Chapter I 



CONSIDERATION OF THE RABBIT 

 IN HEALTH 



Appearance In Health 



The healthy rabbit has a bright, vivacious 

 manner, bright eye and a smooth coat. The 

 natural apertures of the body should be free 

 of catarrhal or other discharge and the skin 

 free from seurfiness or eruptions. The feces 

 should be hard and firm and rounded into pel- 

 lets. Signs of indisposition are anorexia, lassi- 

 tude, and an inclination to separate from its 

 companions. The normal temperature of the 

 rabbit is 100.85° F. (38.25° C.) The charac- 

 ter and rate of the pulse vary so greatly that 

 for purposes of diagnosis no reliance can be 

 placed on them ; the same applies to the rate of 

 respiration, the mere excitement of handling 

 and examination being sufficient in itself to 

 cause such changes in rat^ and character as to 

 be misleading. 



Method of Examination 



In making an examination of a rabbit either 

 for a would-be purchaser or for diagnostic 

 purposes, it is as well to adopt a regular rou- 

 tine and go over the animal carefully and 

 minutely. The popular method of lifting a 

 rabbit by the ears is an ordeal that no rabbit 



