Why does a rabbit have short ears? Why does a rabbit have hot ears? The effect of temperature on a rabbit
No animal is as sensitive to conditions as the rabbit. These fur-bearing animals subtly react to the slightest mistakes of the owner, and any oversight can very quickly lead to serious illness or even death of the entire livestock. However, there is a very simple way to quickly detect a change in your rabbit's condition. To do this, you just need to feel his long ears.
The effect of temperature on a rabbit
Rabbits are susceptible to temperature fluctuations, and therefore, to maintain a constant body temperature, these warm-blooded animals need to make great efforts. 
Surprisingly, rabbits need long ears, up to half the total body length, not in order to recognize danger in time and respond to it, but precisely for heat regulation.
Did you know? Fleeing from danger, the hare can reach speeds of up to 72 km/h, which makes it almost elusive to most predators. However, the dull slowness of the rabbit, a close relative of the hare, is very deceptive. If necessary, the animal is quite capable of moving at speeds of up to 56 km/h, so a person whose speed record is 44 km/h, and whose average running speed in good shape is no more than 20 km/h, has no chance catch up with your pet if it wants to sneak away from its owner.
The ears of a rabbit are penetrated by many blood vessels, but there is practically no fur on them. This system allows the animal to use its ears as a kind of air conditioner in the heat and a heater in the cold season. 
It works like this:
- If the animal becomes hot, the blood vessels on its ears dilate and begin to pass through a large volume of blood, which, moving through the thin and hairless ears, gradually cools due to contact with air and, returning to the animal’s body, increases the process of heat transfer.
- When an animal freezes, the opposite picture occurs: the blood vessels narrow, and blood circulates only through the organs protected by a thick coat, retaining the maximum amount of heat inside the body.
Did you know? Interestingly, the long tails of rats and the huge horns of the African wild bull Ankole-Watusi help regulate temperature in exactly the same way.
Thus, the body temperature of a healthy rabbit remains relatively constant (relatively, because the range of normal temperature in this animal varies slightly depending on the time of year: with normal values of 38.8–39.5 ° C, in winter it can drop to 37 ° C , and in the summer rise to 40–41 ° C), but the ears can be very cold or very hot if the animal freezes or overheats. 
Signs of ear disease
Ears that are too large often cause serious problems for rabbits, becoming a source of various types of infections. You can tell that something is wrong with your pet’s ears by the following symptoms (one or more in total):
- a large amount of earwax begins to accumulate in the ears, which in certain cases completely clogs the ear canal;
- pus appears in the ears;
- on the inside of the auricle, and sometimes also on the eyelids, red spots, nodules, wounds and ulcers appear, covered with scabs or dried blood, or small bumps that turn into dropsy, filled with liquid, which burst over time, leaving a scab;
- the ears become hot and the tip of the nose becomes dry;
- the rabbit shakes its head from time to time, often tries to scratch its ears with its paws, rub against any hard object nearby, in a word, from the behavior of the animal it is obvious that the disease is accompanied by severe itching;
- ears are always in a lowered state;
- the head constantly falls to the side or leans forward;
- the overall body temperature of the animal increases;
- the rabbit breathes frequently and heavily;
- the animal becomes lethargic and weak or, on the contrary, behaves nervously and restlessly;
- loss of appetite or complete refusal of food;
- refusal of females to mate, deterioration of reproductive functions;
- impaired coordination of animal movements.
Why does a rabbit have hot ears?
Hot ears in a rabbit can be caused by two reasons:
- overheating;
- illness.
Important! A temporary increase in the temperature of a rabbit's ears may not be caused by hot air, but by overexcitation (overwork) of the animal. The ears begin to cool the animal’s body in the same way that sweat cools the human body during active training.
You can help lower your pet’s body temperature by carefully wiping its ears with gauze or a napkin previously soaked in water at room temperature (never cold, otherwise the blood vessels will narrow, further reducing heat transfer in the body). 
In addition, you need to be very careful to ensure that water does not flow into the ear canal. These measures are not treatment, but only first aid for the animal. If his condition is not limited to hot ears, first of all, it is necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis.
Psoroptosis or scabies
The incubation period for psoroptosis lasts from one to five days. The disease can affect rabbits of any age, but most often animals older than four months are susceptible to it. Infection occurs from sick individuals, and the infection spreads very quickly: when an animal itches or shakes its head, along with flakes of dying skin, mites fall out of its ears and immediately move to other rabbits.
In order to accurately diagnose psoroptosis, laboratory tests are not necessary. Using a plastic spatula or other convenient object, you need to remove a small piece of dead skin from the inside of the rabbit’s ear, place it in a fatty substance (for example, Vaseline) preheated to 40 ° C and, armed with a magnifying glass, carefully examine it. The size of Psoroptos cuniculi is a little more than half a millimeter, but with a magnifying glass both the adult and even its larvae can be seen. 
