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Rabbits | Husbandry and health: a 12-column knowledge tree

獸醫百科編輯部2026-08-13About 9 min read
#獸醫百科#小型哺乳#兔#飼養照護#動物照護

A single table covering twelve columns for the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): species and breeds with lifespan, normal physiological parameters, housing, nutrition, behaviour and welfare, preventive medicine, common diseases, emergency red flags, zoonoses, household toxins, geriatric and end-of-life decisions, and authoritative sources. Where the source chapter could not find an authoritative figure, the field is left blank with the reason stated, and this site does not fill in a number on its behalf. It suits taking on a new animal, or working out which direction to look in when something seems wrong.

Rabbits | Husbandry and health: a 12-column knowledge tree (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

This article is compiled from the 12-column knowledge tree for rabbits in the small mammals chapter of the veterinary animal encyclopaedia. Small mammals differ enormously from one another — rabbits and guinea pigs have no vomiting reflex, chinchillas tolerate heat very poorly, and ferrets are carnivores — so doing what works for another species can do harm. Confirm which animal you have first.
ColumnContent
1 Species/breeds and lifespanDomestic rabbit; common breeds include the Netherland Dwarf, lionhead, lop and giant breeds. Lifespan: 10–12 years (Merck Vet Manual: 「Rabbits fed a suitable diet and kept in a healthy environment can live as long as 10 to 12 years.」<https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/rabbits/disorders-and-diseases-of-rabbits>, verified 2026-07-30; no whitelisted source was found to support whether breed body size affects lifespan).
2 Normal physiological parametersMonitor temperature, heart rate, respiration and body weight; rabbits have no vomiting reflex, so gastrointestinal problems cannot be relieved by vomiting. Directions of abnormality: reduced appetite, faeces becoming smaller and fewer or disappearing (a GI stasis warning sign), rapid breathing. Figures: rectal temperature (⚠️ the sources differ in granularity and purpose and are not equally weighted truths (the same handling principle as the dog case): ① Merck's normal rectal temperature reference table = 101.5–104.2°F / 38.6–40.1°C <https://www.merckvetmanual.com/special-subjects/reference-guides/normal-rectal-temperature-ranges>; ② the Merck rabbit management page states 「Normal body temperature is 100.5°–104°F (39.6°–40°C)」<https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/rabbits/management-of-rabbits>. 🔴 OP ruling 2026-07-30 (harmonised with case C-012, the dog case): this is not "two equally weighted truths, take your pick". ① is Merck's normal rectal temperature reference table, which lists dogs, cats, rabbits and other species separately and is internally consistent in its conversions — use this one to judge whether a temperature is abnormal; ② is the Merck rabbit management page, whose Celsius values in parentheses do not match the Fahrenheit values on the same page (arithmetic recheck in this column). The two differ in granularity and purpose and must not be presented as interchangeable. ⚠️ Do not judge from a single figure alone; temperature must be assessed by a veterinarian together with clinical signs and the measurement method. 🔴 OP arithmetic recheck: the °C conversion in ② is wrong — 100.5°F is in fact 38.1°C, not 39.6°C (39.6°C corresponds to 103.3°F). ⚠️ Do not judge from a single figure alone; temperature must be assessed by a veterinarian together with clinical signs and the measurement method. Both pages verified 2026-07-30) (Merck Vet Manual: 「Normal body temperature is 100.5°–104°F (39.6°–40°C). Body temperature <100.4°F or >104°F is cause for concern.」<https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/rabbits/management-of-rabbits>, verified 2026-07-30); heart rate 180–350 bpm (Merck Resting Heart Rates table: 「Rabbit \180–350」<https://www.merckvetmanual.com/reference-values-and-conversion-tables/reference-guides/resting-heart-rates>); respiratory rate 【No single authoritative figure for this item: the whitelisted sources do not provide a rabbit-specific respiratory rate reference value】; adult body weight varies greatly by breed: small (including dwarf) 0.9–2.7 kg, medium 2.7–4.1 kg, large 4.1–5 kg, giant >5 kg (Merck: 「Small breeds: 2–6 pounds (0.9–2.7 kilograms)...Giant breeds: over 11 pounds (over 5 kilograms)」<https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/rabbits/description-and-physical-characteristics-of-rabbits>, verified 2026-07-30).
3 HousingA large hutch or pen in which the animal can stand up and hop, non-slip flooring, dry bedding, good ventilation to avoid heat stroke (rabbits dissipate heat poorly), and distance from noise and the scent of predators. Temperature and humidity parameters: the ideal environmental temperature is 16–22°C (61–72°F) (Merck Vet Manual: 「the optimal rabbit environment is 61°–72°F」<https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/rabbits/housing-of-rabbits>, verified 2026-07-30); no separate upper limit for humidity is specified, and Merck offers the rule of thumb that 「the Fahrenheit temperature plus the humidity percentage should not exceed 150」 (for example 80°F + 70% humidity as an illustrative ceiling, not a fixed heat-stroke threshold); there is no single explicit threshold temperature for heat stroke, and Merck gives only qualitative warnings: 「rabbits are prone to heat stroke」「Ample shade must be provided...to avoid overheating, which can happen quickly」(same source).
4 Nutrition and feedingStaple = unlimited grass hay (fibre is the key to gut motility), pellets as a supplement rather than the staple, a moderate amount of fresh vegetables, and avoidance of high-starch/high-sugar treats. Common feeding mistakes: treating pellets as the staple, insufficient or stale hay, and abrupt diet changes that disturb the gut flora.
