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Weight:
Rabbits range
from 2 to 20 pounds and can live for up to 15 years. They are born with
closed eyes which do not open until about ten days after birth. Bunnies
should be weaned at about 4 weeks old.
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Handling:
To
pick up a rabbit, take hold of a handful of loose skin over the
shoulders. As you start to lift , slide the other hand under its hind
legs and support the body weight by allowing the rabbit to stand on
your hand. It is very important that you put your hand under its legs
before lifting the rabbit too high. If you fail to do so, it could
cause serious damage to the rabbit. The reason for this is if it
becomes startled, it will kick its hind legs and possibly break its
back. This is particularly true for adult Jack rabbits. Under no
circumstances should you grab a rabbit by the ears. It is painful for
the rabbit and during the struggle it could damage the fragile blood
vessels in the ears. Also, do not grab the rabbit with both hands
around its middle. Rabbits do not like this and will try to escape. As
they struggle to escape, they may scratch you and can injure their
back. In the event that a rabbit is being given sub-cutaneous
injections in the back which may produce sores, the animal can be
cupped to the chest of the handler using both hands. However, special
care has to be taken to prevent the animal from scratching the handler
and/or injuring it's back if it struggles to escape.
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Housing:
A rabbit must have a hutch or a cage for its own security. An adult
rabbit weighing 8 to 12 pounds requires at least 1 square yard (1
square meter) of floor space. A rabbit can tolerate cool much better
than hot. The hutch should be protected from the sun and from wind.
Bedding should be changed 2-3 times per week.
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Feeding:
Rabbits
are herbivorous animals. They eat most types of greens, hay, and
vegetables. There are also complete diets available in pellet form.
This is the preffered diet in most animal research labs. Fresh, clean
water must be available at all times. A rabbit will drink 1-2 ounces of
water per pound per day. A salt block or ring can be provided and the
rabbit will lick to obtain salt as needed. Rabbits teeth grow
continuously so they must chew to keep them down. Providing them with
hard wood blocks or dry hay or grass will provide for tooth wearing.
Feeding utensils and dishes shoud be kept clean. Wash as needed but
they should be washed at least once weekly. Cages should also be
cleaned once weekly. All rabbits eat some of their droppings. In the
early morning they produce softer pellets covered with mucus, which
they swallow as it is passed from their anus. This is a form of
recycling called Coprophagy. Disgusting though it may seem to us, the
rabbit obtains vitamins produced by intestinal bacteria and additional
protein broken down by these bacteria. Thus Coprophagy serves an
important function in rabbit nutrition.
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Diseases:
Singly housed rabbits have few disease problems, however there are a few commonly seen diseases.
Ear Mites: These are small insects that live and reproduce in the ear canal.
Symptoms: The infection will produce a smelly, dark-colored discharge.
The ear will droop, and the rabbit will scratch its ear and shake its
head often.
Treatment: Rub mineral oil or olive oil on both canals twice a week for a month.
Diarrhea:
Overeating of greens the rabbit is not used to can cause diarrhea. Cut
back on the amount of greens offered. Virulent infections can also
cause diarrhea in young rabbits. This is usually fatal.
Paralysis of the rear legs:
Symptoms: The rabbit is unable to use its hind legs and will drag
itself along the floor. This is usually the sequel to improper
handling, which resulted in the rabbit tearing muscles in the back or
fracturing the back. Place food and water close by where the rabbit can
reach them without much movement.
Treatment: If the rabbit does not get better in three weeks from keeping still, euthanasia is the humane course to follow.
Heatstroke:
Symptoms: When it is hot and humid, the rabbit may begin to pant and
drool. If it is not cooled down, it will go into a coma. Treatment:
If this happens, set up a hose to spray a fine mist or set a tray of
ice in the cage when it is hot and humid to prevent it from happening.
Buck Tooth or Malocclusion:
Symptoms: If the rabbit does not have anything to chew on, its teeth
will become long and twisted and the rabbit will not be able to eat.
There is also an inherited condition in which the rabbits lower
incisors can grow out in front of the uppers. If there is no wear the
teeth will grow overly long. Treatment: Trimming the teeth with a
cutting pliers if they get long, or Just providing chewing materials
should give relief.
Pregnancy Toxemia:
Symptoms: This is a condition that sometimes appears in overweight does
at or shortly after kindling. It can result in death even with
veterinary treatment. The doe is found lying comatose in the hutch.
Treatment: You should first take it to the Veterinarian. There it will
be treated with 10ml/50 percent glucose solution intravenously. If the
vet. is not available, and you are forced to treat the rabbit yourself,
give the rabbit a simple sugar solution orally. Honey can usually be
used as a simple sugar (5cc honey In 30 ml water). Insert a plastic
tube (1/8 or 1/4 inch [3-6mm] by 12 Inches [36cm]) down the rabbits
throat in to its stomach. Use a large syringe to inject the liquid in
to the tube. If you do not have access to a syringe you can use a
plastic food dispenser (ketchup or mustard bottle) or a turkey baster.
Lay the doe on her left side with her head pointed to her right.
Measure from the rabbits last rib to its nose and mark the distance on
the tube. Insert the tube into the rabbits stomach until the mark on
the tube reaches the rabbits nose. The tube can be lubricated with
margarine or butter to facilitate its insertion. Make sure to push it
gently into the back part of the mouth and if it hits an obstruction,
withdraw a little way and start down again until it slides down the
throat and the mark on the tube reaches the rabbits nose. If the rabbit
is still alive but not up and around in about an hour, repeat the
procedure. If it recovers, a solution of one teaspoon of sugar per pint
of water should be placed in its waterer for five or six consecutive
days.
Upper Respiratory Infection:
This is usually a bacterial infection, is frequently caused by a
Pasteurella organism and is called snuffles. If left untreated, it can
lead to middle ear infection, pneumonia and death.
Symptoms: The symptoms of upper respitory infections are: sneezing, coughing, and mucus discharge from eyes and nose.
Treatment: This can be effectively treated with 80 mg/kg of an
antibiotic/day (Panmycin), which should be divided into several doses
over the day.
Internal Parasites:
Symptoms: The rabbit can get roundworms, tapeworms, and
coccidia.
Treatment: If you see what looks like parasites being passed by a
rabbit, collect several samples of the stool in a plastic bottle and
take them to the Vet. He or she will identify the parasites and
prescribe the appropriate medication.
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