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Preface v 1 Husbandry 1 2 Nutrition 7 3 The Clinical Examination 19 4 The Skin 29 5 The Reproductive System 44 6 The NeonatalRabbit 59 7 The Urinary System 64 8 The RespiratorySystem 73 9 The Digestive System 81 10 The MusculoskeletalSystem 108 11 The Teeth 115 12 The HeadandNeck 121 13 Neurological and Neuromuscular Disorders 133 14 ImportantViralDiseases 139 15 Behaviour 144 16 Anaesthesia and Surgery 151 17 Drugs and Treatments 158 18 Zoonotic Aspects 168 References and further reading 171 Index 174 iii PREFACE Thestatusoftherabbitasapethaschangeddramaticallyinrecentyears. Formany itisnolonger theforgotten petin ahutchat the bottom ofthe garden; instead it has been brought indoors and cared for as one of the family, often alongside more traditional family pets, the cat and dog. The ‘house rabbit’ has become an increasingly popular pet. For working familiesitmaybeadogorcatsubstitute,asitishappytobealoneallday, but will enjoy and respond to companionship every evening, at a time whenitisnaturallyactive.Rabbitsaresurprisinglyresponsiveandeasyto train.Theopportunitiesforfreeexercise andsocialcontactforthehouse rabbitcreateapetthatisoftenhealthier,bothphysicallyandemotionally, than its outdoor counterpart. It is little wonder that our clients now expect, and deserve, the same standardofveterinarycarefortheirrabbitsastheyreceivefortheircatsand dogs. Previous texts have been concerned, in whole or in part, with laboratory or farmed rabbits. This text, the first of its kind, is devoted entirelytothe pet rabbit, its husbandry andhealth. Aswiththetreatmentofothersmallpets,themajorityofdrugsavailable are not licensed for use in rabbits. Every effort has been made to ensure thatthedoseratesinthetextareaccurate,butalldrugsmustbeusedatthe clinician’s own risk. Where appropriate licensed drugs should be selected beforenon-licensed alternatives. My thanks go to Fiona Webb and Ean Richardson for providing the photographs used in the book. V.C.G. Richardson v 1 HUSBANDRY INTRODUCTION Traditionally, rabbits have been kept as pets in hutches in the garden, in solitaryconfinement.However,asmorehasbeenlearntabouttherabbit, and due to alterations in our society, this is all changing. It is now recognised that rabbits are very social creatures, and benefit from company, either from another rabbit, guinea pig, or their owners. They canalsointeracthappilywithotherpetsinthehouseholdsuchasdogsand cats. Therabbitisthethirdmostpopularpetafterthedogandcat,andsocial changessuggestthattheirpopularityissettoincrease.Withmorefamilies working long hours, a dog may become too much of a commitment and cats,beingmoreindependent,areoftenouthuntingwhentheirownersare home from work and looking for their companionship. The rabbit is an excellent alternative, as it is able to be shut away in its hutch whilst its ownersareatwork,yetcanoffercompanionshipwhentheyarehome.A rabbit is crepuscular by nature, and therefore most active in the morning and evening, when its owners are at home, and naturally content to rest duringthedaywhentheyareout.Thusthereisagrowingtrendforrabbits tobekeptindoorsas‘houserabbits’.Thischapterreflectsthesechanges, particularly in the sections on housingandstocking. HOUSING Rabbits can be kept in a variety of ways, either indoors or outdoors. This mayrangefromahutchinthegarden,shedorgarage,toanindoorkennel inthehouse.Wherevertheyarekeptthereareseveralbasicprinciplesthat shouldbe considered. 1 2 Chapter1 . Theyshouldbeallowedasmuchspaceaspossible,withtheopportunity for freeexercise for 4hoursdaily. . Theaccommodationshouldofferonesheltered,darkretreat.This‘den’ mimics the burrow andoffersa place ofsafety in which tohide. . Theaccommodationshouldbehighenoughtoallowtherabbittostand fullstretch on its hind legs. . Rabbits are particularly susceptible to heat stroke; they should not be exposed to direct sunlight in the heat of the day without provision of shade and shelter. Outdoor rabbits Many rabbits are kept outdoors in hutches. Ideally there should be a run attached.Ifthegardenisenclosedtherabbitcanbeallowedfreerunofthe garden. It is important to ensure protection from predators, either wild animals or other domestic