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Rabbit basics, Screen Shot 2020-04-28 at 13.40.10 - Coggle Diagram

- - - - IV fluids indicated if been ill for several days with no intake
      - best route for IV therapy is lateral ear vein +/- EMLA
      - fluid choice
        
        Rabbits cannot vomit, so metabolic alkalosis likely to occur. But rabbit kidney poor at secreting hydrogen ions, acidosis can be a problem. Ketoacidosis occurs fast in anorectic episodes.
        
        safest choice is Hartmanns
      - PCV of normal rabbit is 32-40%
      - IV fluids can be started at 25ml/kg/hr for 2 hours
      - maintenance is 100ml/kg/day
      - Subcutaneous fluids are of benefit peri-operatively or when the rabbit has just entered a period of anorexia. Once there is peripheral vasoconstriction it is not a lot of use!
    - - 60-100ml/kg/24hr
    - - every rabbit that has not eaten for 12h should have s/c fluids +/- syringe feed
  - - - e.g. Emeraid has no vitamin C
      - +/- probiotics
    - - check swallowing other pneumonia likely.
  - - - reduced appetite
      - reduced faeces
      - reduced activity
  - - - Penicillins
      - Lincosamides
      - Aminoglycosides
      - Cephalosporins
      - Erythromycin
    - - Metronidazone
      - Fluoroquinolones
      - Tetracyclines
      - Sulphonamides
      - Macrolides (except erythromycin)
- - - - indoor less likely to come into contact with wild rabbits, but can pass via insect bites, fomites (other pets, owners clothing/shoes, hay etc)
  - - - prevent reproductive tumours of uterus or testicles
        
        80% by 4y/o develop these and can spread to other organs
        
        e.g. uterine adenocarcinoma
      - prevent unwanted pregnancies
      - allow both sexes to be together
      - help reduce hormone-related behaviours such as aggression, scent-mating and mounting (but may not completely stop)
      - Reduces transmission of venereal diseases such as treponematosis
  - - - routine worming of in-contact cats and dogs, prevention of build up of faecal matter on grazing
    - - Commonest intestine nematode is Passalurus ambiguus
        
        non-pathogenic in adult rabbits and male have role in mechanical mixing of ingest in caecum
        
        Heavy infestations in young animals may cause clinical signs requiring treatment and contribute to the enteritis complex
        
        Susceptible to most anthelmintics
        
        E.g. Piperazine and fenbendazole
        
        ivermectin ineffective at 0.4mg/kg
        
        unlikely needed in adult rabbit
        
        control strategies
        
        restricting access to infected faeces
        
        clean hutches regularly
        
        pasture rotation
      - Obeliscoides cuniculi occurs in wild rabbits in various parts of world and domestic USA rabbits and causes haemorrhage diarrhoea
    - - Cysticercus pisformis (larval stage of Taenia pisiformis)
        
        affects dogs and foxes, rabbits are intermediate host
        
        eggs pass into small intestine where the onchosphere emerges and migrates to the peritoneal cavity via the liver (can cause fibrous tracts and necrotic foci in liver)
        
        multiple oval cysts found in mesentery (cysts contain inverted scolex of the tapeworm)
        
        heavy infestations cause abdominal discomfort and distension, if severe can cause intestinal obstruction
      - Coenurus serialis
        
        larval stage of Tania serialis (affects dogs and foxes)
        
        humans can also host intermediate stages
        
        onchospheres from this tapeworm migrate to the subcutaneous tissue where they form cysts that are palpated as soft swellings under the skin
        
        occasionally a cyst may be found in the orbit, where it causes retrobulbar swelling
      - Echinocactus granulosus affects dogs and foxes
        
        humans can also act as intermediate hosts
        
        abdominal swelling (due to palpable masses/cysts), abdominal pain and anorexia
    - - Imidacloprid and selamectin preparations are safe and effective for most
      - may be underlying reason for infestation e.g. dental pain reducing grooming. Must examine for underlying disease.
    - - microsporidial organism commonly found on UK rabbits and is a cause of neurological signs and renal failure, but many subclinical.
      - infective spores passed in urine and faeces
        
        spores can remain viable in environment for 4-6 weeks
        
        easily inactivated by most disinfectants
        
        in utero infection can occur
      - Fenbendazole used to clear organism
        
        28 day course for treatment
        
        9 day course every 6 months for prevention
      - Strategies such as elevating feeding bowls, using hay nets rather than hay as bedding, good standards of hygiene between seropositive and seronegative individuals
      - 50% rabbits in UK seropositive, but many never become clinically ill
        