5 Behaviour and welfareNormal: digging, leaping (the "binky"), quiet tooth-grinding (a sign of contentment), and caecotrophs (the soft droppings taken directly from the anus and eaten = a normal nutritional cycle, not a disease). Stress signals: hiding and staying still, refusing food, loud and persistent tooth-grinding (an expression of pain). The five welfare needs: enough space to move, companionship (rabbits are social animals), places to hide, and things to gnaw and chew.
6 Preventive medicineNeutering (reduces the risk of uterine adenocarcinoma and behavioural problems), regular health and dental checks, and — depending on the local disease situation — vaccination against rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD/RHDV) and myxomatosis (spread by mosquitoes and fleas). Vaccine types and frequency: 【Verification result: no fixed figure should be given for this item — which RHD and myxomatosis vaccines are approved, whether they are available, and how often they are given all vary with national/regional regulation and the disease situation. This must follow the veterinary vaccines approved by the local competent authority and veterinary advice; it is not within this article's scope to supply a fixed number. Verified 2026-07-30】.
7 Common diseases, top 101. Gastrointestinal stasis (GI stasis): multifactorial — pain, insufficient fibre, stress → reduced appetite, fewer or absent faeces, dullness → palpation/radiography to rule out obstruction → analgesia and prokinetic medication (prescription) plus assisted feeding and fluids → ample hay and reduced stress as the fundamental prevention.<br>2. Dental overgrowth / odontogenic abscess: rabbit teeth grow throughout life, and insufficient wear → drooling, weight loss, facial swelling → oral examination/radiography → burring or abscess management (prescription plus anaesthesia) → ample hay to maintain wear.<br>3. Uterine adenocarcinoma: common in older unspayed does → haematuria, abdominal distension, reduced activity → palpation/ultrasound/radiography → surgical spay (prescription) → early neutering is the best prevention.<br>4~10. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD/RHDV, a calicivirus causing acute hepatic necrosis, enteritis and disseminated coagulopathy; Merck: 「caused by a calicivirus, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV)...hepatic necrosis, enteritis, and lymphoid necrosis, followed by massive coagulopathy」<https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/rabbits/viral-diseases-of-rabbits>), myxomatosis (a poxvirus transmitted by mosquito, flea and other bites, fatal across rabbit breeds; same source: 「a fatal disease of all breeds of domesticated rabbits caused by myxoma virus...via mosquitoes, fleas, biting flies, and direct contact」), ear mites (Psoroptes cuniculi, which parasitise the ear canal and produce serous discharge and thick brown crusts, "ear canker"; Merck: <https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/rabbits/parasitic-diseases-of-rabbits>), pasteurellosis/rhinitis (Pasteurella multocida infection of the respiratory mucosa; Merck: <https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/rabbits/bacterial-and-mycotic-diseases-of-rabbits>), and urolithiasis (mineral deposits in the urinary tract, common in pet rabbits; Merck: 「common in pet rabbits」<https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/rabbits/disorders-and-diseases-of-rabbits>) among others (verified 2026-07-30).
8 🚨Emergency red flags🚨 Rabbits: reduced appetite or reduced faecal output for "more than 4 hours" is a warning sign — do not wait any longer.<br>A named source (University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine) states, specifically for rabbits, that a rabbit eating less or passing faeces less for more than 4 hours should be treated as a warning sign of gastrointestinal stasis (GI stasis) and seen by a vet. ⚠️ That page makes no mention of guinea pigs anywhere in its text, and this 4-hour figure must not be extrapolated to other species (OP fetched the full text and counted verbatim on 2026-07-30: 0 hits for guinea/cavy).<br>Rabbits and guinea pigs have no vomiting reflex, so gastrointestinal problems cannot be relieved by vomiting; the sooner the better — do not count down against any figure. If reduced appetite occurs together with faeces becoming smaller and fewer or absent, dullness, tooth-grinding or a hunched posture, contact a veterinarian experienced with rabbits/small mammals immediately.<br>(Original quotation retained: 「Rabbit that has not eaten OR reduced appetite for >4 hours, refuses treats, or has abnormal/reduced fecal output」<https://vetmed.illinois.edu/2024/06/04/rabbit-gi-stasis/>, verified 2026-07-30), severe abdominal distension, head tilt (suspected vestibular disease), traumatic fracture (rabbit bones are fragile and struggling readily causes spinal fracture and paralysis), and rapid open-mouth breathing.
9 ZoonosesRabbit ringworm (dermatophytosis); *Pasteurella* (transmitted by scratches and bites, with higher risk for the immunocompromised).
10 Household toxins and hazardsElectrical cables (rabbits like to chew them and can be electrocuted), some indoor plants (ivy, azalea), chlorine-containing cleaning products, insecticides, chocolate, avocado.
11 Geriatric care, palliative care and euthanasia decisionsEnd-stage tumours with unrelievable pain, chronic renal failure with inability to eat, spinal injury with complete paralysis and inability to toilet unaided. Rabbits are prey animals and instinctively mask weakness, so pain is expressed subtly and professional veterinary assessment is needed. Euthanasia must be performed by a veterinarian.
12 Authoritative sources*Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery* (source text line 87); Merck Veterinary Manual, professional edition (source text line 293).