Having identified specific symptoms, treatment should be started immediately. To do this, you can use traditional methods or resort to the more civilized help of official medicine, however, in both cases, first of all, it is necessary to very carefully remove pus and dead skin flakes from the affected ear, after softening the skin with hydrogen peroxide (you cannot scrape off the growths in no case, only the layer that falls off is removed).
Traditional medicine offers the following treatment options for ear scabies in rabbits:
- Apply glycerin mixed with an alcohol solution of iodine 5% (ratio 1:4) to each ear. Repeat the procedure daily until complete recovery.
- Every day, lubricate the affected areas of the ear with camphor oil.
- Mix turpentine or birch tar (terpenes) with any vegetable oil in a 2:1 ratio and lubricate the ears with the resulting ointment. This mixture is too toxic for daily use; the procedure can be repeated no earlier than after 2 weeks.
- As in the previous recipe, you should take turpentine and vegetable oil, but in equal parts, add phenolic-free coal tar creolin to the resulting mixture in the same volume as the other two components. Creolin has a pronounced acaricidal effect, including against Psoroptos cuniculi. The product is used daily.
Video: treatment of psoroptosis in rabbits
These types of drugs include, for example:
- Akrodex;
- Dermatosol;
- Dicresyl;
- Psoroptol;
- Cyodrine.
Did you know? Rabbits should never be lifted up by the ears. In the wild, animals are often attacked from the air, so the force pulling a rabbit upward causes real panic in it and can even cause illness. You can only pick up the animal from below, lowering yourself towards it so that the fluffy can see what is happening to it.
There are equally effective preparations produced in the form of drops and emulsions, which are used to treat the surface of the ear using the technology described above for traditional medicine recipes. The following tools should be included in this list:
- Neocidol;
- Foxim;
- Sulfidophos;
- Chlorophos;
- Dekta;
- Butox 50;
- Valekson;
- Deces;
- Mustang;
- Stomazan;
- Unoiled;
At the initial stage of the disease, a single use of any of the drugs mentioned above is sufficient for treatment; in advanced cases, treatment is carried out twice with an interval of 1–2 weeks (in accordance with the instructions). In addition, treatment of psoroptosis in rabbits can be carried out by injection (the injection is given subcutaneously in the withers, intramuscularly in the thigh or directly in the ear). Drugs used for this purpose:
- Baymek;
- Ivomek;
- Selamectin.
Important! For pregnant rabbits, these injections are contraindicated; treatment in this case is carried out only with topical medications.
Unlike psoroptosis, the causative agent of purulent otitis in rabbits is a virus. The symptoms of the disease are very similar to ear scabies, but in parallel, indigestion (diarrhea) may occur. There are no growths on the auricle. Another characteristic sign of purulent otitis is that the animal rolls its eyes unnaturally. If, when examining scrapings from the ears, no mite or its larvae are found, this also suggests the viral nature of the disease. 
Viral infections are almost impossible to cure with medications, however, antibiotics are still prescribed in such cases, since a weakened animal often becomes a victim of the activation of various pathogenic microflora. Treatment is carried out by instilling anti-inflammatory drugs into the ears, lubricating the ears with Zooderm or Otodepin, as well as injections of Cephabol, Oxytetracycline and other antibacterial agents (as prescribed by a veterinarian).
Why does a rabbit have cold ears?
If a rabbit's hot ears are evidence of overheating or the development of an infectious disease, then a decrease in the temperature of this organ is a clear sign of hypothermia. In especially severe cases, even frostbite of the ears can occur: blood almost does not circulate through the narrowed blood vessels, the main part of it remains in the animal’s body, saving it from hypothermia, as a result, the tissues of the auricle begin to be damaged and die. 
Frostbite in a rabbit's ears sequentially goes through three stages:
- The ears become cold, red and swollen. At this stage the animal experiences severe pain.
- Blisters appear on the ears, which eventually burst, releasing a cloudy liquid with bloody clots. The hair on the outside of the ears falls out, and the rabbit can no longer hold them upright.
- Blackened areas appear on the ears - foci of necrosis.
Important! In any case, a rabbit with signs of frostbite in the ears must be placed in a warm room until complete recovery.
Preventive measures
To avoid problems with the ears of furry pets, you must strictly follow the following preventive rules:
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Ear scabies
One of the common causes that can ultimately lead to the death of a pet is psoroptosis or ear scabies. Psoroptosis in rabbits develops quickly, so help should be provided immediately. This disease is contagious, so there is a risk that ear scabies in rabbits will spread from a sick pet to healthy ones. Why does psoroptosis occur?
