Rabbit and Rodent Nutrition N Matthew Ellinwood D

Rabbit and Rodent Nutrition N. Matthew Ellinwood, D. V. M. , Ph. D. Spring 2010

Rabbits • At least 45 breeds of rabbits • Serve as: – – pet animals meat producers fur and hide producers research subjects • Differ from rodents in having 2 sets of upper incisors

Rabbit GI Anatomy • Non-ruminant herbivores with simple (glandular) stomach • Shorter sm. intestine than most species • Enlarged cecum for enhanced forage use – Don’t digest fiber well (15 -17% optimal) – Do digest starch and recycle protein • Lg. Intestine sorts food based on components & size – Fiber continues to colon for excretion – Fluids and soluble particles transferred back to cecum for further digestion

Rabbit digestive tract

Coprophagy/Cecotrophy • Ingestion of feces (“normal”) – Hard and soft feces produced – Soft feces ingested directly from the anus as excreted in early morning (night feces) – Not a problem if housed on wire cages – Similar to rumination due to path: cecum mouth stomach…a “recycler” – Provide vitamins B and K and increase forage use

Feedstuffs • Hay – Alfalfa--high in protein and calcium – Most forages are low in phosphorus – High fiber (cellulose) will have limited digestion by cecal fermentation or coprophagy – Grass--significantly lower in protein and digestibility – Timothy--now being seen as basis of pelleted diets

Feedstuffs • Garden vegetables – Good sources of vitamins – High in moisture/low in dry matter – Fibrous materials--help with digestive function – Not exceptionally good sources of protein – Enrichment

Feedstuffs • Grains – Generally good sources of energy and phosphorus – Poor sources of calcium and fiber – Grain byproducts also acceptable – Prefer oats and barley to corn

Feedstuffs • Protein supplements – Commercial pelleted diet ~ 15 -19% CP – Plant based – Oil content increases energy – Generally only needed for max. growth

Feeding Tips • Pelleting common – Reduces feed sorting/wastage – Cereal grains utilized…especially oats • Avoid moldy feeds • Often nocturnal feeders • Avoid overfeeding calories – Use higher forage/vegetable matter formula – Meal feed superior to “free choice”

Feeding Tips cont’d • Atony and hairballs reduced with 22% fiber in diet – Rabbits unable to vomit • Concern: although fermentation followed by coprophagy is significant, dietary essential amino acid requirements still exist • Fat addition common for grower rabbits • Gnawing toys also good

Nutrient Recommendations • Fiber -Reduces hairballs -Reduces chance of obesity -Helps w/ GI function

Special Considerations • Calcium – Very efficient absorption. . . and excretion – Alfalfa higher in calcium than other grasses – Leads to: cloudy urine, urine sludge, bladder calculi • Enteritis/enterotoxemia – Major problem with high concentrate diets – Clostridial organisms flourish in presence of overconsumption of energy…especially in young rabbits • Also a concern with antibiotic administration

Chinchillas • • • Originated in S. America Desire for pelts nearly led to extinction Longer life span than other pet rodents Require dust baths for coat quality Generally eat at night Monogastric herbivore w/ large cecum--“hind gut” fermenters www. brandywinezoo. org/chinchilla/html

Chinchillas • Normally coprophagic • Susceptible to constipation – Prevented by having adequate crude fiber • Susceptible to dietary changes (diarrhea) – Make changes slowly • Absolute requirements not known – Most commercial diets are higher in fiber and lower in protein than conventional rodent diets • Enjoy veggies, fruits, and grains as treats (limit to one to two raisins per day)

Guinea Pigs • Domesticated in S. America; some wild cavies still found there today • Produce large amount of feces • Females must be bred before 7 mo. of age

Guinea Pigs • • Food preferences established early Normally coprophagic Provide free-choice timothy hay Green veggies make great snacks and supplement Vit C requirements • Like rabbits, subject to antibiotic induced enterotoximia

Guineas & Vitamin C • Must have diet formulated for Guinea pigs or otherwise supplemented with Vit C – Most diets fortified with Vit C (ascorbic acid) – Approx half of initial amt. of Vit C is oxidized within 90 days of mixing • 15 -25 mg / day required • Clinical signs (joint bleeds) can occur as soon as 2 weeks on Vit C deficient diet • Scurvy caused by Vit C deficiency is leading cause of death in guineas

Gerbils • • More active than hamsters If escape cages, often return to them Excessive burrowing and tunneling Prone to stress induced epileptic seizures http: //br. geocities. com/gerson_cs/gerbil. html

Gerbils • Standard rodent diet acceptable – 4 -5% fat – 16% protein – Generally block-style pellets www. arcatapet. com/item. cfm? cat=5286 • If fed seed diets – Will select more palatable, fatty seeds • Ex: Sunflower seeds (low calcium and high fat relative to requirements) – Provide seeds only as a treat • Do NOT practice coprophagy

Hamsters • • • Nocturnal Least hardy of all small rodents High metabolic rate due to small size Will chew on most everything Possess cheek pouches and utilize them frequently when feeding • Classified as granivorous www. animalnetwork. com/critters/profiles/hamster/default. asp

Hamsters • Normally coprophagic • Higher protein requirement than standard rodent chow – 17 -23% • Susceptible to Vit E deficiency – Fresh milled diet (< 6 months) – Muscle weakness

Rats & Mice http: //www. pitt. edu/~biohome/Dept/Img/graphics/mice. jpg http: //www. dogbreedinfo. com/images 12/Rat. Hooded. Rat. Mouse. Cat. Pics 145. JPG • Rats relatively intelligent, but prone to obesity • Mice exhibit Whitten and Bruce effect • Standard rodent chow (block-style) will be sufficient • Vigorous digestive tracts • Diets well formulated due to extensive use as research animals

Summary Characteristics CP Vit. Enrich Animal Copr. Rabbits X 15 -19% Chinchillas X 12 -14% C(? ) X Guinea Pigs X 16 -18% C X Gerbils X 16% Hamsters X 17 -23% Rats & Mice X 16% X E X X

Inbred mice breeds Dr N. A Namvar Asl (D. V. M)

Dr N. A Namvar Asl (D. V. M)

Dr N. A Namvar Asl (D. V. M)

Dr N. A Namvar Asl (D. V. M)

Dr N. A Namvar Asl (D. V. M)

Dr N. A Namvar Asl (D. V. M)

Dr N. A Namvar Asl (D. V. M)

Dr N. A Namvar Asl (D. V. M)

Dr N. A Namvar Asl (D. V. M)

Dr N. A Namvar Asl (D. V. M)

Dr N. A Namvar Asl (D. V. M)

Dr N. A Namvar Asl (D. V. M)

Dr N. A Namvar Asl (D. V. M)