Changes

===Housing===

===Housing===

Indoors or outdoors is possible.

Indoors or outdoors is possible.

 

:'''Outdoor housing''' should provide shade and shelter from wind and cold

'''Outdoor housing''' should provide shade and shelter from wind and cold

:'''Indoor free range''' only requires a cage large enough to stretch out when laying on its side. Recommended indoor housing includes plastic bottom and wire top - easily cleaned and well ventilated; glass is not appropriate.

 

'''Indoor free range''' only requires a cage large enough to stretch out when laying on its side.

 

Recommended indoor housing includes plastic bottom and wire top - easily cleaned and well ventilated; glass is not appropriate.

If the rabbit is on a wire mesh floor make sure that the openings are small enough so that the rabbit's foot cannot slip through the wire; also offer solid non-slip surface to provide rest off the mesh and prevent foot problems.

If the rabbit is on a wire mesh floor make sure that the openings are small enough so that the rabbit's foot cannot slip through the wire; also offer solid non-slip surface to provide rest off the mesh and prevent foot problems.

If more then one rabbit, each animal should have its own cage.

If there is more then one rabbit, each animal should have its own cage. It is good to provide functional spaces: laying down/sleeping, activities, latrine. '''Hiding places''' are important.

 

Functional spaces- laying down/sleeping, activities, latrine.

 

Provide '''hiding places'''.

 

'''Wood shavings such as pine or cedar should be avoided''' (oils can cause respiratory/skin issues and has been associated with elevated liver enzymes)

Ideal substrate is '''grass hay'''; a foam rubber pad, towel covered with newspaper and a thick layer of timothy hay is also acceptable. '''Wood shavings such as pine or cedar should be avoided''' (oils can cause respiratory/skin issues and has been associated with elevated liver enzymes).

Cages should be '''cleaned daily''' to remove feces and urine; gentle soap and hot water or dilute bleach solution.

Cages should be '''cleaned daily''' to remove feces and urine; gentle soap and hot water or dilute bleach solution are best. Rabbits generally have clean habits: droppings/urine in same place every time, can be trained to use '''litter box''' (place in litter box every few minutes when first acquired).

 

Rabbits generally have clean habits- droppings/urine in same place every time, can be trained to use '''litter box''' (place in litter box every few minutes when first acquired)

 

 

They are sensitive to temperatures higher than 28°c.

   

   

Rabbits should be housed in '''temps 15-23°c''' and low to moderate humidity (30-60%).

Rabbits should be housed in '''temps 15-23°c''' and low to moderate humidity (30-60%). Rabbits '''tolerate cold better then heat'''. They shiver when cold, and cannot sweat except through sweat glands in the lips. Rabbits pant ineffectively and when sufficiently dehydrated stop panting. They do not increase water intake with high temperatures, heat actually seems to inhibit drinking. Rabbits can use ears to dissipate heat, they usually actively seek shade and burrow. They are sensitive to temperatures higher than 28°c.

They can be housed in same space with other pets if the other animals adapt to rabbits. '''Pet birds and well-behaved dogs''' are ok, but cats are often unpredictable.

They can be housed in same space with other pets if the other animals adapt to rabbits. '''Pet birds and well-behaved dogs''' are ok, but cats are often unpredictable.

It is '''not good practice to house rabbits with guinea pigs'''. Rabbits carry ''Bordetella bronchiseptica'' asymptomatically and can transmit the infection to guinea pigs.

It is '''not good practice to house rabbits with guinea pigs'''. Rabbits carry ''[[Bordetella bronchiseptica]]'' asymptomatically and can transmit the infection to guinea pigs.

===Diet===

===Diet===

'''Dietary fibre''' stimulates gut motility, essential for normal digestion

'''Dietary fibre''' stimulates gut motility, essential for normal digestion. Diets low in fibre can lead to [[Gastric Stasis – Rabbit|hypomotility]], changes in GI pH and microflora, wool block from increased hair consumption and [[Cheek Teeth Malocclusion – Rabbit|cheek tooth overgrowth]].