It's all about special mites of the genus Psoroptes, which gave the name to the disease. These yellow oval-shaped mites are small in size - less than a millimeter. Despite this, they are extremely dangerous for a rabbit's ear. Ticks feed on blood, and rabbits' ears are known to contain a network of blood vessels.
Dandruff or the secretion in which the mite is hidden can get on a healthy individual and cause inflammation in it.
This method of infection is the most common. Sometimes mites can be carried on the rabbit's owner or equipment that has not been thoroughly treated. Little rabbits can become infected from their parents.
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Symptoms of psoroptosis include discomfort that the rabbit feels. This feeling prompts the animal to scratch the skin around the ears, which leads to damage to this area. Since the scratching wound is open, infection can get there, which leads to otitis media and brain damage.
If it comes to the latter, then this will be clearly visible due to the corresponding symptoms indicating damage to the central nervous system. However, giving treatment in this case is, as a rule, useless, since such a disease in most cases leads to death.
How to recognize a tick?
- restless state;
- head shaking;
- constant friction of the area around the ears;
- friction against the walls of a cage or room.
If there is even the slightest suspicion of psoroptosis, first you need to carefully examine your pet’s ears. A healthy rabbit has smooth and clean ears. If red bumps appear on them, you should pay special attention to this, since they may become the first symptom.
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If ear scabies are identified, and the tubercles are replaced by vesicles containing yellow liquid, then psoroptosis is confirmed. Subsequently, these bubbles will grow and burst, the liquid will flow out and dry out, and a crust will form.
Treatment cannot be neglected, since the crust, or plaque, that forms at the site of accumulation of bubbles will cover the entire ear.
In addition, the ear canal will become clogged with wax and pus, however, this symptom occurs if the disease is neglected.
You need to see a veterinarian when the first unpleasant symptoms appear. The veterinarian will conduct an examination by taking a scraping. Based on the results of the procedure, the specialist will give an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment for the rabbit.
In some cases, contacting a veterinarian is not possible. Then you can take a scraping at home. It is enough to place it under a layer of petroleum jelly, and then, using a magnifying glass, you can see ticks and their movements on it.
How to treat?
- During the treatment process, the rabbit must be constantly shown to a specialist so that deterioration does not occur. It is necessary to strictly follow all instructions from the veterinarian, and also act according to the following plan:
- Anoint the crusts that have formed on the ears with a mixture of glycerin and an alcohol solution of iodine in a ratio of 1:4. In this case, the coating should become softer.
- The limp plaque is removed.
Once every 3 days, instill the drug “Amitrazine”. Frequent use of drops is harmful because it causes burns.
Before applying the preparations, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse and clean the ears. Usually a positive effect comes after the first procedure, however, if this does not happen, then it is worth repeating their treatment and treatment with special means.
In addition, special ointments, aerosols and sprays have additional effects. In particular, “Dicrezil”, “Acrodex”, “Tsiodrin”, etc. These drugs can be used no more than once a week. If you start treatment on time, your pet will be able to boast of healthy ears.
Treatment with traditional methods
- To remove scabs from rabbits' ears, rabbit breeders do not have to turn to pharmaceutical drugs. You can make a product at home that contains the following components:
- Turpentine;
- Vegetable oil;
Kerosene.
After the product is made, you need to take a cotton swab and, dipping it in the solution, apply it to the place in the ears that is affected. The product should be rubbed in using massaging movements.
A solution prepared with your own hands will help both with the initial stage of ear disease in rabbits and at later stages. If the remedy does not produce results, after a few days, the procedure should be repeated.
As an alternative, experienced rabbit breeders regularly use camphor oil. It also helps the pet get rid of the disease and regain a healthy appearance.
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Preventive measures
If you resort to disease prevention in a timely and correct manner, you can avoid negative manifestations in your rabbit’s ears in the future. To minimize harm from psoroptosis, the following measures must be taken:
- inspect your pet's ears as often as possible;
- once every six months, disinfect the instruments used for examining animals;
- Wash your hands thoroughly after touching a sick rabbit;
- After purchasing a rabbit, place it in quarantine for 20 days, which will allow you to accurately verify the healthy condition of the animal;
- pregnant rabbits should be carefully examined two weeks before giving birth;
- Prevent the presence of flies, fleas and rodents that can carry tick eggs.
Myxomatosis
Much more dangerous for a rabbit, in contrast to psoroptosis, is a disease of a viral nature - myxomatosis. Outwardly, it manifests itself in the appearance of “bumps” on the ears, which are similar in size to a pigeon egg.
This disease manifests itself during warm seasonal periods. Mosquitoes and mosquitoes are considered to be its carriers. Myxomatosis is dangerous for both small and adult individuals. In addition, it does not disappear even after the death of the rabbit: it continues to exist in the dead body for about a year.
