Those who are faced with raising rabbits for the first time are sometimes at a loss as to when their decorative pets rest, or rather sleep. If you observe the ears, it may seem that the animals are constantly active. Experienced breeders know that at first glance it only seems so, but in reality the animals manage to rest and sleep even with their eyes open.
Scientists call decorative rabbits twilight animals because they are active in the mornings and evenings, and rest more the rest of the time. Eared animals are characterized by intermittent and restless sleep, which was passed on from their wild relatives. In nature, rabbits sleep for a short time. They need to be careful, because predators could be waiting for them every minute.
In what conditions do rabbits like to sleep?
At home, the predominant time when rabbits sleep is during periods when no one is at home and there are no sounds around that frighten him.
To sleep, young pets choose a sitting or semi-sitting position. This position is most convenient for running away in case of danger.
Over time, when the animal gets used to its living conditions, its position becomes more relaxed. The animal sleeps on its side or on its back, with its pelvic limbs raised up. In the latter case, such a trusting position is a sign that the pet is completely relaxed and feels safe.
For a more comfortable existence in the animal’s cage, you need to arrange something like a mink. To do this, you need a small area where either a special wooden house is installed, or a pile of hay is placed in the most secluded corner. You can also hang a curtain or place a cardboard box there.
This enclosed space creates a feeling of security and ensures a more restful sleep. The cage is placed in a quiet place.
It is worth considering that animals can chew their houses, so they are replaced periodically. The tray, feeders and drinkers are installed at the opposite end of the cage.
Where do brown hares live?
These are field and steppe animals (for the most part), unlike white hare, which primarily live in the forest. Hares almost always sleep during the day and feed at night. They dig up the snow over winter crops and eat green sprouts. If the hare cannot for some reason (deep snow, ice, frost) get to the winter crops, he resorts to the gardens, where he eats the remaining stalks or unpicked carrots. It also gets close to haystacks, eating dry grass. Willingly feasts on the bark of fruit trees - young apple trees - in gardens. Rusaks thus cause great harm to the national economy - fields, orchards and vegetable gardens. This is why the villagers dislike them.
How long do rabbits sleep per day?
Do decorative rabbits sleep and what is the daily duration of sleep? On average, the norm for a long-eared animal is to sleep for about 9 hours. However, in the wild, animals cannot afford such luxury, and pets can rarely be found sleeping peacefully.
In the wild, long-eared animals practically cannot afford a relaxed sleep, lying down in a waddle. To do this, you need to feel complete safety, which is extremely rare outside the owner’s home.
This is due to the fact that animals sleep at short intervals. At the same time, their sleep is extremely sensitive. A small noise or rustle causes a timid pet to immediately return to wakefulness. In this case, the animal must quickly begin to navigate its surroundings in order to protect itself from possible danger.
Even in its hole, an animal cannot feel completely safe, because predators are capable of striking at any moment.
In the vast majority of cases, rabbits sleep in a semi-sitting or sitting position. This position of the body allows you to quickly break loose and run away from the source of danger. At the same time, the animal’s eyelids do not droop completely; the rabbit’s eyes seem to be squinted, but not closed. There are even cases where timid poor creatures sleep with their eyes wide open. They simply needed to adapt to such sleep in order to survive.
Throughout the day, young individuals can sleep in short intervals of no longer than 5 minutes. Being in a calm environment, they quickly fall asleep, but despite this, their sleep is very sensitive. During the day, such intervals are repeated often, thanks to which it is possible to gain several hours of sleep in total. At night, spending time in a mink, the animal can afford longer sleep.
Dwarf domestic rabbits follow mostly their instincts, so their sleep schedule and its characteristics are similar to their wild relatives.
How long does sleep last?
The average total time rabbits sleep per day is up to 9 hours. They do not have long periods of sleep like most animals.
Such intervals are repeated, as a result of which several hours of sleep are gained. Getting used to the environment, and sometimes to safe noise, pets begin to sleep longer.
At night, the phases of wakefulness and sleep also replace each other. But sleep time tends to increase if the pet is in calm conditions.
When do they fall asleep?
During the day, rabbits sleep lightly and intermittently; they do not fall into deep sleep. Any extraneous sound, rustle or noise instantly returns the pet to wakefulness. Animals must immediately orient themselves in their surroundings so that in case of possible danger they can react to defend themselves or flee.
At night, in quiet conditions, rabbits sleep for a longer period of time. However, the phases of activity are also preserved, because night is a relatively safe time in the wild. Not all predators are good at navigating in the dark, which gives the rabbit an advantage when chasing. It is in the dark that these animals can calmly move and look for sources of food, etc.
