Rabbits

Question 1

How do rabbits thermoregulate?

Answer 1

They cannot sweat.
They burrow or stretch out to cool down.
Ears are essential to aid heat dispersion.

Question 2

What is a rabbits body temperature?

Answer 2

38.5-39.5*C

Question 3

What is a rabbits pulse rate?

Answer 3

180-220 beats/min

Question 4

What is a rabbits respiratory rate?

Answer 4

35-60 breaths/min

Question 5

What are a rabbits ears useful for?

Answer 5

Communication.
Thermoregulation - cool down/heat up.

Question 6

What is a rabbits potential blood sample sites?

Answer 6

Lateral ear vein.
Cephalic vein.
Saphenous vein.
Jugular vein.

Question 7

What are a rabbits intramuscular injection sites?

Answer 7

Dorsal lumbar.
Quadriceps.

Question 8

Where is the main IV access in rabbits and what is it used for?

Answer 8

The ears.
Fluid therapy, IV medications, Blood samples.

Question 9

Rabbit Skeletal System
How much of the overall body weight is taken up by the skeletal system?

Answer 9

7-8%

Question 10

Rabbit Skeletal System
What is the vertebral column?

Answer 10

C7, T12-13, L7, S4, CD16

Question 11

Rabbit Skeletal System
What are some attributes of the vertebral column?

Answer 11

Cervical vertebrae appears mobile/box like.
Thoracic vertebrae have 12 paired ribs.

Question 12

Rabbit Skeletal System
Explain the formation of the forelimb.

Answer 12

Radius and ulna are fused.

Question 13

Rabbit Skeletal System
Explain the formation of the hindlimb.

Answer 13

Fibula is half the length of the tibia and is fused with it.

Question 14

Rabbit Skeletal System
What is the accessory bone called that is unique to rabbits and what is it used for?

Answer 14

Os acetabuli.
Helps form the acetabulum (socket hip joint) along with the ischium and ilium.

Question 15

Do rabbits have footpads?

Answer 15

No

Question 16

Rabbit Skeletal System
How many digits do the fore and hind limbs have?

Answer 16

Fore = 5 digits
Hind = 4 digits

Question 17

Rabbit Respiratory System
What extremity do rabbits breathe through?

Answer 17

Obligate nasal breathers.

Question 18

Rabbit Respiratory System
How often does the nose twitch?

Answer 18

20-120 times per minute

Question 19

Rabbit Respiratory System
Describe some attributes of the respiratory system.

Answer 19

Large immobile tongue makes glottis hard to visualise.
Thoracic cavity is small.
Breathing mainly involves the diaphragm.
Lungs have 3 lobes.

Question 20

What do rabbits possess on their chins?

Answer 20

Submandibular chin glands to mark territory and mark their young.

Question 21

Rabbit Dental
What is the dental formula?

Answer 21

I2/1, C0/0, PM3/2, M3/3 x2 = 28 teeth

Question 22

Rabbit Dental
What teeth are present at birth?

Answer 22

Incisors, premolars, peg teeth

Question 23

Rabbit Dental
Explain some attributes of a rabbits dentition.

Answer 23

All teeth are open rooted and grow continually throughout life.
Wear is kept down by lateral movement of the mandible.
No canines - diastema instead.

Question 24

Rabbit Dental
What are the incisors used for?

Answer 24

Cutting grass

Question 25

Rabbit Dental What are the cheek teeth used for?

Answer 25

Grind vegetable material

Question 26

Rabbit Nutrition What diet do rabbits have?

Answer 26

Herbivores Hind gut fermenters.

Question 27

Rabbit Nutrition What times of the day are rabbits fed?

Answer 27

Dawn and dusk

Question 28

Rabbit Nutrition What is included in a rabbits diet?

Answer 28

Indigestible fibre essential. 85% - hay/grass - aids gastrointestinal mobility and ensures sufficient dental wear. 10% - greens/veg/herbs - cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, parsley. 5% - commercial pellets - rich in vitamins and minerals.

Question 29

Rabbit Nutrition What is the RSPCA guideline regarding how much commercial pellet food should be given?

Answer 29

1 egg cup/day per kg of body weight

Question 30

Rabbit Digestive System What are the main attributes of the digestive system? (5 points)

Answer 30

Hind gut fermenters. Large intestine is the main chamber for breakdown of planet material. Allows for rapid gut transit. Digestive tract relatively long. Stomach never truly empties.

Question 31

Rabbit Digestive System Explain the attributes of the small intestine.

Answer 31

Duodenum and Ileum are long and have a small lumen. Ileum terminated at the caecum at the sacculus rotundus.

Question 32

Rabbit Digestive System Explain the attributes of the large intestine - caecum.

Answer 32

Caecum is the longest organ in the abdominal cavity. Lies to the right hand side. Blind ended, thin-walled, sacculated (rounded), coiled around other organs. Folds in on itself 3 times.

Question 33

Rabbit Digestive System State the sizes of the large intestine - colon.

Answer 33

Proximal colon - 50cm Longer distal colon - 90cm

Question 34

Rabbit Digestive System Explain the attributes of the liver.

Answer 34

Has 4 lobes. Bile pigment called biliverdin.

Question 35

Rabbit Urinary System Why do rabbits pass large amounts of urine?

Answer 35

They are thirsty animals and less able to concentrate their urine.

Question 36

Rabbit Urinary System What colour is rabbits urine?

Answer 36

Cream colour - varies from yellow to red

Question 37

Rabbit Urinary System What is the main route of calcium excretion?

Answer 37

The kidneys

Question 38

Rabbit Reproductive System Explain the attributes of the male reproductive system.

Answer 38

2 testes - contained in hairless scrotal sacs, cranial to the penis. Testes descend around 12 weeks. No Os penis. No nipples.

Question 39

Rabbit Reproductive System Explain the attributes of the female reproductive system.

Answer 39

Ovaries elongated. Oviducts coiled and long. Reproductive tract bicornuate - has 2 separate uterine horns to hold litters of young. Each horn has its own cervix opening to the vagina. 4-5 pairs of nipples.

Question 40

What age does caecatrophy start in rabbits?

Answer 40

2-3 weeks of age.

Question 41

Rabbit Housing What is the minimum housing size requirements?

Answer 41

3m x 2m x 1m Be able to lie stretched out and hope at least 3 times in hutch.

Question 42

Rabbit Housing What should the enclosure be made out of?

Answer 42

Wooden/plastic hutch with wire mesh sides. Solid bottom and roof for protection against predators. Sleeping area should have solid walls too for protection against draughts.

Question 43

Rabbit Housing What is a suitable bedding substrate?

Answer 43

Newspaper for lining and absorption of urine. Wood shavings. Straw or hay. Peat for digging.

Question 44

Rabbit Housing What should be included within the enclosure?

Answer 44

Hides so they can feel safe. - Tunnels - Cardboard boxes - low stools One hiding place for each rabbit with multiple exits.

Question 45

Rabbit Housing What enrichment can be included?

Answer 45

Willow balls, puzzle feeders, tunnels, dig boxes, snuffle mats. Scatter feeding and hay balls.

Question 46

Rabbit Housing What is the preferred temperature range for rabbits?

Answer 46

Cooler temperatures. Minimum temp - 4*C.

Question 47

Rabbit Veterinary Housing What are the requirements when housing a rabbit in a veterinary practice?

Answer 47

Separate accommodation, away from cats/dogs to reduce stress. Provide a hide, e.g., their carrier or cardboard box. Place a blanket over the enclosure to reduce stress/make them feel safe. Temperature is appropriate to prevent hypothermia in practice.