If the virus is not eliminated in time, it will penetrate the head and paws. In addition, the disease can provoke conjunctivitis with the release of pus, and this causes the eyelids to constantly stick together.
To achieve the desired result and see your pet healthy again, you need to undergo a course of treatment that will last two weeks.
After this time, the “bumps” will resolve, and the affected areas of the skin will heal. However, the ears will finally stop festering in about a month, during which time the rabbit can be dangerous for other individuals, since transmission of the virus to healthy people is possible.
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Methods of treatment and prevention
To protect a rabbit from myxomatosis, it is necessary to administer a special vaccine. After the pet is 2.5 months old, veterinarians advise giving such an injection, and after another 3 months repeating the procedure.
The course of treatment consists of taking antibiotics and specially designed immunomodulators that strengthen the immune system.
The wounds on the ears should be coated with an alcohol solution of iodine, and the rabbit itself should be housed separately from other pets for 3 months.
Purulent otitis media
This disease, if appropriate measures are not taken to treat the rabbit, can lead to abnormal brain function, and in extreme cases, death. Therefore, it is necessary to quickly and accurately follow the veterinarian’s instructions to recognize and begin to treat pus.
The symptoms that are characteristic of purulent otitis are in many ways similar to those that are detected with psoroptosis. However, the first additionally includes the fact that the ears are festering, poor appetite, an abnormal reaction to stroking the ears, and a weakened appearance.
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Although the symptoms of these two diseases are similar, the treatment is different. Therefore, in any case, it is necessary to seek advice and help from a veterinarian, who will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the necessary medications.
To cure otitis media, special medications are required. Only an experienced specialist can advise them. Therefore, if you choose medications yourself, they can only harm your pet. Relief of pain and itching occurs by instilling drops into the ears, which relieve inflammation.
Abalone drop
Although ear drop is common among rabbits, it should not be underestimated. A fall can represent a simple game of an animal or be a symptom of some serious illness.
If one or two bunny ears fall off, they should be carefully inspected, even if they are otherwise in healthy condition. There should be no sores in the ears or on the sinks.
A falling ear can be caused by something getting into the ear canal. In addition, a fall may be a consequence of the rabbit being shaken by the ears, and this, in turn, negatively affects the functioning of the animal’s nervous and circulatory system.
It can also be caused by heat, since rabbit ears are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. As a rule, due to the heat, the ears of small rabbits droop due to the fact that their cartilaginous frame has not fully formed.
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Sometimes the problem lies much deeper - in the pedigree. If the patients had a breed such as “rams” in their family, then the weight of the pets affects the drooping of the ears.
The first requires the necessary treatment course. In another case, a special design will help, which would serve as a “splint” and help support the ear.
It’s easy to make it yourself: you just need to take foam rubber or glue the fallen ear to another shaped one. This “splint” is necessary for the rabbit for 4 weeks, while he shakes his head as usual, without restrictions.
Earwax
If your pet's ears are filled with wax, you just need to remove it. However, this must be done affectionately so that the animal is not frightened and harmed. The process of cleaning the ears consists of several steps:
Bleeding
Rabbit ears are made up of a whole system of blood vessels, so the slightest scratch or cut can lead to heavy bleeding. If this happens, the ear should be wiped with a cotton swab moistened with hydrogen peroxide. This measure will remove blood from the surface of the ear and show exactly where the bleeding wound is located.
Often rabbits themselves scratch their ears, which leads to wounds. They may scratch if they have an allergy or are exposed to a tick.
Diseases of rabbits from temperature
If the temperature is too high or too low, then this develops ear diseases in rabbits.
Overheating or frostbite will not go away without leaving a trace on your ears. The optimal temperature that a pet should have varies from 19 to 27 degrees.
Hypothermia
If the ears are swollen, it means they have received a dose of hypothermia. You can help your pet in this situation by rubbing its ears and then bringing it into a warm room. After the ears become dry and warm, you should treat them with Vaseline. An alternative is camphor oil.
When bubbles burst and become scabby, the second stage begins. If rabbits have scabs in their ears, how to treat them?
It is necessary to open the bubbles and lubricate the inflamed areas. To do this, use an ointment based on camphor, zinc or iodine.
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If the third stage of hypothermia has begun, the skin of the ears begins to wrinkle and dry out. Tissue cells die and must be removed. The pet itself must be placed on warm straw.
Overheat
As opposed to frostbite, a rabbit can become overheated. This happens if the temperature in the room is higher than normal. To avoid overheating in this case, the pet should be placed in a cool place. However, if this does not help, then the reason is different and you need to seek help from a veterinarian.
