Cuidado Y manejo del conejo MASCOTA (Basic rabbit Care)

1. NATURAL HISTORY

Originally from the Iberian Peninsula, the rabbit was introduced to the Romans over 2000 years ago. Rabbits were fully domesticated by the 17th century, and they became popular as children’s pets during the Victorian era.

Originally from the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, and northern Africa, the European rabbit was introduced as livestock to the Romans over 2,000 years ago and was fully domesticated by the 17th century. Today the European rabbit is spread throughout Europe, except northern Scandinavia. It is naturalized in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, portions of North and South America, as well as numerous islands of the Pacific, African coast, and the Caribbean. Rabbits became popular as children’s pets during the Victorian era, and they are one of the most commonly used species in animal experiments.

2. TAXONOMY

Class: Mammalia

Order: Lagomorpha

Family: Leporidae – hares, rabbits

Genus: Oryctolagus – European rabbits

Specie: Oryctolagus cuniculus

3. DIET

An average adult house rabbit should be offered ad lib grass hay, such as timothy, prairie, or oat brome; approximately 1 cup of leafy green vegetables; and, at most, 1/4 cup of high-fiber (18%-22% to prevent obesity), low-protein (<18%) pellets per 2.2 kg (5 lbs) of body weight daily.4,8 Examples of dark leafy greens include romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, Swiss chard, parsley, endive, kale, mustard greens, and carrot, beet, and turnip tops.

Alfalfa hay should be avoided in adult animals, because of its high protein and calcium content, and instead, reserved for animals less than 6 months of age and for pregnant and lactating does with increased nutritional demands.

Diets low in fiber, such as commercial, pelleted rations, may be associated with hypomotility, changes in the gastrointestinal pH and microflora, wool block from increased hair consumption, and cheek tooth overgrowth.

Rabbits have an extremely digestive system. Never introduce new food items abruptly, and when changing diets, the new feed should be gradually mixed in with the known food over a period of 14 days.

Rabbits are very sensitive to water deprivation and therefore should experience no restriction. Rabbits generally drink 50 to 100 ml/kg/day.

4. BREEDS

There are at least 60 pet rabbit breeds, which range in size from the very large Flemish Giant rabbit (9.97 kg) to the smallest breed, the Netherland dwarf, which weighs 1 kg or less). Popular breeds include the Dutch, Lionhead rabbit, Mini lop, and Rex rabbit.

5. HUSBANDRY

Rabbits are crepuscular, but they can adjust their schedule somewhat to that of their human family’s schedule. Rabbits are also very social animals. Therefore, rabbits should ideally never be kept alone. Pairs, harems and single sex grou

ps can all live together peacefully. Female rabbits tend to fight than castrated males. For the inexperienced owner that does not plan to breed, a single sex group of castrated males or a pair (female and castrated male) is preferable.

Rabbits have a strong hierarchy in their groups and are very territorial. Fighting within a group are seen mostly only in the first days. Once the hierarchy is established, fighting is extremely rare. Introductions of new animals can be challenging and should be done outside the known territory.

A rabbit enclosure should be large enough to provide a sleeping space, eating space, and latrine. Animals housed for long periods of time should also have ample room to exercise. The enclosure should be tall enough to allow the rabbit to sit up and not have its ears touch the top of the cage. In general, 3 square feet (sq ft) should be a minimum cage size for rabbits 2 to 4 kg, 4 sq ft for rabbits 4 to 4.5 kg, and larger rabbits require at least 5 sq ft.5 Rabbits housed in hutches and cages should be allowed a minimum of 4 hours of exercise daily.

House rabbits on solid flooring with recycled paper product or aspen shavings. If wire flooring must be used, cover at least a portion with carpet remnants, grass mats, synthetic sheepskin, or towels (monitor for chewing). Rabbits may be litter pan trained.

If held in cages, rabbits need at least 1-hour playtime outside the cage a day. “Bunny proof” the home (or a room) by preventing access to electrical cords and other dangerous items while providing safe, chewable items and toys. Rabbits should also be provided with visual security such as a hide box (e.g. wooden house, untreated cardboard box, cork bark tube).

