - more prominent in females

What type of kidneys do rabbits have?

Unipapillate - single renal papilla | Single medullary pyramid

Rabbits require high calcium for their constantly growing teeth. What is unique about how rabbits acquire and metabolise calcium?

Most animals only absorb calcium needed from the diet, excrete little Rabbits absorb all calcium in diet and excrete in urine

Where in the GI is calcium absorbed? How?

Intestines | Diffusion

What 2 hormones in the rabbit prevents dangerously high calcium levels? What does this cause?

PTH and calcitonin | Cause kidneys to excrete XS calcium by forming CaCO3 in urine

What is the pH of rabbit urine? What colour is it?

pH 8-9 | Colour yellow to dark red, depends on diet

High calcium causes what type of urine? What happens if this is prolonged?

Thick, creamy urine | Urolithiasis (stones)

At what age do rabbits sexually mature?

16 weeks

How often are rabbits receptive? Do they have postpartum oestrus?

Every 5-6 days | Yes

What is the average litter size of rabbit kits? How many does this mean per year?

10 | 60 per year

What type of ovulators are rabbits? How long is their oestrus?

Induced | 12 hrs

Dystocia is rare in rabbits. How long does parturition last and what is it called?

30 mins | Kindling

How often do kits feed per day? What is rabbit milk like?

Only 3-5 mins/day | High calorie, high fat and high protein

How is maternal immunity provided to rabbit kits?

Placental transer

What is milk oil in rabbits? What does this mean for hand reared rabbits?

Milk containing fatty acids - bacteriostatic properties | No milk oil = high mortality

How is milk oil produced in rabbits? What causes milk oil to be no longer necessary?

Milk mixing with digestive enzymes | As taking in plant matter, bacteria colonise and decrease pH - no longer need milk oil

What causes pseudopregnancy in rabbits? What are the signs and treatment?

Infertile mating or male presence Large mammary glands and abdomen Pluck belly to make nest Naturally regresses

What type of uterus do rabbits have?

Bicornuate, duplex uterus | 2 cervixes, no uterine body

Why are rabbits difficult to sex, particularly when young?

Retract teste into inguinal canal of abdomen | Cannot extrude prepuce until 8 wks

Where are the 3 scent glands present in rabbits? (present in both sexes)

Inguinal (2 pockets either side of genitals - crusty) Submental Anal

Where are the scrotal sacs in a rabbit? What do they have on them? At what age should they be castrated and why?

Cranial to penis Large epididymal fat pads 3 months - castrate each other!

Describe the vagina and oviducts in rabbits

Large sacculated vagina | Long convoluted oviducts

What is an extra function of the mesometrium in rabbits?

Fat storage

Why should female rabbits be neutered?

Many offspring | High risk of uterine cancer

Out of cats, dogs and rabbits, which have the most RBCs??

Dogs have most Cats have least Rabbits in the middle

What haematological abnormality is normal in rabbits?

Polychromasia - different colour | Anisocytsosis - different size

What is the RBC lifespan of a rabbit? What is the most common WBC?

57 days | Lymphocyte

What are neutrophils called in a rabbit? What colour do they stain?

Heterophils | Pink

What type of nuclei do rabbit eosinophils have? What colour do they stain?

Bilobed nuclei | Pink