If a rabbit’s ear disease is recognized by a specialist, treatment should begin quickly. The patient is isolated from other pets to avoid infection. However, this does not apply to diseases associated with body temperatures (hypothermia and overheating).
To protect your rabbit from the above dangerous diseases, you need to follow simple preventive measures:
- keep the rabbitry clean;
- inject vaccines on time;
- create a favorable temperature in the rabbitry;
- provide the most healthy and balanced nutrition;
- Only purchased pets should be kept in quarantine for some time.
A person is born with the need to take care of someone, which is why he has pets. He takes care of his pets, gives them his love and tenderness. Many people have cats or dogs. It’s rare that anyone buys rabbits for their home, but these little animals can become good friends for humans and an excellent replacement for cats and dogs.
Rabbits are born naked and blind. In nature, these animals live in burrows and are hunted by predators (hence the large eyes and ears). Rabbits have excellent hearing and a wide field of vision.
It's no secret that they belong to the hare family and love to chew. Having brought this fluffy miracle into the house, you need to hide all the wires, otherwise the appearance of a rabbit will bring unexpected expenses. Fruit trees should also be removed away from the animal. These animals are easy to train. It won't be difficult to toilet train your pet.
It should be remembered that the rabbit’s body temperature should not exceed 39.4 degrees. If it is higher, then you need to sound the alarm and urgently call a veterinarian. Sometimes the animal's ears may turn reddish - this means increased blood pressure.
When the air temperature is above 28 degrees, dwarf rabbits experience stress on the body, so your task is to alleviate your pet’s condition in hot weather.
It has long been known that with the help of ears the animal’s body fights general overheating of the body, cooling the blood, because rabbits sweat only through the pads on their paws. Sometimes rabbit owners find that their pet has hot ears. They begin to panic, thinking that their “friend” is sick, but this is not worth doing. If your rabbit is feeling well: eating and playing normally, but his ears are hotter than usual, then there is nothing to worry about. Most likely, the animal is simply overtired and needs rest.
If your rabbit's behavior has changed dramatically, you need to take its temperature. To do this you will need a rectal thermometer. If, on top of everything else, the pet is breathing heavily and its nose is dry, you should call a veterinarian, but the owner can help the pet himself. You need to wipe the animal’s back with warm water, about 30 degrees, starting from the neck and moving down to the hind legs. The main thing is that the wool does not interfere with the passage of water to the skin.
Hot ears should also be wiped, it is better to do this with a wet cloth, but you need to act carefully and make sure that water does not get into the animal’s ears. This procedure will help reduce body temperature until the veterinarian arrives, but it is worth remembering that decorative rabbits do not like water and can kick! After rinsing, wrap the rabbit in a towel. If there are medications in the first aid kit, then you need to give your pet Gamavit and Corvalol.
Dwarf rabbits are very timid and can even die from severe fright, so the myth about cowardly hares is not a myth at all.
It is necessary to take care of rabbits, monitor their health, monitor the temperature in the room, which should not exceed 28. If it is hot, you should relieve your pet’s condition. To do this, you can freeze bottled water and put it on the cage. Place a small piece of ice in the sippy cup or constantly monitor the water temperature. Rabbits drink cool water more readily.
Decorative rabbits are very sensitive creatures. They can't stand stuffiness. Being in a stuffy room at a temperature of 42 degrees, the animal may even die, so it is necessary to monitor the pet and prevent it from overheating. You should not place the cage close to a window, where your rabbit could suffer heatstroke from sunlight shining through the glass. When the house is hot and stuffy, it is better to check the animal more often. If you watch your pet, you can avoid many problems.
Body temperature: 38.5-40 °C
Respiration rate: 50-150/min at rest
Heart rate: 120-150/min at rest
Puberty: small breeds 10-14 weeks, large breeds 4-5 months
Pregnancy: 28-33 days
Number of litter: 4-6 rabbits
Lifespan: 6-10 years
Olfactory organs
Eyes
Rabbits' eyes are located on the sides of their heads, which provides the animal with an almost 360-degree field of vision. This helps rabbits, as runaway animals, identify the predator, no matter which side it is on. But they hardly see what’s happening in front of them, so they can easily get scared. Rabbits cannot see in three dimensions and can barely distinguish colors other than red and green.
Ears
Rabbits have excellent hearing (16 to 33,000 Hertz). At the same time, they can move their ears independently of each other (exception: ram rabbits). Rabbits also perceive sounds at frequencies that humans cannot hear. Noise is stressful for rabbits. The rabbit's ears serve not only to register sounds; a certain position of the ears indicates the rabbit's mood. Ears pressed to the back when communicating with relatives indicate submission. One raised ear registers a sound that the animal is not particularly interested in. Both ears stick up and point forward - registering a sound that has completely interested the animal or expecting something pleasant (for example, the owner with food). The ears of “rams” are an unnatural deviation during selection. In addition to ear diseases, the risk of which increases with age, the rabbit does not hear as well as its relatives with protruding ears, which often means additional stress for this breed.
