10 DISEASES OF RABBITS 



should be expected to undergo; in heavy ani- 

 mals it is gross cruelty and should never be 

 practiced; the correct inethod is to grasp the 

 rabbit by the loose skin over the shoulders and 

 with heavy animals both hands should be used, 

 one grasping the skin as above nientioned, the 

 other placed under the hindquarters; A vicious 

 rabbit can inflict a nasty injury with its teeth 

 and aliSo use its claws to some advantage so that 

 a certain amount of circumspection is advis- 

 able in handling such cases. 



Notice should be taken as to whether or not 

 there sire symptoms of nasal catarrh, conjunc- 

 tivitis, discharge from the vulva, or penis. The 

 ears should be inspected for canker. The skin 

 should be examined by turning the hair back, 

 for eruptions, mange, lice and fleas. 



The teeth should be examined for irregular- 

 ities, etc. The age may be determined approx- 

 ima;tely by the following points. In the young 

 animal the teeth are bluish white, in aged ani- 

 mals the teeth become elongated and yellow. 

 The toe nails in animals under one year do not 

 project beyond the fur; at eighteen months 

 they project beyond the fur but: are nearly 

 straight. After two years old the nails are 

 longer and decidedly curved and the length 

 and curvature increase with age. A young 

 specimen can also be detected by feeling with 

 the nail whether the epiphysis of one of the 



