Transcript Rabbit Yola 1 - Ryan Kutzler VTI

Rabbit Husbandry and Management
Identification
 All
adult rabbits should be
identified individually.
 The most common
identification method is
an ear tattoo.
 A permanent number is
tattooed on the central
groove inside the pinna,
where the number is easy
to see
Ear clip

Another acceptable method
of identification is an ear clip
that contains a unique
identification number. A
disadvantage of ear tags is
that they may cause a local
infection that will not heal
until the tag is removed
CAGING
Cage interior
Adult
rabbits are housed
individually, preferably in
cages made of stainless steel.
The sides are perforated or
made of fine wire mesh to
provide circulation, and the
front door should allow
visualization of the animal.
Cage

A mature animal weighing 4 - 5.4 kg
requires 4 sq feet, and an animal heavier
than 5.4 kg requires 5 sq ft. The USDA,
which enforces the Animal Welfare Act
regulations, may require more spacious
cages than stated in the Guide, and it is
important for all facilities subject to USDA
inspection to comply with their standards.
Racks of cages
Rabbit
cages can be tiered to
utilize vertical space within the
room. The room, however,
should not contain any other
animal species. In addition, it is
wise to house rabbits where
they cannot hear noisy species,
such as dogs and nonhuman
primates, as they are disturbed
by intermittent loud noises
Housing

Good ventilation in the room is important
as it supplies oxygen; ventilation dilutes
accumulations of ammonia caused by
evaporating urine; removes heat generated
by the animal's respiration, lights, and
equipment; and carries away airborne hair
Temperature / Humidity
Rabbits can tolerate a reasonably wide
fluctuation in room temperature; but
because of their very dense hair coats, they
are susceptible to overheating.
 Their most comfortable environment is a
temperature between 60.8° and 69.8°F
with a humidity level of 40 - 60%.

Light

A cycle of 12 hours of
light and 12 hours of
darkness is satisfactory
for routine housing of
rabbits, but increasing
the light period to 16
hours, with 8 hours of
darkness, facilitates
breeding activity
Nutrition
Herbivores
Daily food intake: 5gm/100gm BW/day
Daily water intake: 5-10 mls/100gm BW/day
Daily urine output: 50-90 mls/day
Nutrition (cont)
Cecotropes:
Special feces eaten directly
from anus, then digested
Not waste materials – rich in
organisms from cecum
Contains nutrients:
Amino acids
Fatty acids
Vitamin
Should not see these
droppings on bottom of cage
Appearance: elongated,
green, coated with mucous,
strong odor
Pellet diet
Under natural conditions, rabbits normally
live on green herbage nutrients and other
plant material.
 However, in a laboratory setting they are
normally fed a pelleted diet that contains
14 - 19% crude protein, not less than 1.5%
fat, and 16 - 25% crude fiber

Nutrition (cont)
Commercially prepared pelleted diet
Ad lib or restricted
Grass Hay – very important
Rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins
Types available:
Timothy grass
Meadow grass
Oat grass
Rye grass
Barley grass
Bermuda grass
Nutrition (cont)
Fat rabbits do not breed
Rabbits that do not breed become fat
Excessive Vit A and/or D can lead to toxicity
-
Reluctant to move and anorexic
Acid treatment

An acid solution should
be used on all surfaces,
as necessary, to
dissolve solidified
particulate matter that
results from rabbit
urine. This is followed
by thorough rinsing.
Restraint
Pick Up



Grasp by scruff
with one hand
Support Hind
quarters with
other hand
NEVER


Pick up by ears
Let rear legs
dangle
Removing the rabbit from its cage




With your dominant
hand, firmly grasp the
rabbit by the scruff of
fur behind its neck
Have the rabbit face the
back of the cage
Lift gently by the scruff
Scoop under the
hindquarters with your
other hand and remove
the rabbit from its cage
Replacing the rabbit into its cage



Using the restraint
described before,
gently place the rabbit
into its cage, facing
toward the back
Place the hind feet
down first
If the rabbit takes off,
it will run toward the
back of its cage
General transport techniques




Scruff the rabbit by its
neck
Place the rabbit's head
under your arm (armpit)
Allow the rabbit's body to
lie on your lower arm and
spread your fingers on
either side of the tail,
supporting the
hindquarters
Place the hand of your
upper arm on the dorsal
surface of the rabbit to
maintain control
Flying bunny" transport
This method is used for
aggressive and hard-tohandle rabbits
 Scruff the rabbit's neck
with one hand and grab
the skin over the
hindquarters with your
other hand
 While lifting, rotate your
fists inward, gently
arching the rabbit's back
 Hold firmly- the rabbit
may struggle and you
don't want to drop it or
allow it to hurt itself

Wiggly Rabbits



Bunny burrito
Rabbit
restraint
devices
Cat bag
Hypnotism
MethodFirmly scruff the rabbit's neck with your dominant
hand
Cross your nondominant hand underneath to
scruff the rump
Invert the rabbit onto its back Roll the rabbit onto its rump
 Quickly lie it on its back
Transfer your hand from the rump to the
abdomen
 Keep the rabbit's spine and head straight
Gently stroke the rabbit's abdomen
(the nictitating membrane- 3rd eyelid- should
move over the pupil when the rabbit is hypnotized
Check the pedal reflex by pinching the toes- a
properly hypnotized rabbit won't move
To end the hypnotism, slowly and gently sit the
rabbit on its rump and then onto its feet
Towel wrap (bunny burrito)

Place the rabbit on an
opened towel
Snuggly wrap the towel
around the rabbit's body
Gently pull out the part
you need to work on
IMPORTANT: ensure that
the rabbit has proper
ventilation when using this
restraint. Rabbits
overheat readily, so
constant monitoring is
essential!!
Cat bagA nylon bag made for
restraining cats may be
useful for
rabbits. Unzipping the
appropriate zipper makes
the needed body parts
readily accessible
Restraint boxes

Several different types of restraint boxes specifically made to
hold rabbits are commercially available. It is imperative that
the box properly fit the size of the rabbit that you are working
with in order to avoid injury to the rabbit.
Venipuncture
20 to 25 g needle of suitable length with
syringe. (A short bevel needle not more
than 1 inch long and a syringe of 5 ml
capacity or less is recommended.)
 Butterfly infusion sets also work well

Venipuncture


Venipuncture of rabbit
lateral saphenous vein

Rabbit jugular stick
You can use the lateral saphenous vein or jugular
vein to obtain blood from a rabbit.
The marginal ear vein is NOT recommended; if a thrombus
forms in this vein, it can lead to sloughing of the ear pinna.
 Use the central artery