Popular breeds
The Hermelin (Polish rabbit) is a dwarf rabbit, and many other types of mini rabbits have been bred from this breed. Pets of this breed are only white with red or blue eyes. With proper care, the Hermelin's physique is strong and elongated. The weight of the animals ranges from 800-1500 grams, the length of the ears is from 4 to 7 cm, the tail is pressed tightly to the body.
The colored rabbit (dwarf) is a relative of the Polish multi-colored rabbit. The description of the colored dwarf rabbit almost completely coincides with the characteristics of the Hermelin breed, with one exception - the color of the fur. There are various shades: white, red, blue, orange, black and others. Wool of medium length. The colored dwarf rabbit has a friendly character and can become a furry friend for its owner.
Decorative rabbits
Dwarf shorthair sheep got their name because of their unusual appearance: they have huge eyes and a wide forehead. The physique is strong, weight varies between 1.5-2 kg. Rabbits of this breed have a very beautiful back line and long hanging ears, which reach 24-28 cm in length. In the female rabbit they are slightly smaller.
The fox ram has wool with longer hairs than the dwarf ram: it practically touches the ground, since its length ranges from 5-5.5 cm. The hairs of the fox ram do not fall off, making it much easier to care for its fur, which is why this breed has won hugely popular among pet lovers. The pet is fox-colored, hence the name.
The Dutch Fold was bred by scientist Andrian de Kock. Almost no one believed that he would be able to breed a French ram in a mini format, since as the size of the body decreases, the length of the ears correspondingly decreases, that is, they cannot hang. However, after 12 years of hard work, the scientist achieved the desired result and registered the breed in 1964.
Features of sleep and vision
Basic physiological characteristics of all breeds:
- animals see well at night and navigate in space not only with the help of their eyes, but also with their whiskers. They manage to detect the slightest vibrations over long distances;
- Decorative rabbits can fall asleep in a split second and wake up even faster. They do not have to lie down to sleep; they can rest while sitting or even standing. If a pet sleeps lying down and with its eyes completely closed in the presence of household members, then this indicates that it completely trusts them;
- Sometimes animals sleep with their eyes open. This allows you to fully analyze the situation around you while you sleep. This feature of the body allows you to quickly wake up and run away from a predator or any other potential danger.
Smell
Very often, when purchasing decorative rabbits, future owners are interested in whether there is any smell from the animal. The answer to this question can be unequivocally that young and healthy animals do not smell.
Important! If the animal suddenly starts to stink, it means that it has some kind of health problem or the owner is not taking good care of it.
An unpleasant odor may appear for the following reasons:
- poor quality care;
- puberty;
- inflammation, cystitis, stomach upsets;
- diet;
- age and sex of the animal;
- conditions of detention.
Note! Another reason for the appearance of an unpleasant odor may be a special secretion that males secrete to mark their territory.
When do decorative rabbits sleep?
It is quite normal for animals to sleep, both during the day and at night. The little fluffy sleeps on average 5-6 hours a day. But since rabbits are considered nocturnal animals, they prefer to sleep in the morning or afternoon.
An interesting point is that long-eared animals do not close their eyes during sleep, but only squint slightly. This instinct is genetically embedded in them. They are always on their toes and are ready to quickly act (run) if they sense danger. The same can be said about decorative breeds of rabbits.
What to do if your rabbit doesn't sleep at night?
Most likely, your pet will not observe the silence regime, since it is a nocturnal animal. Noise at night is a common occurrence for a pet; he can chew and rustle the contents of the cage. Unfortunately, this will be a problem for light sleepers.
To reduce noise, you can cover the top of the cage with a thick blanket or hang it so that it swings a little when moving. Under no circumstances should you knock on the bars of the cage or shout at the animal, this will only worsen the problem.
Thus, before getting a new pet, it is necessary to take into account the behavior and sleep characteristics of decorative rabbits. Knowing the nature of the animal, which is predominantly nocturnal, you need to first decide whether you can put up with noise at night.
The following will help calm down a noisy little ear:
- Arranging a hole or tunnel where the animal will spend the night.
- Stroking the animal to relieve stress.
If such noise bothers you, you can use the recommendations of experienced rabbit breeders:
- Cover the rabbit's home with a thick cloth at night.
- Place the animal's cage away from the bedrooms.
- Minimize contact and access to the rabbit with other pets.
Smart heads
It would be a misconception to think that domestic rabbits are stupid animals. These cunning creatures can easily learn to open the latch on their cage in order to arrange unscheduled walks around the master's house and feast on prohibited pieces of furniture, curtains and wires. In addition, their intelligence allows them to reach such a level of harmfulness as to wake up the owner at night, causing chaos in their home with the sole purpose of begging for some treasured and favorite delicacy.
