Rabbit Behaviour, Health and CareDeveloped from the successful Norwegian book Den Store Kaninboka (The Big Book of Rabbits) this book covers all aspects of rabbit behaviour, welfare, health and husbandry, with updated and expanded content now also made relevant to veterinarians. The focus is on explaining normal behaviour as a basis for describing optimal welfare, with an emphasis on rabbits in the domestic setting. Information regarding wild and laboratory rabbits is also included to show how behaviours such as socialisation, learning and communication can differ depending on environment. Health matters relating to welfare such as nutrition and oral health are also covered in detail, and case studies from around the world give this valuable resource an international perspective. |
Contents
| 1 | |
2 The Rabbit as a Companion Animal | 15 |
3 Behaviour Learning and Communication | 29 |
4 Social Rabbits | 59 |
5 From Snout to Tail | 83 |
6 Rabbit Nutrition | 117 |
7 Neutering | 139 |
8 Cleanliness and Hygiene | 151 |
9 Rabbit Housing and Conditions | 161 |
10 House Rabbits and Rabbitproofing of the Home | 177 |
11 Life Outdoors | 187 |
12 Reproduction and Breeding Control | 201 |
Epilogue | 209 |
| 213 | |
| 219 | |
Common terms and phrases
active aggressive anaesthesia Animal Welfare Applied Animal Behaviour aware bits body bone breeds caecotrophs cage cats cause cheek teeth chew clean clinic companion animal companion rabbits courtesy of Katarina courtesy of Marit cuniculi dental disease develop diet digestive dogs domesticated rabbits ears enclosures ensure environment European rabbit feeding female rabbits fibre floor flystrike free-range grass grooming Harald hare hide hormonal house rabbit humans hutch important incisors infection jump Katarina Vallbo kits laboratory rabbits lead Leporidae Lepus litter tray males malocclusion Marit Emilie Buseth Melis Mountain hare move myxomatosis natural behaviour neutered normal Norway nutritional Oryctolagus outdoor pain PDSA pellets pet rabbits Petter Photo courtesy pikas predators prevent problems Rabbit Behaviour Rabbit Medicine rabbits living rabbits need result skin social species stress temperature tion Tonic immobility treatment tumours un-neutered urine veterinarian wild rabbits