Cage furniture should include items that rabbits can gnaw or nibble. Various woods, branches, bark, and root pieces should be offered to satisfy this natural behavior and promote normal dentition. Most cat and bird toys can be used for rabbits.

6. ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

Eyes-ears-nose-throat

The large ears of the rabbit are highly vascular, fragile and sensitive. Rabbits possess a well-developed nictitans or third eyelid. The eyes are positioned laterally and rabbits possess a wide field of vision and a central blind spot. Rabbits compensate for the central blind spot and poor near vision, by relying on sensitive whiskers and lips to find forage. The rabbit is an obligate nasal breather.

Dentition

Dental formula: Incisors 2/1 Canines 0/0 Premolars 3/2 Molars 3/3. The peg teeth are the second pair of maxillary incisors positioned behind the first larger, chisel-like incisors. At rest the mandibular incisors have contact with the upper jaw incisive. Their tip hits the palatal surface of the maxillary incisors. All teeth are open rooted, erupting continuously through life. The diastema is a large gap that functionally separates the incisors and cheek teeth. Rabbits possess a long, narrow oral cavity.

Integumentary system

Rabbits have delicate skin and fine hair. The dewlap is a fold of skin at the throat of many, large female rabbits and some males. Rabbits do not have footpads. Instead coarse fur covers the toes and hocks.

Gastrointestinal system

The rabbit is a true herbivore with a simple stomach. Indigestible fiber (cellulose, lignin) drives gastrointestinal motility. Bacterial fermentation occurs in the large cecum. Rabbits produce cecotropes (“night feces”), which are regularly ingested. Cecotrophy provides vitamins B and K, amino acids, and fiber.

Urinary system

Calcium metabolism is unique in rabbits. All ingested calcium is excreted by the kidneys. Therefore, urine varies with diet, and may appear thick and creamy white in rabbits on a high-calcium diet.

Reproduction

Female rabbits are induced ovulators. The uterus consists of two uterine horns with no uterine body that communicates with two cervices. The oviducts are very long and coiled. Does nurse their young once or twice daily for 3-5 minutes at a time (the milk is extremely rich).

7. RESTRAINT

Rabbits possess a relatively lightweight, delicate skeleton paired with extremely strong, well-developed back and leg muscles. With improper restraint, rabbits that struggle or kick run the risk of a broken back or leg. Always restrain rabbits on a non-slip surface such as a large, heavy towel or pad.

8. PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

There are no approved vaccines for domestic rabbits in Peru. It is recommended that all house rabbits receive an annual physical examination, and as they become geriatric (>4 years), a biannual examination is recommended. In addition to the annual examination, a serum chemistry panel, complete blood counts (CBCs), and fecal exams for parasites are also recommended annually.

Castration is recommended to reduce the risk of urine spraying and improve pet quality. Ovariohysterectomy is recommended to prevent uterine adenocarcinoma and improve pet quality. Spaying before 6 months of age is recommended to avoid excess fat.

9. IMPORTANT MEDICAL CONDITIONS

• Crystalluria, urolithiasis

• Encephalitozoonosis

• Gastrointestinal stasis

• Lumbosacral fracture, luxation

• Pasteurellosis

• Uterine adenocarcinoma

10. ZOONOSIS

Zoonotic diseases are not commonly associated with rabbits. Although not generally considered an important disease of domestic or wild rabbits, rabies has been diagnosed in several pet rabbits. The clinical course of rabies in rabbits is nonspecific, but affected animals are generally depressed and weak and exhibit paralytic signs. In areas where rabies is endemic and prevalent, rabbits housed outdoors need to be protected from exposure to mesopredators (e.g., raccoons, foxes, coyotes) that may serve as rabies vectors. Additionally, E. cuniculi, Cheyletiella, ringworm, Pasteurella sp., Salmonella sp., tularemia, and Mycobacterium spp. have zoonotic potential especially in immunocompromised individuals.

REFERENCES

Mitchell MA, Tully TN. Manual of Exotic Pet Practice. St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier; 2009.

Pollock C, Parmentier S. Basic information sheet: European rabbit. Dec 13, 2018. LafeberVet Web site. Available at https://lafeber.com/vet/basic-information-for-european-rabbits/