 

Diets low in fibre can lead to hypomotility, changes in GI pH and microflora, wool block from increased hair consumption and cheek tooth overgrowth.

'''Pellets''' can be fed, including -  

'''Pellets''' can be fed, including -  

:commercial alfalfa-based pellated diets which are balanced but low in fibre

:commercial alfalfa-based pelleted diets which are balanced but low in fibre

:high-fibre, timothy-based pellets available (Bunny Basic/T, Oxbow, Murdock, Forti-Diet, Kaytee)

:high-fibre, timothy-based pellets are available (Bunny Basic/T, Oxbow, Murdock, Forti-Diet, Kaytee)

 

Alfalfa hay is ok for healthy rabbit; avoid in sedentary obese rabbits, geriatric rabbits or those offered vitamin or mineral supplements. Alfalfa contains higher levels of protein and calcium and can cause urolithiasis or urinary ‘sludge’.

'''Grass hay''' (timothy, prairie, oat, brome), legume hay (alfalfa) should be given ad lib. Alfalfa hay is ok for healthy rabbit; avoid in sedentary obese rabbits, geriatric rabbits or those offered vitamin or mineral supplements. Alfalfa contains higher levels of protein and calcium and can cause [[Ductulo Vesicular Urolithiasis – Rabbit|urolithiasis]] or urinary ‘sludge’.

'''Veggies'''- collard, mustard, dandelion greens; carrot, beet and broccoli tops; alfalfa sprouts, clover, parsley, lettuce and cabbage

'''Veggies''' - collard, mustard, dandelion greens; carrot, beet and broccoli tops; alfalfa sprouts, clover, parsley, lettuce and cabbage

'''Recommended diet'''- unlimited hay, some leafy green veggies, a very small amount of high-fiber low-protein pellets.

'''Recommended diet''' - unlimited hay, some leafy green veggies, a very small amount of high-fiber low-protein pellets.

Allow access to water at all times; water bottle or heavy dish

Allow access to water at all times; water bottle or heavy dish. Raabbits can go for several days without feed (coprophagy), cannot go without water for longer than 24 hours or less in hot weather. They have '''high water intake''' (50-150mL/kg body weight).

 

Can go for several days without feed (coprophagy), cannot go without water for longer than 24 hours or less in hot weather

 

'''High water intake''' (50-150mL/kg body weight)

==Guinea-Pigs==

==Guinea-Pigs==

Healthy guinea pigs produce '''large amounts of faeces''', often defecate in food and water containers, turn over unstable containers and are known to place chewed pellets in the opening of their sipper bottles.

Healthy guinea pigs produce '''large amounts of faeces''', often defecate in food and water containers, turn over unstable containers and are known to place chewed pellets in the opening of their sipper bottles.

'''Plastic, metal or wire caging''' with good ventilation is recommended

'''Plastic, metal or wire caging''' with good ventilation is recommended. The cage does not have to be enclosed because pigs do not jump or climb. '''Flooring''' shoul be '''solid''' or wire mesh, but holes must be small enough to prevent foot entrapment and there must be an area of solid flooring in the cage. The enclosure needs to be large enough to move around with enough space for a hide box.

 

The cage does not have to be enclosed because pigs do not jump or climb

 

'''Flooring solid''' or wire mesh, but holes must be small enough to prevent foot entrapment and there must be an area of solid flooring in the cage.

 

Large enough to move around with enough space for a hide box

 

 

 

 

They are better able to tolerate cool than warm temperatures and are susceptible to hyperthermia.

The housing should be cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis (2x per week)

'''Bedding''' - newspaper, shredded paper, straw, aspen shavings. Pine or cedar should <u>not</u> be used, as they cause contact and respiratory irritation.

Heavy food containers, easy to disinfect

Quiet area out of direct sunlight must be provided and the recommended '''temperature range is 18-26°C'''. They are better able to tolerate cool than warm temperatures and are susceptible to hyperthermia.

Sipper bottle for water  

The housing should be cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis (2x per week). Heavy food containers that are easy to disinfect and sipper bottle for water are best.

===Diet===

===Diet===