Rabbit Health Information

Rabbits are soft and cute, and they make great house pets. However, they do require some degree of maintenance and supervision, so they should not be given to small children as pets. If you are interested in adopting a cuddly bunny, find out what to expect during its life cycle.
         Birth

1. • The act of mating causes ovulation in a female rabbit, and 29 to 31 days after she becomes pregnant, the babies are born deaf, blind and naked, and about the size of a mouse. By two weeks old, the babies have hair, and their eyes and ears are open. At three weeks, they will fit in an average-sized human hand, and they are ready to leave the nest by six weeks old.

   Adolescence

   • By the time the rabbit is three or four months old, it is considered an adolescent, and though capable of breeding, females should not be bred until at least six months old.
   
   

   Precautions

   • Rabbits have very light and delicate skeletons. Because their backbone is very fragile, it can break when a rabbit is struggling violently or accidentally dropped. Most rabbits do not like to be held, but enjoy snuggling as long as their feet remain on the floor.

   Life Expectancy

   • Five to eight years is the average life expectancy of a pet rabbit, though some live to be 10 to 15 years old. Wild rabbits live between one to two years

Rabbits are popular pets, and with proper care, these animals often live 10 to 15 years. Before sharing your home with a rabbit, understand the health considerations so you can provide for a healthy life and have the best chance of experiencing the wonderful companionship a rabbit offers.

1. Digestion

   • Monitor the droppings. Rabbits should produce pellet-like feces every day to maintain a healthy digestion. Diarrhea, which is more liquid and foul smelling, can be fatal and must be treated immediately. The complete absence of droppings is also a warning sign that the rabbit should see a vet and possibly start a round of antibiotics.

   Housing

   • Rabbits enjoy cages with enough room to stretch and stand up to full height so they are not cramped and can move around. The bedding that covers the floor and litter pan is an important consideration because cedar or pine shavings produce hydrocarbons and make a rabbit develop serious lung and liver damage. Instead, use an organic litter.
   
   

   Malocclusion

   • The teeth of a rabbit may become misaligned and prevent the animal from eating properly or may even keep it from being able to eat at all. The teeth never stop growing so be sure to watch for signs, such as a wet chin due to drooling, to determine whether the front or back molars are growing improperly. A vet can trim down the teeth on a regular basis or show you how to take care of this yourself.

   Shedding

   • Every three months a rabbit sheds its hair, which may be light or heavy depending on the month. Rabbits must be tended to so they do not develop hairballs. Unlike cats, rabbits do not have the ability to cough up the hair. Prevent dangerous situations by brushing your rabbit to remove the fur quicker and provide an unlimited supply of hay to allow the fiber to pass the hair through the rabbit's system easier. In addition to daily exercise, commercial cat hairball remedies will help.

Care For a Pregnant Cat

How long is a cat pregnant for?

The gestation period for a cat is 63-65 days. This varies between cat though, and anywhere between 60 to 70 days is normal.

What are the signs of pregnancy in cats?

Unlike humans, it is not possible to determine a pregnancy via a blood or urine test in cats. However, there are often indicators that your cat is pregnant, some signs include;

• By the  third week of pregnancy the cat's nipples will become enlarged & pink. This is known as 'pinking up'.
• By the fourth week of pregnancy she should have gained enough weight to make her pregnancy visible.
• By 3-4 weeks your veterinarian should be able to palpitate the abdomen & feel the babies.

How long is a cat pregnant for?

The gestation period for a cat is 63-65 days. This varies between cat though, and anywhere between 60 to 70 days is normal.

How does my veterinarian confirm pregnancy?

An experienced veterinarian will be able to palpitate the abdomen & feel the kittens around 17 - 25 days. Do NOT attempt to do this at home as you may cause miscarriage or damage to the developing kittens. After 32 days the developing fetuses & fetal membranes become difficult to distinguish.

The fetal bone structure can be seen on x-rays around the 43rd day. X-ray should be avoided in early pregnancy.

Pregnancy can also be detected by ultrasound. By around day 26 the fetus & heartbeats can be seen.

Morning sickness:

Just like humans, cats can experience morning sickness also & may go off their food around the third week of pregnancy.

Does a pregnant cat have any special requirements?

A good quality, nutritious diet is important. Your veterinarian may recommend a kitten food for your queen as this contains higher protein & calcium.  Avoid supplementing the diet unless your veterinarian has given the go ahead to do so.

Over feeding & excessive weight gain should be avoided as this can complicate labour.

Keep her indoors for the last two weeks of pregnancy to ensure she doesn't give birth to the kittens elsewhere.

You should take your queen to the veterinarian early in pregnancy for a health check, your veterinarian will also advise on the care of your queen during pregnancy. He/she will probably want to see the queen again in late pregnancy.

How to prepare for the birth:

During the last week of pregnancy, the kittening box should be placed in a warm, quiet, draft free room which is off limit to children & other pets. She should be encouraged to sleep in this box.

Obviously, food, water & a litter tray also need to be placed in this room.

The kittening box can be lined with old newspapers which can easily be changed or an old blanket. Make sure that the blanket isn't going to snag the kitten's claws. The bedding should be changed regularly.

How do I know when my cat is going into labour?

• The mammary glands increase in size during the last week of gestation.
• Around two days before the queen gives birth she will start producing milk.
• She may start nesting.
• Drop in temperature to around 99 F.
• Her appetite may wane in the last day or two of pregnancy.
• Change in behaviour. During the last week or so your queen may become either reclusive & seek out a secluded place or she may become more affectionate, especially if she is particularly bonded to one carer.

Danger signs:

Seek veterinary attention immediately if you notice the following signs;

• If your queen stops eating for more than 24 hours
• If she has an elevated temperature
• If she becomes depressed or lethargic
• If she has any unpleasant smelling discharge coming from the vagina

Can I give my cat medications while pregnant?

Some medications can cause birth defects & or abortion in pregnant cats so it is vital that you speak to your veterinarian before giving your cat any medications.

Can I worm my cat when she is pregnant?

No, worming should be avoided in pregnancy.

Can I flea my cat when she is pregnant?

 There are some flea products which are safe to use on pregnant cats. These are available from your veterinarian, so it is best to speak to him/her. DON'T ever use a flea product on a pregnant or nursing cat without the okay from your veterinarian.

Other things not to do:

Do not use human antiseptics and the like - such as Dettol etc as these can be poisonous to cats and also burn the skin. If you need to use any antiseptics, use one recommended by your veterinarian.

Do not handle the newborn kittens a lot in the first two days - minimal handling - let the mother bond with her babies. Cats have been known to kill and eat their babies if threatened by other animals or too much human interference.

Reminder - Female cats can again become pregnant within as little as 2 weeks after giving birth but more usually between 8 weeks and 10 weeks so great care that the queen is kept safely confined during this time.

If it is intended to get her de-sexed - around 7 weeks is a good time - she can still nurse her kittens afterwards.