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Rabbit Care in Shelters
- 1. Personality Profiles for Rabbits
- 2. Easy Ways to Increase Adoptability for Rabbits
- 3. Tips for Listing Rabbits on Petfinder.com
- 4. "Top Ten Reasons Rabbits are Abandoned, and Criteria for Screening Potential Adopters"
- 5. Intake Information and Health Check for Incoming Rabbits
Intake Information and Health Check for Incoming Rabbits
Mary E. Cotter, Ed.D.
INTAKE INFORMATION AND HEALTH CHECK FOR INCOMING RABBITS
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INTAKE
QUESTIONS FOR OWNERS
RELINQUISHING A RABBIT: |
HEALTH CHECK
FOR INCOMING RABBITS:
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How old is the rabbit? What sex is the rabbit? How do you know? Spayed/neutered?
(ask for vet's name/number) Has the rabbit
ever had a litter? Has the rabbit
ever had contact with any other rabbit(s)?
When was the last
time? Where did you buy
the rabbit or how did you acquire the
rabbit? How long have you
had the rabbit? Has the rabbit
been housed indoors or out? Type of cage? What bedding
materials were used for the rabbit? Pine/cedar
chips? Has the rabbit
ever been to a vet? Name/phone number
of vet? Who was in charge
of rabbit care in your household? How often/hard
does the rabbit usually bite? How often/hard
does the rabbit usually scratch? How many kids
usually interact with the rabbit; how many
adults? Has the rabbit
ever been out of his cage? How often? What health
problems has the rabbit had? (fleas, ticks, fur mites, ear
mites, dental problems, skin problems, runny eyes, runny
nose, sneezing, anorexia, digestive
problems) What kind of
(commercial) food has the rabbit been eating?
Has the rabbit
ever had vegetables? Hay? How does the
rabbit drink water - bowl or bottle? Rabbit's temperament/personality? (friendly, shy, aggressive, fearful, etc.) |
Overall condition?
Approximate weight? Anything unusual
about posture or position of head in relation to
body? Does rabbit move
and hop normally? Any indication of
sprains/breaks? Discharge from
eyes? Mucousy or
clear? Sneezing or
discharge from nose? Mucousy or clear? Bumps around
nose/mouth/eyes/genitals? (rabbit syphilis is easily
treated) Ears clear? Or
black and crusty? (do not administer drops for ear
mites) Coat clean and
shiny? Dull? Skin flaky? Itchy?
(Is rabbit scratching?) Broken or bleeding
nails? (5 front, 4 rear) Genitalia swollen
or irritated? Swollen nipples?
(or any other indication of pregnancy or recent
birth?) Feces stuck on
genitalia or bottom of feet? (do not bathe rabbit; a foot
bath or butt bath will do the job) Urine scald?
(check perineum) Front teeth
overgrown? Visible outside mouth? (check outside appearance
only; do not attempt to open rabbit's mouth) Hocks sore or
ulcerated? (brush hair aside on bottom of heels to check;
some calluses are normal) Any unusual
lumps/bumps on body? (bites from other rabbits can abscess
) Jawline bilaterally symmetrical? (Mandibular abscesses often go undetected in rabbits til they are very advanced) |
For more information: www.rabbit.org, www.rabbitcare.org, www.morfz.com/rabrefs.html
© Mary E. Cotter, Ed.D. 2002
Courtesy of
Mary E. Cotter, Ed.D.
House Rabbit Society
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