The ears also regulate body temperature. A rabbit's ears are very well supplied with blood. If the rabbit's ears are warm, it means the rabbit is getting rid of excess heat. If a rabbit is cold, it flattens its ears and thereby reduces the surface area that gives off heat. This way it saves energy.
Nose
Rabbits are very good at smelling. The nose serves as a direct landmark for the area. Only A rabbit's nose is connected to the lungs, so animals cannot breathe through their mouth. The nose is a barometer of a rabbit's mood. Of course, with a certain mood, the breathing rate also changes. If the rabbit's nose hardly moves, this is a signal that the rabbit is relaxed and resting. If the nose is shaking, then the reasons can be different - from curiosity to stress, heat and illness.
Mustache, eyebrows
Rabbits use their whiskers and eyebrows to navigate in the dark.
Teeth
Rabbits have 28 teeth, just like hares. A rabbit's front teeth (incisors) grow throughout their lives, and faster on the lower jaw than on the upper jaw. Between 27 and 35 days of life, rabbits complete the development of their jaw and teeth. Premolar milk teeth are replaced by permanent teeth. There are two incisors in the upper and lower jaws. On the upper jaw, directly behind the upper incisors, there are two premolars. Molars have an open root and grow in the same way throughout their lives. The front side of the teeth is highly mineralized, but not as pigmented as in rodents. Their color ranges from white to light yellow. Without natural wear and tear (wearing down) when eating grass and hay, a rabbit's teeth grow by 1-1.5 cm in a short period.
Additional information about rabbit teeth:
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Peculiarities
Wool
Rabbits shed twice a year: in the fall they grow winter fur, and in the spring they grow summer fur. Sometimes the hair falls out so much that there are bald patches in places. As a rule, there are no bald places. At this time, rabbits can be combed. Rabbits living in apartments with central heating may shed more often.
Collar
The collar is a deposit of fat directly at the base of the head. Collars come in different sizes and also in different places at the base of the head. In wild rabbits, the collar was a kind of reserve reserve of fat. The dewlap in an unsterilized female is a sexual feature. Males have particularly large collars. Some breeders breed rabbits with specially large collars to make the rabbits look cuter. Moreover, a large collar on a decorative rabbit is a direct evidence of obesity (the rabbit’s head rests on a double chin). If the animal loses weight, hanging fabric remains in place of the collar.
Anal gland
The scent gland (anal gland) is located near the anus. The secreted secretion also covers the feces, which the rabbit uses to mark its territory.
Gland on the chin
The rabbit also has a scent gland on its chin. The rabbit rubs its chin to mark its territory.
Glands in the groin area (inguinal testes)
Two 1.5 cm yellow-white glands are located in the groin area.
Heart
Heart weight: 0.22 – 0.24% of the weight of an adult animal
Pulse rate: 120-150 beats per minute
Rabbits, just like dogs and cats (and humans), can suffer from high or low blood pressure.
Digestive system
You can read about the features of the digestive system of rabbits in the corresponding article: “”
Internal organs and skeleton
Internal organs: 1.Trachea / 2.Lung / 3.Heart / 4.Liver / 5.Esophagus / 6.Stomach / 7.Small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) / 8.Cecum / 9.Colon intestine / 10.Anus / 11.Bladder/ureter
Rabbit skeleton: 1. Two regenerative, double incisors in the upper jaw, followed by premolars. / 2.Two regenerative incisors in the lower jaw / 3.6 molars on each side in the upper jaw, 5 in the lower jaw / 4.The spine consists of 7 cervical vertebrae, 13 thoracic vertebrae, 7 lumbar vertebrae, 4 sacrums and 16 caudal vertebrae / 5. Front paws with 5 toes / 6. Hind paws with 4 toes
How to determine the sex of a rabbit
The inguinal glands are pockets on either side of the anus. Healthy rabbits clean these areas themselves. Sick and overweight rabbits often cannot reach these pockets. Thus, a hard and painful scab forms in these places. In this case, you should regularly check these areas and, if necessary, clean them with a cotton swab soaked in water until the rabbit can do this on his own. After cleaning, lubricate the affected areas with Vaseline or zinc ointment.
So, if you find:
- dry nose;
- loss of appetite;
- diarrhea;
- the rabbit sneezes;
- accumulation of earwax –
Psoroptosis or scabies
Treatment with medications
Purulent otitis media
- diarrhea;
- purulent discharge.
Frostbitten ears
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Why does a rabbit have hot ears?