They are able to show intelligence in extreme situations. There are cases where a domestic rabbit escaped from a dog attack by crawling through a hole in the fence. The dog could not crawl through this gap and was forced to jump over the obstacle. As a result, she was so exhausted that she gave up and went home, leaving the furry sly guy alone.
Is it possible for a rabbit to sleep in the same bed as a human?
As they say, the owner is a master, but remember that defecation of a rabbit, outside the cage, occurs at any time; the frequency is not regulated as in cats, dogs and other carnivores. In addition, the rabbit has a physiological obligation to eat its night feces, or rather caecotrophs (a type of feces). If this doesn’t bother a person, then why not put the rabbit next to you in bed.
The rabbit, in the wild, is predominantly a nocturnal animal, although we know many examples when nocturnal and crepuscular animals in domestic breeding adapt to the human regime, sleeping when a person sleeps.
To understand in practice whether a person can take a rabbit into his bed, one night is enough
One last thing on this subject, rabbits are not good at jumping from heights. I can say that lop-eared rabbits definitely cannot, since their ears cover part of their eyes, this leads to disorientation in space. Therefore, all the peas will remain in bed.
Where should a rabbit sleep?
A cage with a decorative rabbit should be placed in a quiet place where there is no or minimal movement. No loud noises should be heard nearby. For the safety of your pet, it is necessary to arrange a kind of hole in the cage in which the animal can hide if it senses danger. A closed space creates a feeling of security and will contribute to a more restful sleep.
What are the membranes of the visible part of the eye called?
It is believed that it is impossible to detect changes in eye color in rabbits. Indeed, outbred rabbits' eyes look like buttons and are dark in color. In fact, even in animals with eye pigmentation, pathological changes in the color of the mucous membranes of the conjunctiva, sclera, and third eyelid can be seen.
Photo. The eyes of wild rabbits look like uniformly colored buttons
The examination of the organs of vision is carried out under local illumination, so it is better to separate the different structures of the eye.
Photo. Rabbit eye with markings
- The pupil is in the center of the eye. It has the darkest color
- The iris primarily determines the color of the eyes. Albinos have red, sometimes blue, irises; other breeds of rabbits have brown irises.
- Sclera. In order to see, you need to pull down the lower or upper eyelid. In its normal state, the sclera is pale pink in color, sometimes slightly pigmented.
The nictitating membrane (third eyelid) is not normally visible, hidden in the corner of the eye, closer to the nose
Rabbit who wants to sleep
If your baby can't fall asleep, it's time to go on a sleep quest with Roger Rabbit and his mom! The wizard Uncle Zeva, the wise Sleepy Owl and the very slow Old Snail know how to help you.
This incredibly popular fairy tale all over the world was written by a professional psychologist. She relieves tension and smoothly puts the child to sleep thanks to special techniques based on Erickson's method of hypnosis. Psychologists confirm: the book is completely safe, and the effect of reading depends on the characteristics of the child. Most children fall asleep already in the middle of the story. We hope the book will help your family too.
Today, thousands of parents exhausted by lack of sleep thank the author from all over the world.
Book chips
- The book is based on special psychological techniques that help children fall asleep easier and faster every day.
- Tested by MYTH on my children!
- The book has been translated into 43 languages. 1.6 million copies sold worldwide.
- Initially, Karl-Johan Forssen Erlin published the book in Swedish and English independently, but in the very first months of sales it soared to the top of world rankings and was recognized as a real phenomenon in the world of literature.
- The book is personalized; places where you need to address the child by name are specially marked. This helps children perceive the text better.
About the book series
More than two million copies of the book The Rabbit Who Wants to Sleep and almost the same number of its sequel The Baby Elephant Who Wants to Sleep have been sold worldwide. Currently these books have been translated into 46 languages. Roger Rabbit and Sonya the Elephant have managed to fall in love with Russian little readers, and every day more and more children fall asleep to the lulling sleepy tales. A little later, a tractor named Roger joins their company, the last book in the series at the moment.
All books have a calm and cozy design. Pleasant, slightly rough to the touch cover, sleepy-tinted pages, kind and beautiful illustrations.
Before using these books, in order to achieve the desired sleepy effect, you need to read the instructions. Be careful, dads fall asleep first.
Tips for owners
Even if you want to know how rabbits sleep, do not interfere with their rest. It is forbidden to guard a rodent or constantly watch it, because the animal will get scared and, in general, will not sleep. Try to create comfortable conditions for the rabbit, provide him with peace and quiet.
