Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
EDIT!!
PLEASE SEE MY SECOND POST!!
Dont want the link I posted here to crash all your 'puters!!
Janex
PLEASE SEE MY SECOND POST!!
Dont want the link I posted here to crash all your 'puters!!
Janex
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Concise and Useful Info About RABBITS!!
- Thread starter Jack's-Jane
- Start date
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Copied and pasted it instead now!!
Copyright BURNS FEEDS
NORMAL PHYSIOLOGY OF THE RABBIT
Unlike dogs which have adapted markedly from their
counterparts in the wild, pet rabbits have the same
physiology as wild rabbits. Rabbits are designed to eat
grass as their main source of food. Grass has a low
nutritional value and is high in fi bre which means that
rabbits must spend a long time each day grazing in
order to meet their needs.
In the wild, the rabbit will spend several hours grazing,
especially at dawn and dusk. Herbs, fruits and berries
will form only a small part of the rabbit’s food intake.
The digestive system of the rabbit is geared to utilize
grass effectively and this is refl ected in a number of
important characteristics.
Firstly, the teeth of the rabbit grow continuously
throughout life. This is necessary because the teeth
are constantly worn down by grinding tough, fi brous
material. The upper and lower teeth wear against
each other.
Secondly, while proteins, fats and sugars are absorbed
in the small intestine, fi bre is fermented by bacteria
in the large intestine situated at the lower end of the
digestive system. This process produces vitamins,
essential fatty acids and amino acids which the rabbit
needs.
Unlike other species of animal, the rabbit produces
two types of faeces. These are the hard, dry pellets
we are all familiar with and caecotrophs. These are
soft, mucous-covered pellets which the rabbit eats as
soon as they are passed.
This sounds repulsive but this is how the rabbit obtains
the essential nutrients which are produced in the large
intestine. Most owners are unaware of this as the
caecotrophs are usually passed and eaten at night.
(The very young rabbit eats caecotrophs produced
by its mother but starts to produce its own at about 3
weeks of age.)
FEEDING THE PET RABBIT
Ideally, the diet of the pet rabbit should mimic that of
the wild rabbit i.e. based on grass or hay which should
always be available. This should be supplemented by
vegetables, wild plants and herbs.
Most commercial, cereal-based rabbit foods are
unsuitable in that they are high in nutrients, low in fi bre
and non-abrasive. This means that the rabbit can
satisfy its needs in a short time with little chewing. The
result is that the teeth are not worn down as required.
(See Dental Disease)
Commercial, cereal based foods should be fed
sparingly. They may be a useful part of the diet of the
growing rabbit or for rabbits kept outdoors in winter as
they need more energy to keep warm.
Any changes to the diet should be done gradually
to avoid the danger of digestive upset. If your rabbit
stops eating, veterinary attention should be sought.
GENERAL ADVICE
Rabbits are social animals so it is not ideal to keep
a rabbit on its own, especially if left unattended for
long periods. If possible, have more than one rabbit.
Rabbits are often bought for children who quickly lose
interest, and a rabbit which lives alone in a small hutch
at the bottom of a garden with minimal human contact
is not a pet - it is a prisoner.
Most rabbit runs on the market are too small. You
should buy the biggest hutch possible and ensure that
the rabbit gets out of its hutch every day for exercise
either in a run on the grass, or if it is an indoor rabbit
it should be exercised around the house (under
supervision!)
Rabbits can be housetrained and live as part of the
family.
DENTAL DISEASE
Although the mouth is part of the digestive system, it
is considered separately here because of the huge
importance of dental health to the well-being of the
rabbit.
Tooth problems are the commonest reason for seeking
veterinary attention for rabbits. Dental disease is often
the underlying cause of other disorders of the rabbit
e.g. digestive system, malnutrition, skin disease, fl y
strike, social disharmony (aggression).