If your pet's behavior has not changed, he has an excellent appetite, and no other signs of illness have been detected - your ward has simply been running around and is tired. After rest, the fluffy’s ears will again return to their usual temperature of 38-39.5 degrees. This organ is responsible for thermoregulation of the body as a whole, that is, in this way the pet simply normalizes the overall body temperature, getting rid of excess heat. But an increase in temperature in rabbits can also be a sign of illness.
So, if you find:
- changes in the pet's behavior;
- dry nose;
- loss of appetite;
- the rabbit scratches its ears with its paws or tries to scratch them on objects;
- diarrhea;
- the rabbit sneezes;
- the appearance of blisters, ulcers, and crusts in the auricle;
- accumulation of earwax –
This is a reason to examine your pet’s ears in more detail. It is necessary for both beginners and experienced rabbit breeders to know the symptoms of ear diseases, especially since there are only three common diseases.
Psoroptosis or scabies
Psoroptosis is a contagious disease that affects pets older than 4 months. It can be transmitted from a sick rabbit to rabbits, between individuals; the owner can bring a tick to the nursery on clothes or shoes. In advanced forms of the disease, ear mites can cause a tumor in the animal's brain, leading to its death. Ear scabies does not only spread among pets; humans are also susceptible to this disease. Signs of the disease are:
Treatment of psoroptosis is quite effective using both traditional and medicinal methods, but it begins in the same way - with the removal of crusts in the ears.
Traditional ways to combat ear scabies
The wounds are treated very carefully; under no circumstances scrape off the growths with sharp objects. The scabs are softened before removal. Of course, psoroptosis is easier to treat in the early stages of the disease, so if you find a hot bunny trying to scratch #8212;s ears; inspect it immediately.
Treatment with medications
To combat ear mites, there are aerosols, injections, and various emulsions.
Injections are given into the rabbit's withers. It is better to coordinate the product and dosage with your veterinarian. Ratologists mainly prescribe Baymek and Ivomek - a medicine to combat psoroptosis for cattle and pigs. For pregnant rabbits, this method is excluded.
Purulent otitis media
- impaired coordination of the animal;
- the rabbit has hot ears and breathes quickly;
- rotation or horizontal movement of the eyes;
- diarrhea;
- increased attention of the rabbit to the ear;
- purulent discharge.
If you notice symptoms of otitis media in your pet, contact your veterinarian immediately. Self-medication can lead to dire consequences.
Frostbitten ears
Rabbit #8212; The owner of delicate ears that react sharply to changes in temperature. Cold weather can cause frostbite in your pet's ears and paws. Symptoms of frostbite are easy to identify:
If rapidly developing lumps are found on the rabbit’s ears, it is necessary to urgently call a ratologist veterinarian to your home. This is a clear sign of a serious disease - myxomatosis. Myxomatosis cannot be treated and the only way to prevent this disease is timely vaccination of livestock.
Yesterday my Heri showed these symptoms, I went to the vet, he said that he had pus, it’s good that he came in not so late, otherwise it would have been too late. I said drugs, but they are very expensive, I found this article and it helped me a little
We encountered this problem about a year ago, and as soon as the symptoms appeared we immediately ran to the vet. Fortunately everything was resolved. The main thing is not to trigger the disease in the animal! As soon as the first signs appear, immediately begin treatment! All the best.
Indeed, the rabbit is a very gentle animal and is susceptible to many diseases. We have been keeping and raising rabbits for many years. And it happens that they get sick. Sometimes their chin gets wet. And this causes them to die. It is very difficult to cure this.
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I did everything you wrote, in 3, my home is happy and runs at full speed. And the question is, what to do if a homa gnaws on the cage? And how to avoid this?
Nata, please tell me where you found Robarovsky's hamsters? I called a bunch of stores in Minsk - nowhere
Thank you, now we will send
The most interesting articles sent directly to you by email!
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Why does a rabbit have hot ears?
Rabbit physiology
- Body temperature: 38.5-40 °C
- Respiration rate: 50-150/min at rest
- Heart rate: 120-150/min at rest
- Puberty: small breeds 10-14 weeks, large breeds 4-5 months
- Pregnancy: 28-33 days
- Number of litter: 4-6 rabbits
- Lifespan: 6-10 years
So, let's figure out why the decorative rabbit has hot ears. If you keep a decorative rabbit at home, you must remember that the temperature of the room where the rabbit is located should not exceed 28 degrees.
And try not to scare your pet, because the rumor about rabbits being timid is very real.
The effect of temperature on a rabbit
Also, if your rabbit's ears are hot, then most likely your rabbit is overheated. Many owners, having discovered that their rabbit’s ears are hot, begin to worry about the health of their little ears. But if the rabbit behaves as usual and there are no obvious deviations in its behavior, it eats normally and is active, then there is nothing to worry about, you need to let the rabbit rest and cool down.
