Category: Rabbit

About Rabbit Digestive System   The teeth of the rabbit are very well adapted to its normal foods. The teeth consist of two pairs of incisors (or cutting ‘teeth) on the upper jaw and one pair on the lower, three premolars and three molars (both grinding ‘ teeth) on either side of the upper jaw, and two premolars and three molars on either side of the lower jaw. The incisors in the tipper jaw appear from the front to be two pairs side by side, but only a single pair, with a groove clown the centre of each tooth, can be seen from the front.   The cheek teeth, that is the pre-molars and molars, are rather smaller than the incisors, but have flattened ends with prominent ridges, thus forming a most efficient grinding mechanism.     All the teeth of the rabbit grow continuously throughout life, the surfaces constantly wearing down in order to maintain the correct length and either the chisel edge of the incisors or the grinding surface of the cheek teeth.

Rabbit Mastitis Rabbit mastitis is an infection of the mammary glands, which is fortunately not common. The acute form is sometimes wrongly known as milk fever. The disease is caused by various bacteria, staphylococci usually being responsible for the chronic form, whilst streptococci are usually concerned in the acute form.   The teat or teats are swollen and painful, and in the acute form, there is usually a discharge. The doe has little appetite but is usually very thirsty. Treatment consists of bathing the affected parts with warm water containing an antiseptic. In most cases, one of the antibiotics may be used to effect a cure, but veterinary advice is necessary.   Rabbit mastitis is a disease that generally occurs in lactating rabbits. It is caused by bacterial infection in mammary glands. Seldom seen in small rabbitries, this disease is curable but sometimes turns acute. In such a situation its treatment becomes very important. A daily inspection of each doe helps the early detection of the illnesses.

Rabbit worms species are found, though rarely, in the rabbit. Unless a severe infestation occurs, and this is unusual, little harm results to the animal. Tapeworms Tapeworms of various species occur. These consist of a head with suckers and a flat segmented body. They vary in size from under an inch to a foot or more. The eggs produced by these particular rabbit worms must pass through an intermediate host (a mite) before they can reinfect a rabbit. Treatment consists of dosing with a taenicide or ” worm powder”.Roundworms except for the stomach worm(Graphidium strigosum), the intestinal worm (Trichostrongylusretortaeformis) and the caecal worm (Passalurus bigamous) are very rare rabbit worms. The stomach worm is about z inch long and pinkish. It sucks blood from and may perforate, the stomach wall. A reliable treatment consists of the use of tetrachlorethylene in capsule form, the dosage being c.c. per lb. live weight. The life cycle of this rabbit worms is direct,