Caring for Pet Rabbits
Biological Data:
The body temperature of rabbits is 39.5 degrees; the respiratory rate is 35-56 breaths per minute; the heart rate is 205-308 beats per minute; sexual maturity occurs from 5-12 months of age.
The oestrus cycle of rabbits is not clear-cut, however, they become sexually unreceptive every 4-17 days. Ovulation, which is induced by mating, occurs approximately 10 days after mating. The gestation period is 28-34 days. The litter size is 4-10. Kittens are born relatively helpless, hairless and with their eyes closed. Their eyes open at 10 days and they emerge from the nest at 3 weeks. They are weaned and not sold until they are 8-10 weeks old. Rabbits usually live for 5-7 years, but some males can live up to 15 years.
Nutrition:
Rabbits need 5% their bodyweight of food per day, approximately 75-100g, and a lactating doe may need three times this amount. They are best feed on rabbit pellets. The pellets contain 14% protein and 14% crude fibre. The level of fibre should be reduced to 10-12% for growth, gestation and lactation. The pellets are supplemented with grass, carrots, green vegetables and hay. Grass hay is preferred to clover or lucerne hay because the calcium level is lower.
Water is best provided in bottles, which are commonly stocked at pet stores, as their water is quickly contaminated if provided in bowls. Rabbits drink 80-100ml of water per kg of bodyweight each day. Lactating does may need up to 900ml of water per kg bodyweight per day.
Housing:
Rabbits can be reared in hutches. It is very important to keep the hutch clean, as it is more likely the rabbit may contract a respiratory tract infection and sore hocks in an unkept hutch. Rabbit urine is extremely corrosive, therefor stainless steal and plastic cages are preferred.
The environment should serve the needs of the animal. Twigs from fruit trees can be placed in the hutch as nibble, and chew toys to prevent the hutch from being destroyed. Rabbits are burrowers by nature and therefor require bedding such as hay and straw, and hiding places such as a hollow log. Avoid using wood shavings as bedding due to them being treated with a preservative. The aromatic hydrocarbons produced from softwood beddings such as cedar and pine, can cause both respiratory and liver damage in rabbits and other small animals.
Vaccination:
Vaccination is against Rabbit Calicivirus Disease. The virus is present in the saliva and nasal secretions and contaminated excreta of infected rabbits. It can be spread either by direct contact or by other animals and insects. The signs of RCD are within 12-18 hours... they are quiet and stop drinking and eating. There is no treatment to reverse RCD and nearly 100% die quietly with no signs of struggle and distress within approximately 30 hours. Vaccination is given to rabbits at 12 weeks of age and requires an annual booster
Health Maintenance Procedures for Rabbits:
Grooming: Rabbits shed their hair every 3 months, every second shedding is light, followed by a heavy shedding 3 months later. They need to be brushed or combed when they start to shed. Rabbits groom themselves like cats and will ingest the loose hair, which they cannot vomit, as can cats. For this reason, besides regular grooming, they must have access to fresh hay every day, as the fibre helps the hair pass through their digestive system.
Tooth clipping: Rabbits teeth can be misaligned. This condition is known as Malocclusion, which means that a rabbits constantly growing teeth are not wearing down properly. If the misalignment is bad the teeth will need to be clipped periodically so that the rabbit can eat. Usually malocclusion just strikes the front teeth, but occasionally, the back teeth can also be misaligned. One indication of this is a wet chin and drooling. If this is the case, your rabbit will need his teeth trimmed by your veterinarian on a regular basis. Pelleted food will help by wearing the teeth down naturally.
Neutering Pet Rabbits:
The benefits of desexing your rabbit for a female is for the prevention of cancer in the uterus and ovaries, the prevention of false pregnancies which may cause hair loss by females pulling out their fur to make nests, to reduce aggressiveness toward any other rabbits and to prevent any unwanted litters. Benefits for desexing your male rabbit may reduce dominance and aggression, territorial scent marking by urinating and also the prevention of unwanted litters.
Rabbits can be neutered at the age of 4 months and over.
Urine:
Rabbits urine varies in colour from clear to yellow to brown to bright red. This is usually not a sign of alarm unless there are additional signs such as sitting and straining to urinate, loss of appetite or temperature. If you see red urine, dont panic, watch for other signs. If in doubt have your veterinarian test whether there is any blood in the urine. Rabbits also naturally eat their own faeces (coprophagy). This is normal behaviour, a sign of health, not disease. If they are prevented from doing this they may develop a vitamin B deficiency.
Health Problems in Rabbits
Heat stress: Heat stress can occur in rabbits subjected to temperatures above 30 degrees. The treatment may be to immerse the rabbit in cold water and wrap it in a wet towel.
Sore Hocks: Sore hocks are common in heavy rabbits kept on wire. Ulcerative lesions develop on the underside of the hind feet and sometimes the forefeet, then a secondary infection is common. The rabbit should be taken to your veterinarian for treatment and taken off wire floors and kept solid flooring with bedding.
Parasite Control: Ensuring that all food is fresh and is not contaminated with any dog or cat faeces may prevent internal parasites. The dog and cat faeces may be infested with tapeworm eggs that develop into intermediate stages of the parasites. Rabbits may be treated for roundworms by your veterinarian. External parasites include mites, fleas and lice. Whilst grooming check for any hair loss, scaling of the skin and sores, also watch for scratching, rubbing, self inflicted trauma and shaking of the head (for mites in the ear)
Wriiten: Michele 2000