pets. The hutch must be situated in a site protected from rain, wind and, in the summer, direct sunlight. Outdoor rabbits must be kept clean and dry and their hutch cleaned regularly, as they are most susceptible to the unwanted attentions of flies and the development of ‘fly strike’. Breeders may keep their rabbits in tiers of hutchesinashedorgarage.Ifmanyrabbitsarekeptlikethisitisimportant to ensure good ventilation at all times. The ideal environmental tempera- tureinashedis168C(618F).Ifrabbitsarekeptinagarage,thecarshould ideallybekeptelsewheretoavoidtheeffectsofnoxiouscarfumes.Rabbits are also particularly terrified ofthe smellof caroils and petrol. Indoor rabbits A variety of accommodation is available for the indoor rabbit. Even if the rabbit is allowed free run of the house, it is important to provide it with a denofitsown.Theindoordogkennelisthemostpopularformofindoor cage. However, as ‘house rabbits’ become more popular there are ‘designerhutches’appearingonthemarket.Itisimportantthattheindoor cageissitedsomewherequietinthehouse,andthatwithinthecagethere isadarkcoveredareatohide;thecageshouldnotbeplaceddirectlybya radiator orwindow. Whentherabbitisallowedfreerunofthehouseitisimportantto‘bunny- proof’anyelectricalwires or other objects thatthe rabbit may chew. Husbandry 3 THE ENVIRONMENT Rabbitsareintelligentcreaturesthatrequirementalstimulationinorderto avoid stereotypical behaviour associated with zoo animals. This is parti- cularly relevant for rabbits kept in confined hutches. Laboratories have recentlyrecognisedthisneedformentalstimulation,andnowkeeprabbits in groups and provide ‘toys’. The rabbit’s natural curiosity and need to burrow can be satisfied by providing pipes to crawl through, and cardboard boxes to chew and hide under.Itsforaging instinctcanbedevelopedbyscatteringfood andtreats all around its environment, so that it can take time to search for food. Plentyofhayfor‘grazing’shouldbesuppliedatalltimes.Edible‘toys’such asstrawcoastersandbasketswillprovidehoursofamusement,aswillsmall plastictoys marketed forcats. Heat stroke Rabbitsareparticularlysusceptibletoheatstroke,andthisisanimportant factor to consider when planning their environment. They should not be exposed to direct sunlight in the heat of the day without some shade and shelter being provided. Indoor cages should not be placed directly by a radiatoror window. Clinical signs: Respiratory distress, mouth breathing, weakness, depres- sion, incoordination and convulsions. Body temperature more than 40.58C(1058F). Treatment:Therabbitshouldbesprayedwithawatersprayorimmersed in tepid water. Fluids should be given by intravenous or subcutaneous injection. A shock dose of dexamethasone (2mg/kg) can be given intravenously. Bedding Traditionallyhayandstrawareusedasbedding.Hutchescanbelinedwith newspaperorlinoleumforeaseofcleaning.Indoorrabbitscanbekepton newspaper, linoleum or carpet. Hay and straw serve a dual purpose, as beddingandasthebasisofthediet,andshouldbereplenisheddaily.Both indoorandoutdoorrabbitscanbetrainedtousealittertray,andthismakes it much easier tokeep the environment clean. 4 Chapter1 Litter training Rabbitspasstheirfaecesandurineinchosenareasaspartoftheirnatural instincttomarktheirterritory,anditisthistraitwhichmakesthemeasyto litter train. Bothindoorandoutdoor rabbits canbetaughttouse atrayin thisway.Inthecaseofoutdoorrabbitsthetrayisplacedintheareaofthe hutch where they defaecate; for indoor rabbits the first tray is placed in theirindoorkennel,andsubsequenttrayscanbeplacedaroundthehouse. The followingprinciplesapply tobothindoorand outdoorrabbits. . Older rabbits are easiest to litter train, particularly if they have been neutered.Thisisbecause theyhaveless ofan urgetoterritory markin multiple sites. . Loss of litter box habits may occur at sexual maturity, and this can be corrected by neutering. Inappropriate toileting may also be the first symptom ofurinarytractdisease. . Rabbits tend to defaecate as they eat, and can be encouraged to use a tray by placing some tasty pieces of food in one corner, or a hay net above the tray. . If the rabbit takes to sleeping in the tray, a second tray should be provided with straw,orfleece forit toliein. . Type of litter. Clay