RABBIT 

Numerous breeds and sizes exist. Average life expectancy for pet rabbits is 7-8 years, some can reach 15 years of age or more. Male rabbits will reach sexual maturity at 6-10 months of age, and females at 5-9 months.

  

Rabbits should also have access to water that is offered from either a sipper bottle or heavy ceramic bowl. The water should be changed daily and the container cleaned. Since rabbits cannot survive longer than 24 hours without water (and possibly less if the weather is hot), water availability should be checked once to twice a day.

Dietary supplements for rabbits are questionably necessary, especially if all other aspects of the diet are balanced and enough fiber is consumed.

Housing: Outdoor rabbits are prone to attacks from dogs and wildlife, as well as infections from maggots, fleas, mites, and other parasites. Therefore, rabbits are likely to remain healthier if housed exclusively indoors. An indoor cage should be large enough to allow for normal hopping with an area for sleeping and an area for being active. Half of the cage should be solid wood to prevent feet sores, and the other half mesh with wire gauge for feces/urine to easily fall through. Cages should be well ventilated and easily cleaned. Some rabbits may chew at the metal mesh so it's important the cage is not made of lead or zinc or coated with toxic paint.

Since many rabbits will deposit urine and feces in the same place each time, they can be easily trained to a litter box. This is accomplished by spending several days with the rabbit and placing him/her in the box repeatedly, especially when beginning to lift the tail before urinating. The rabbit should then be kept in the box until he/she has used it and then allow him/her to hop away. It may help to place several fecal pellets into the box as well. It's also helpful to place the box in the area the rabbit tends to use most often in the cage, as well as be easily accessible from the outside.

In addition to keeping rabbits healthier if living inside, they will also be much happier if given more personal attention while inside. Free roaming of the house is a great way to encourage exercise and socialization. It is important however to ensure the rabbit is never allowed unsupervised exercise. Several precautions should also be taken to "rabbit proof the house. Small tight areas should be eliminated and access to electrical and phone cords should be removed. All plants, chemicals, and cleaners should also be out of reach. It is very common for rabbits to chew on wooden furniture or wall/door corners. Wooden toys inside of the cage can curb the desire for constant chewing when out of the cage.

Handling: Rabbits can truly be interactive pets that love socialization and affection from people. All rabbits, therefore, should have a hiding box or house to retreat to during times of stress. There are several safe, humane ways to pick up a rabbit. The best would be to pick them up with two hands, one behind the front legs and one under the rear for support. The head can then be tucked under the elbow while carrying. An alternative method for picking up would use one hand to grab the rabbit's large scuff, and another under the rear for weight support. If a rabbit does not feel well supported, he/she will be likely to jump or kick and can easily injure or break its legs or spine.

Table 7: Some common diseases of rabbit

Disease Pneumonia  Symptom                                   Treatment

Bacterial disease characterised               The rabbit should be injected with

by occasional tilting back of the              antibiotics as soon as the disease is

head, heavy breathing, loss of                 observed and protected from

appetite as well as loss of condition         exposure to excessive

which may eventually result in death        cold and rain

Ringworm                    Caused by fungus. It shows as                 The affected rabbits should be isolated

reddened spots on the skin. Highly          and the hutch disinfected with izal.

contagious, also to humans                      Affected spots should be washed with  warm, soapy water, rinsed, dried and a

 tincture of iodine should be applied

Coccidiosis                  Highly contagious disease. Associated    Infected rabbits should be kept

with bloodstained feces and/or             isolated and treated with a drug.

diarrhoea. Animal eventually get              The cages should be disinfected with

thin and anaemic.                                  izal and kept without animals

for 3 months.

Cancer                         mucus discharge from the ear,               The rabbits should be cleaned with

scratching of ear and shaking of head.   disinfectant and sprayed

with aureomyan

Mite or Mange            hair loss and poor appetite                     The body should be robbed with

dettol or used engine oil.

The rabbit can be sprayed with Asumtol

The rabbit's pregnancy cycle averages 31 days with a litter size of 4-10 baby bunnies. The mother may only nurse one or two times a day, and the babies are typically weaned at 4-6 weeks of age. Because rabbits are considered prey species (like most exotics), they will tend to hide symptoms of illness for days to weeks. Therefore any changes observed by the owner should never be taken lightly and warrants a trip to the vet as soon as possible.

Nutrition: Rabbits should be fed a consistent balance of free-choice hay, measured pellets, and fresh vegetables. For normal digestion to occur, rabbits should always have access to a fresh supply of high quality grass hay. Due to the lower protein and calcium content, grass hay, such as timothy, oat, orchard, or brome, is far preferable to legume hay, such as alfalfa, clover, peanut, or pea.

In addition to pellets and hay, rabbits should also be offered a small amount of vegetables on a daily basis.

Table 6: Some common diseases of rabbit

Disease                                                Symptom                                   Treatment

Pneumonia                  Bacterial disease characterised              The rabbit should be injected with

                                  by occasional tilting back of the             The affected rabbits should be isolated

head, heavy breathing, loss of                and the hutch disinfected with izal,

appetite as well as loss of condition       Affected spots should be washed

which may eventually result in death      with warm, soapy water, rinsed, dried

and a tincture of iodine should be applied

Coccidiocisis             Highly contagious disease.                        Infected rabbits should be kept isolated

                                  Associated with bloodstained                    and treated with drug. The cages

                                faeces and/or diarrhoea. Animal               should be disinfected with izal andeventually                                   get thin and anaemic.                                kept without animals for 3 months.

Cancer                     mucus discharge from the ear,                  The body should be robbed with 

                                 scratching of ear and shaking                    dettol or used engine oil.

                                of head.                                                   The rabbit can be sprayed

Mate or Mage        hair loss and poor appetite                       with Asumtol 

Terms used in Rabbit management

Buck: adult male Doe: adult female Pup: young rabbit Kindling: act of parturition