Facts About Rabbits

Find these Articles on this Page

*Determining the Sex
of your Rabbit.

*Malocclusions

*Homemade Bunny Biscuits

*Learn about Cecal Pellets

*Learn about Hays and Grasses

Determining the Sex
of Your Rabbit

Here are some pictures to help you determine the Sex of your Rabbit.These pictures range from 4 weeks old to 6 months of age for Male and Female Rabbits.

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This is a 4 week old Male. This is a 12 week old Male. This is a 4 week old Female.	This is a 8 week old Male. This is a 6 month old Male. This is a 6 month old Female.
Malocclusions: The most common problems of the mouth are related to Malocclusions or improper alignment, of the teeth. When the teeth do not meet properly, they do not wear down evenly, and the result is the overgrowth of the teeth. Malocclusions may begin in the incisor teeth (front teeth), then the molar teeth (back teeth) there are many predisposing factors, including heredity, diet and nutrition, injury to the teeth and infection. Rabbits have a total of 28 teeth. Most people do not realize that rabbits have teeth other than they incisors (front teeth). Their teeth are opened-rooted teeth that grow continuously throughout their life. The grinding of the upper and lower teeth against each other is what keeps them from growing too long. There is no Enamel on the teeth, which lets the teeth wear down more quickly. The nerves do not travel the lenght of the tooth, which prevents any discomfort to the rabbit in the portion of the tooth that is being worn down. Rabbits have 6 incisor teeth. There are 4 upper and 2 lower incisors. These can be seen by seperating the front lips. The smallest 2 incisors sit behind the first upper incisors. These small incisors are called "peg teeth". When resting the lower incisor teeth sit in the groove between the two sets of upper incisor teeth. The remaining teeth in the mouth are premolars and molars. They are referred to as the "cheek teeth". What To Watch For: Drooling Grinding teeth Decreased food intake Acting hungry but not eating Selective appetite for softer foods only Diagnosis: Veterinary examination can usually identify incisor malocclusions. X-Rays of the skull may be necessary to evaluate the tooth roots to evaluate nearby bones for signs of trauma or fractures. If there is suspicion of infection, cultures will be necessary to identify the cause and choose the best treatment and antibiotics to fight the infection. Treatment: Treatment for Malocclusion involves trimming (filing or clipping) the teeth. Your Veterinian will clean the wounds inside the mouth and Antibiotics may be prescribed if infection is suspected. In severe cases, the incisor teeth can be surgically removed. This is permanent and must be discussed with your Veterinarian.
Homemade Bunny Biscuits This recipe comes from Brenda Plaxton of Salt Springs Island in British Columbia, Canada. Remeber, these are treats, so give them sparingly. 1 small carrot, pureed 1/2 banana, mashed until really creamy 1 Tbsp. honey 1/4 cup rabbit pellets, ground finely in a coffee grinder 1/4 cup whole wheat flour Mix pureed carrot, banana,and honey in a medium bowl. Add pellet powder and whole wheat flour. Mix until blended. Knead in your hands for 1-2 minutes. Roll out the "dough" in 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick layers between sheets of plastic wrap. Cut into small cookies (about 3/4 inches across). Place cut shapes onto a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for about 30 minutes (check to make sure they are not browning too much). Turn off the heat and let the cookies sit in the warm oven for an hour or so. Thanks to House Rabbit Society for Sharing.
Learn about Cecal Pellets.(just click) Learn about the different Hays and Grasses.(just click)