litter should not be used as it can cause gastro- intestinal obstruction ifingested. It hasalso been well documented that aromatic hydrocarbons from cedar and pine shavings induce liver disease, resulting in elevated liver enzymes, which should return to normal once the litter is removed. The best litter is paper pulp litter or strawwhich canbe ingested safely. STOCKING Ithasrecentlybecomeclearthatrabbitsaresocialanimals,andshouldhave companionship. Traditionally rabbits have been kept alone, or with a guineapig.Tworabbitswillformaveryclosepair-bond,buthouserabbits havebeenknowntoformclosebondswithcatsanddogs,despitethefact that both are the rabbit’s naturalpredators. Rabbits and guinea pigs Thereismuchwrittenthatstatesthatrabbitsandguineapigsshouldnever bekepttogether.However,therearemanyrabbitsandguineapigsthatdo Husbandry 5 becomeclosecompanionsfortheirwholelifetime.Whenconsideringthis issuethe following pointsmustbetaken intoaccount: . Rabbitscankickwithforce,andarecapableofbreakingtheguineapig’s legsorribseasily.Theguineapigmustbegivenlittledenswithentrances thatonly itcan get through. . The rabbit should be neutered, otherwise it could hurt or scare the guinea pigwhen ittries to mount it. . RabbitscanharbourBordetella,harmlesstotherabbit,butpathogenic forthe guinea pig. . Guinea pigs have a high daily requirement for vitamin C, generally suppliedbytheprovisionoflargequantitiesofgreenfood,possiblymore than the rabbit isused to. Rabbit and rabbit The very best pair-bond is a neutered male and neutered female. Such a pairwillremainclosefortheirlifetime.Twoneutereddoesortwoneutered bucksmaylivetogether,butthesepairingsarelessreliable,andmayresult in the odd squabble. Same sex pairs are more likely to work if they are introducedtoeachotherwhentheyareyoung,ideallyunder12weeksof age, orfrom the same litter. The ideal scenario is the purchase of a male and female from the same litter. The male can be castrated at 14–15 weeks, and the female spayed at 6 months, and they need never be separated. In spacious environments groups of rabbits can live together peaceably. Pair-bonded rabbits are extremely close, and this should be taken into consideration if one of the pair is ill, or requires hospitalisation. The sick rabbitwillrecovermorequickly,andnotlosethewilltoliveifitiskeptwith its companion, even if this means hospitalising the companion with it. If one member of the pair dies, the remaining rabbit is likely to be able to form another pair-bondeasily,as itwill cravecompanionship. Rabbits and other domestic pets House rabbits will form close friendships with dogs and cats, traditionally considered to be their predators. Any introductions must be done gradu- ally,andunderclosesupervision.Ifrabbitsdocomeintocontactwithdogs orcats,fleacontrolofthedogandcatisextremelyimportantasthefleais the maincarrierofmxyomatosis. 6 Chapter1 Procedure for pairing two rabbits As previously mentioned the best pair-bond is a neutered male with a neuteredfemale.Ifonlythemaleisneutered,thefemalemayexperience cycles of moodiness associated with her hormonal surges and the devel- opment of false pregnancies, and may become aggressive towards her companion at certain times in this cycle. . Thetworabbitsshouldbeintroducedonneutralterritory,withplentyof available space. . There will be chasing and mounting by the two rabbits, this is a sexual ritual (evenifneutered) and quite normal. . Only intervene if actual fighting occurs, and then try aversion tactics using a water spray, before handling the rabbits. . Somerabbitsmayaccepteachotheralmostimmediately,butitmaytake 24–48hours. . When the rabbits groom each other, particularly around the head, bondinghasbeen successful. . Oppositesexrabbits,ifneutered,canbepairedatanytimeoftheyear. Same sex rabbits are best paired in the winter during their period of sexual inactivity, when they are least likely to fight. Same sex pairs shouldnotbeabletosmellanoppositesexrabbitintheirsurroundings, or theywill fight. . If a neutered buck is paired with an unneutered doe it must be done at least2weeksafterthesurgeryashecouldstillbeabletomateher.The exception is if the doe has not reached sexual maturity, in which instancethey can bepairedimmediately.