The 12 columns above are copied cell by cell from the encyclopaedia chapter, without rewriting or condensing; treatment directions state categories only, never drug names or doses, and medication requires a veterinary prescription. Where the source chapter could not find an authoritative figure (such as species-specific time thresholds for seeking care), it explicitly leaves the field blank and states why, and this site preserves that as it stands.

The limits of this content

This content comes from the small mammals chapter of the veterinary encyclopaedia (the original location and content hash are in the evidence chain). The sources at the end are the authoritative material cited by that section. This chapter has no row-level anchors in the project's line-level anchor file; only the chapter-level content hash can be verified — the same level as this site's existing "group overview" articles for each chapter — which does not mean every sentence traces to a particular source. Where the source text could not find an authoritative figure it leaves the field blank and states the reason; this site preserves that as it stands and does not fill in a number on its behalf. This is educational information and cannot replace diagnosis and prescription by a practising veterinarian; in an emergency, seek care immediately. This article has not been clinically reviewed by a named veterinarian.

"Source text line N" in the table is a line number in the original teaching-material inventory used when this project's database was built; it is an internal traceability marker and that inventory is not public. It is the book and journal titles outside the parentheses that are the sources you can look up for yourself.

FAQ

What is most often fed wrongly to rabbits?
Staple = unlimited grass hay (fibre is the key to gut motility), pellets as a supplement rather than the staple, a moderate amount of fresh vegetables, and avoidance of high-starch/high-sugar treats. Common feeding mistakes: treating pellets as the staple, insufficient or stale hay, and abrupt diet changes that disturb the gut flora.
ウサギの給餌で最も間違えやすいのは何ですか。 — 主食＝無制限の牧草（乾草。繊維は腸の蠕動の鍵）、ペレットは補助であって主食ではない、新鮮な野菜を適量、高デンプン／高糖のおやつは避ける。よくある給餌の誤り：ペレットを主食にする、乾草が不足または古い、急な餌の切り替えによる腸内細菌叢の乱れ。
What is most often fed wrongly to rabbits? — Staple = unlimited grass hay (fibre is the key to gut motility), pellets as a supplement rather than the staple, a moderate amount of fresh vegetables, and avoidance of high-starch/high-sugar treats. Common feeding mistakes: treating pellets as the staple, insufficient or stale hay, and abrupt diet changes that disturb the gut flora.
What signs in a rabbit mean going to the vet immediately?
🚨 Rabbits: reduced appetite or reduced faecal output for "more than 4 hours" is a warning sign — do not wait any longer.
ウサギにどんな状態が出たらすぐ受診すべきですか。 — 🚨 ウサギ：食欲低下または排便減少が「4 時間を超えた」時点で警告サインです。それ以上待たないでください。
What signs in a rabbit mean going to the vet immediately? — 🚨 Rabbits: reduced appetite or reduced faecal output for "more than 4 hours" is a warning sign — do not wait any longer.
What is the most common disease in rabbits?
1. Gastrointestinal stasis (GI stasis): multifactorial — pain, insufficient fibre, stress → reduced appetite, fewer or absent faeces, dullness → palpation/radiography to rule out obstruction → analgesia and prokinetic medication (prescription) plus assisted feeding and fluids → ample hay and reduced stress as the fundamental prevention.
ウサギで最もよくある疾患は何ですか。 — 1. 消化管うっ滞（GI stasis）：痛み／繊維不足／ストレスなど多因子→食欲低下、糞の減少または消失、元気消失→触診／X 線で閉塞を除外→鎮痛薬と消化管運動促進薬（処方）＋支持的な強制給餌と輸液→十分な乾草とストレス低減が根本的な予防。
What is the most common disease in rabbits? — 1. Gastrointestinal stasis (GI stasis): multifactorial — pain, insufficient fibre, stress → reduced appetite, fewer or absent faeces, dullness → palpation/radiography to rule out obstruction → analgesia and prokinetic medication (prescription) plus assisted feeding and fluids → ample hay and reduced stress as the fundamental prevention.

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Cite this article

獸醫百科編輯部・《Rabbits | Husbandry and health: a 12-column knowledge tree》・IDAEO 知識庫・2026-08-13・https://km.idaeo.ai/post/vet/rabbit-guide

Updated 2026-08-14

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更新 2026-08-14T15:32:41.483Z · server-rendered · four-language · IDAEO 知識庫