        a +ve antibody titre does not confer resistance to infection, neither does regular treatment
- - - - spay in early stages of pregnancy
      - give aglepristone
    - - USS 6+ days
      - radiographically 11+ days
      - palpation at 10-12 days
    - - average 31 days
      - Parturition (kindling) often at night or early morning
      - Early signs of labour include pulling fur
      - a doe observed straining or with visible spots of blood in absence of kits is likely to be experiencing difficulty and vet intervention indicated
    - - Doe is fertile immediately after giving birth, so entire male companions should be removed or doe likely will give birth 1m later
      - breeding season January - September
    - - Does only feed kits 1-2x max daily and rarely witnessed
      - only remove from doe in first 48h if she is harming them or unwell
      - if after 48h the kits are unfed the skin will be wrinkled, cold to touch and weak. Supplementary feeding/hand-rearing may be indicated
      - best diet
        
        Grass based food
        
        80% hay or hand picked fresh growing grass
        
        pile of hay equal or more than body size each day
        
        sweet smelling, good quality (e.g. timothy), not mouldy or dusty
        
        do not use lawnmower cuttings as this starts fermenting and can be fatal to rabbit, causing serious digestive problems
        
        Leafy green weeds and vegetables
        
        handful once a day
        
        not iceberg lettuce as this has poor nutritional value and may cause diarrhoea
        
        wash first
        
        No more than 25g commercial rabbit food per kilogram bodyweight per day
        
        decrease if neutered or tho with limited exercise opportunities
        
        good quality high fibre pellet or nugget
        
        muesli type diets increase risk of dental disease and leads to selective eating and so an unbalanced diet
        
        concentrates should not be fed ad lib
        
        concentrates should not exceed 2-3% of correct bodyweight daily (except for ill/convalescent animals)
    - - do not handle in first few days, only to check if alive
      - eyes open at 10-12d
      - daily handling of kits when they leave the nest is good, but only short periods to begin with and some kits may not be seen until nearly 3w old
      - any doe not bred before 12 months will be much less likely to conceive and have much smaller litters.
        
        small litters can include abnormally large kits, leading to dystocia and perhaps indication for caesarean section
      - average litter size is 4-8 kits
        
        does of smaller breeds e.g. Netherland Dwarf, Polish, tend to have smaller litters
        
        giant breeds e.g. British giant, continental giant have much larger litters, with 12-14 kits fairly usual
    - - best done at 4 weeks old
      - if difficult to sex, consider possibility of buck with hypospadias, difficult to be sure of sex until testes descend
      - female
      - Male
    - - lasts 16-17 days
      - easily induced in doe and can be caused by infertile mating, sexual excitement resulting from doe mounting another doe or stress
    - - Rabbits are social creatures, living in stable groups of 2 to around 14 individuals. Lisiewicz et al. (2009) found faecal corticosterone levels to be significantly higher in rabbits housed alone and concluded that solitary housing is a source of chronic stress for both males and females.
        
        owner should provide sufficient social interaction +/- consider introducing another rabbit if possible
      - Ideally rabbits should be kept in neutered male– female pairs. Housing two males together can cause problems because male rabbit society is hier- archical and fighting can occur between adult males. Does tend to live in a state of mutual toler- ance until their first breeding season when serious, and fatal, fighting can occur
- - - - more susceptible e.g. to Encephalitozoon cuniculi or pasteurellosis
    - - covered and secure transport container, travel as short as poss.
      - bring companions, food (+water)
        
        crepuscular habits so disturb as little as poss. at night
        
        Ensure to ask owner whether rabbit is used to bowl or bottle and if a litter tray is used and what litter it contains.
      - minimise predator smells
      - dimmer lights
      - have all equipment easily accessible
        
        minimises handling time
      - towels, blankets, some calmer if eyes covered.
      - only acceptable to have rabbit on back for temperature, as trancing rabbit increases cortisol. Dorsal immobility response may also be useful for health checks and non-invasive procedures such as sexing and nail clipping. Not appropriate for general interaction
      - Always provide hide and floor level cage preferred
      - Beware of heat stress
        
        normal rabbit temperature 38-39.5C
        
        recommended ambient temperature 18-21C