Apart from a few exceptions (genetic malformation
in certain breeds, trauma) dental problems are due
to feeding unsuitable commercial diets which, as
mentioned above do not promote proper wear of the teeth.
If the teeth are not worn down by chewing, the cheek
teeth grow too long and are forced together. At this
stage the only external sign may be weight loss as
the rabbit has diffi culty eating. Further growth forces
the mouth open slightly so that the front incisors do
not meet properly and they start to overgrow and
lengthen. The upper incisors curl back into the mouth
and the lower incisors protrude outwards. This is
usually the stage at which a problem is noticed but
there is already considerable damage by this time.
Because the rabbit cannot chew properly, the cheek
teeth wear unevenly and form sharp points which
cut the cheek and tongue. This is painful, the rabbit
is reluctant to eat and may dribble. As the condition
progresses, the jaw may become lumpy as the jaw
bone erodes. This is very painful and may lead to
infection of the tooth roots and abscesses on the face
and head.
Other signs of dental disease are persistent runny or
infected eyes. This is because the tear ducts will be
affected by abnormalities of the roots of the incisor
teeth. Dental problems may also affect the rabbit’s
ability to eat their caecotrophs which then stick to
the rabbit’s bottom and attract fl ies. Failure to eat
caecotrophs may also lead to nutritional defi ciencies.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
As described earlier, the digestive system of the
rabbit is evolved to eat large amounts of grass with
a high fi bre content. Fibre is fermented by bacteria
in the large bowel to produce caecotrophs which are
expelled and then eaten to provide vitamins and other
essential nutrients.
If the rabbit’s diet consists of a high percentage
of cereal-based pellets containing easily digested
carbohydrate rather than grass or hay which is high
in fi bre, an excessive number of caecotrophs will be
produced. These stick to the bottom and may look like
diarrhoea. This is known as “sticky bottom”.
This can be distinguished from true diarrhoea in that
the rabbit will also produce normal, hard faeces as
well. If true diarrhoea is present, both types of faeces
will be watery. True diarrhoea needs immediate
veterinary attention.
Sticky bottom can also be caused by dental disorder,
obesity and back problems, all of which impair the
rabbit’s ability to eat its caecotrophs.
Copyright BURNS FEEDS
NORMAL PHYSIOLOGY OF THE RABBIT
Unlike dogs which have adapted markedly from their
counterparts in the wild, pet rabbits have the same
physiology as wild rabbits. Rabbits are designed to eat
grass as their main source of food. Grass has a low
nutritional value and is high in fi bre which means that
rabbits must spend a long time each day grazing in
order to meet their needs.
In the wild, the rabbit will spend several hours grazing,
especially at dawn and dusk. Herbs, fruits and berries
will form only a small part of the rabbit’s food intake.
The digestive system of the rabbit is geared to utilize
grass effectively and this is refl ected in a number of
important characteristics.
Firstly, the teeth of the rabbit grow continuously
throughout life. This is necessary because the teeth
are constantly worn down by grinding tough, fi brous
material. The upper and lower teeth wear against
each other.
Secondly, while proteins, fats and sugars are absorbed
in the small intestine, fi bre is fermented by bacteria
in the large intestine situated at the lower end of the
digestive system. This process produces vitamins,
essential fatty acids and amino acids which the rabbit
needs.
Unlike other species of animal, the rabbit produces
two types of faeces. These are the hard, dry pellets
we are all familiar with and caecotrophs. These are
soft, mucous-covered pellets which the rabbit eats as
soon as they are passed.
This sounds repulsive but this is how the rabbit obtains
the essential nutrients which are produced in the large
intestine. Most owners are unaware of this as the
caecotrophs are usually passed and eaten at night.
(The very young rabbit eats caecotrophs produced
by its mother but starts to produce its own at about 3
weeks of age.)
FEEDING THE PET RABBIT
Ideally, the diet of the pet rabbit should mimic that of
the wild rabbit i.e. based on grass or hay which should
always be available. This should be supplemented by
vegetables, wild plants and herbs.