What to do?
In central Russia there is rarely a heat above 40 degrees, and this is very good for rabbits, since at high temperatures rabbits can suffer from heatstroke or, even worse, they can die from the heat. Also, you should not leave the long-eared ones in direct sunlight for a long time in warm weather, especially at noon.
And if rabbits, especially those constantly living outside, tolerate cold weather well, then rabbits must be protected from the heat.
In hot weather, it is necessary to provide the rabbit with the opportunity to cool down. But! There is no need to create an artificial draft for rabbits or direct an air stream from a fan at them. Sealed containers of cold water wrapped in cloth help a lot. In hot weather, it is necessary to change the water in the drinking bowl; it is good to throw ice cubes into the water; it is believed that rabbits love cold water. For cooling, you can use cold tiles or stone tiles. The room itself where the rabbit is kept can be humidified and cooled by hanging a damp cloth or spraying water with a spray bottle.
Diseases and their treatment
Hot ears should also be wiped, it is better to do this with a wet cloth, but you need to act carefully and make sure that water does not get into the animal’s ears. This procedure will help reduce body temperature until the veterinarian arrives, but it is worth remembering that decorative rabbits do not like water and can kick! After rinsing, wrap the rabbit in a towel. If there are medications in the first aid kit, then you need to give your pet Gamavit and Corvalol.
Dwarf rabbits are very timid and can even die from severe fright, so the myth about cowardly hares is not a myth at all.
Decorative rabbits are very sensitive creatures. They can't stand stuffiness. Being in a stuffy room at a temperature of 42 degrees, the animal may even die, so it is necessary to monitor the pet and prevent it from overheating. You should not place the cage close to a window, where your rabbit could suffer heatstroke from sunlight shining through the glass. When the house is hot and stuffy, it is better to check the animal more often. If you watch your pet, you can avoid many problems.
So, if you find:
- changes in the pet's behavior;
- dry nose;
- loss of appetite;
- the rabbit scratches its ears with its paws or tries to scratch them on objects;
- diarrhea;
- the rabbit sneezes;
- the appearance of blisters, ulcers, and crusts in the auricle;
- accumulation of earwax –
This is a reason to examine your pet’s ears in more detail. It is necessary for both beginners and experienced rabbit breeders to know the symptoms of ear diseases, especially since there are only three common diseases.
Psoroptosis or scabies
Psoroptosis is a contagious disease that affects pets older than 4 months. It can be transmitted from a sick rabbit to rabbits, between individuals; the owner can bring a tick to the nursery on clothes or shoes. In advanced forms of the disease, ear mites can cause a tumor in the animal's brain, leading to its death. Ear scabies does not only spread among pets; humans are also susceptible to this disease.
Signs of the disease are:
Treatment of psoroptosis is quite effective using both traditional and medicinal methods, but it begins in the same way - with the removal of crusts in the ears.
Traditional ways to combat ear scabies:
The wounds are treated very carefully; under no circumstances scrape off the growths with sharp objects. The scabs are softened before removal. Of course, psoroptosis is easier to treat in the initial stages of the disease, so if you find that a hot rabbit is trying to scratch its ears, examine it immediately.
Symptoms of purulent otitis media are:
- impaired coordination of the animal;
- the rabbit has hot ears and breathes quickly;
- rotation or horizontal movement of the eyes;
- diarrhea;
- increased attention of the rabbit to the ear;
- purulent discharge.
Frostbitten ears
The rabbit has delicate ears that react sharply to changes in temperature. Cold weather can cause frostbite in your pet's ears and paws. Symptoms of frostbite are easy to identify:
If rapidly developing lumps are found on the rabbit’s ears, it is necessary to urgently call a ratologist veterinarian to your home. This is a clear sign of a serious disease - myxomatosis. Myxomatosis cannot be treated and the only way to prevent this disease is timely vaccination of livestock.
The normal temperature of a rabbit should not exceed 39.4 degrees, and the temperature of the room in which the animal is located is 28 degrees. A rabbit's ears are responsible for heat regulation and are well supplied with blood. And if your pet has hot ears, then in this way he simply gets rid of excess heat. By the way, from the cold, rabbits press their ears to their body, thus reducing the surface that gives off heat. But hot ears can also be an indicator of a disease. There is no need to worry if, when the temperature of the ears increases, the body temperature is fine, the animal has a normal appetite and health. But if, in addition to hot ears, the rabbit breathes frequently and has a dry nose, it is better to show your pet to a doctor.
http://pets-mf.ru/pochemu-u-krolika-goryachie-ushi/
