Rabbit Care

Rodents vs. Rabbits

• Used to be in the same family as rodents

• Now they have their own (lagomorpha)

• Rabbits have 4 upper incisor teeth

arranged in one pair behind the other

• Rodents have two chisel-like incisor teeth

in each jaw
Uses
1. Meat

high in protein

low in cholesterol

low in fat

low in sodium
Uses
2. Research

produce disease-
fighting antibodies

study reproduction

research human
diseases
 Uses
3. Fur/Wool

- Normal
- Rex
- Angora
- Satin

4. Pets
Breeds
• 45 breeds

• 5 weight classes/groups

dwarf
small
medium
large
giant
 Housing/Equipment
• Cage/hutch should be large enough for the
rabbit to move around

• Wire cages are recommended

• Large rabbits need a solid wood floor to

stand on to prevent sore hocks
 Care
• Cold tolerant animals

• Not good with

extremely hot weather

• Need air movement

• Block drafts in cold

weather
Feeding
• Galvanized-metal
self-feeders

• Water bowls or bottles

• Commercial rabbit
food (pellets)
 Feeding
• Do not feed a lot of
green lettuce

• Don’t feed too many

veg. or fruits

• Coprophagy
Treats for Rabbits
• Grass hay
• Corn
• Oats
• Oatmeal
• Carrots
• Apple
• Green beans
• Banana
• Pineapple
 Handling
• Do not pick up by ears

• Wear long sleeves

• Be calm & quiet

 Terms
• Male: Buck

• Female: Doe

• Young: Bunny

• Newborn: Kit

• Group: Herd
 Reproduction
• Puberty: 5-8 months

• Females need 16
hours of light to
reproduce

• Place female in
male’s cage to mate
them (never other
way)
Reproduction
• Gestation: 30-32 days

• Kindling: birthing of
bunnies

• Doe pulls fur from body to

make nest

• Leave doe alone when

birthing

• Weaning: 4-8 weeks

 Rabbit Breed PowerPoint/Report
• Size
• Color variations
• Type of hair/fur
• Instructions for Care/Grooming
• General Characteristics
• Cost (of animal + 10 items/food you need)
• Uses Similar to the Dog
Breed and Cat
Breed Project-
submit in Drop Box
when complete
Rabbit Diseases
 Enteritis

inflammation of the Symptoms: don’t eat,

intestinal tract drink a lot of water

common cause of death occurs 4 days

death in rabbits to 1 week after

caused by bacteria & broad-spectrum

unsanitary conditions antibiotics work as
treatment
Snuffles
• Caused by an
organism (Pasteurella
multocida)

• Symptoms: sneezing
with white discharge

• Appears when
animals are stressed
 Wry Neck
• Head is tilted to the
side

• Caused by an
organism (Pasteurella
multocida)

• Treatment: antibiotics
(hard to put in ear)
Ear Mites
• Most common
external mite

• Shaking of head,
flapping and
scratching ears

• Treatment: mineral oil

for ears or ear drops
 • Create an advertisement
campaign for one of the
uses for a rabbit
Rabbit Uses
• Must have:
Assignment 1. visual advertisement
(magazine/newspaper/
internet ad)
AND
2. verbal
advertisement
(radio/TV)