Most commercial, cereal-based rabbit foods are
unsuitable in that they are high in nutrients, low in fi bre
and non-abrasive. This means that the rabbit can
satisfy its needs in a short time with little chewing. The
result is that the teeth are not worn down as required.
(See Dental Disease)
Commercial, cereal based foods should be fed
sparingly. They may be a useful part of the diet of the
growing rabbit or for rabbits kept outdoors in winter as
they need more energy to keep warm.
Any changes to the diet should be done gradually
to avoid the danger of digestive upset. If your rabbit
stops eating, veterinary attention should be sought.
GENERAL ADVICE
Rabbits are social animals so it is not ideal to keep
a rabbit on its own, especially if left unattended for
long periods. If possible, have more than one rabbit.
Rabbits are often bought for children who quickly lose
interest, and a rabbit which lives alone in a small hutch
at the bottom of a garden with minimal human contact
is not a pet - it is a prisoner.
Most rabbit runs on the market are too small. You
should buy the biggest hutch possible and ensure that
the rabbit gets out of its hutch every day for exercise
either in a run on the grass, or if it is an indoor rabbit
it should be exercised around the house (under
supervision!)
Rabbits can be housetrained and live as part of the
family.
DENTAL DISEASE
Although the mouth is part of the digestive system, it
is considered separately here because of the huge
importance of dental health to the well-being of the
rabbit.
Tooth problems are the commonest reason for seeking
veterinary attention for rabbits. Dental disease is often
the underlying cause of other disorders of the rabbit
e.g. digestive system, malnutrition, skin disease, fl y
strike, social disharmony (aggression).
Apart from a few exceptions (genetic malformation
in certain breeds, trauma) dental problems are due
to feeding unsuitable commercial diets which, as
mentioned above do not promote proper wear of the teeth.
If the teeth are not worn down by chewing, the cheek
teeth grow too long and are forced together. At this
stage the only external sign may be weight loss as
the rabbit has diffi culty eating. Further growth forces
the mouth open slightly so that the front incisors do
not meet properly and they start to overgrow and
lengthen. The upper incisors curl back into the mouth
and the lower incisors protrude outwards. This is
usually the stage at which a problem is noticed but
there is already considerable damage by this time.
Because the rabbit cannot chew properly, the cheek
teeth wear unevenly and form sharp points which
cut the cheek and tongue. This is painful, the rabbit
is reluctant to eat and may dribble. As the condition
progresses, the jaw may become lumpy as the jaw
bone erodes. This is very painful and may lead to
infection of the tooth roots and abscesses on the face
and head.
Other signs of dental disease are persistent runny or
infected eyes. This is because the tear ducts will be
affected by abnormalities of the roots of the incisor
teeth. Dental problems may also affect the rabbit’s
ability to eat their caecotrophs which then stick to
the rabbit’s bottom and attract fl ies. Failure to eat
caecotrophs may also lead to nutritional defi ciencies.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
As described earlier, the digestive system of the
rabbit is evolved to eat large amounts of grass with
a high fi bre content. Fibre is fermented by bacteria
in the large bowel to produce caecotrophs which are
expelled and then eaten to provide vitamins and other
essential nutrients.
If the rabbit’s diet consists of a high percentage
of cereal-based pellets containing easily digested
carbohydrate rather than grass or hay which is high
in fi bre, an excessive number of caecotrophs will be
produced. These stick to the bottom and may look like
diarrhoea. This is known as “sticky bottom”.
This can be distinguished from true diarrhoea in that
the rabbit will also produce normal, hard faeces as
well. If true diarrhoea is present, both types of faeces
will be watery. True diarrhoea needs immediate
veterinary attention.
Sticky bottom can also be caused by dental disorder,
obesity and back problems, all of which impair the
rabbit’s ability to eat its caecotrophs.