In addition, it is necessary to place the cage in a place where the rodent can rest from extraneous sounds. The cage should contain a house in which the animal will hide from prying eyes. Experienced rabbit breeders advise talking to them. After some time, the rodent will get used to your voice and stop being afraid.
Source
Various options for combating the disease
Therapy for the inflammatory process begins immediately after receiving test results: any delay can lead to serious complications. To begin with, the doctor prescribes a gentle diet for the victim with a high content of plant carbohydrates, animal proteins and vitamin-mineral complexes. In parallel with this, the consumption of alcohol and nicotine is excluded. At the early stage of the inflammatory process, the body can fight on its own: lifestyle changes have a positive effect. If the disease is discovered quite late, antibacterial drugs are immediately prescribed, which destroy the infectious agent in the shortest possible time. To restore the functions of the reproductive system, doctors prescribe visits to physiotherapeutic procedures.
The main goals of treatment for funiculitis:
- reduction of inflammatory edema,
- normalization of sperm motility,
- prevention of the development of adhesions and infertility,
- improving blood circulation in the vascular bed,
- pain relief,
- return of erectile function.
Drug therapy for the inflammatory process
Pharmaceutical drugs are a universal way to combat such pathology. Doctors usually prescribe systemic remedies, as they have a more pronounced effect and allow you to destroy the problem from the inside. But if the inflammatory process has tangible external manifestations in the form of a violation of the integrity of the skin or damage to the urethra, local medications (compresses, ointments, gels) are also used.
Drugs for local treatment of the disease:
- Antiseptic agents for treating the skin and urethra. They are used when the infectious process spreads to neighboring organs and tissues in the form of compresses and douching, preventing the proliferation of microbes. The most famous medications in this group: potassium permanganate, Furacilin, Dimexide, Miramistin, Chlorhexidine.
- Healing creams and gels are used for irritation of the skin of the scrotum and thighs. Most often, doctors prescribe Bepanten, Dexpanthenol, Pantoderm, Rescuer, D-panthenol, Depantol for this purpose.
Photo gallery: means for local treatment of funiculitis
Dimexide relieves swelling
Miramistin kills germs
Dexpanthenol accelerates skin healing
Medicines for systemic therapy of the inflammatory process:
- Painkillers can reduce discomfort during an acute attack. They are injected into the area where the spermatic cord is located, as a result of which the nerve endings are blocked. Most often, Novocaine, Ultracaine, Procaine, Morphine, Narcotine, Codeine, Omnopon, Articaine are used for this purpose.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit the spread of edema and the accumulation of fluid in the scrotum, relieving discomfort. The most famous substances in this group include: Nimesulide, Ibuprofen, Tamoxifen, Celecoxib, Rofecoxib, Ibuklin, Diclofenac, Ortofen, Arlef, Nise, Nimesil, Ketorolac, Ketanov.
- Antibacterial agents cause the death of pathogenic microorganisms that cause the development of the inflammatory process. These include Flemoxin Solutab, Augmentin, Benzylpenicillin, Vancomycin, Imipinem, Meropenem, Tienam, Maxipim, Caten, Ceclor.
- Immunosimulators promote the formation of cells aimed at fighting infectious agents. The most famous drugs in this group: Immunal, Cycloferon, Interphenon, Timalin, Timogen, Taktivin.
Photo gallery: drugs for systemic treatment of funiculitis
Novocaine relieves pain
Ketanov helps relieve inflammation
Augmentin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that effectively destroys microbes
Cycloferon strengthens the immune system
Video: spermatic cord block
Folk ways to combat funiculitis
Medical assistance is not always available at the moment. If you do not have the opportunity to visit a urologist (long queue, urgent departure), it is permissible to get rid of the symptoms of the pathology using natural remedies. They are quite effective, easy to use and inexpensive. But do not forget that the cause of the development of the inflammatory process in the spermatic cord can only be cured with traditional drugs.
When using traditional recipes, allergic reactions often occur. In my practice, I have encountered a patient who decided to get rid of pain in the scrotum with the help of celandine compresses. The man used a large amount of juice, as a result of which he received a serious burn to the perineum. The patient was urgently hospitalized in the traumatology department, where doctors performed plastic surgery to close the resulting defect with skin from the thigh area. The reproductive function of the reproductive system was not affected, but the appearance acquired some defects that brought psychological discomfort to the man. That is why it is recommended to use only gentle products in minimal quantities.
The most popular folk recipes for combating pathology:
- Brew two tablespoons of flax seeds in a thermos with boiling water and leave for 24 hours. The next morning, drink a glass on an empty stomach. Flax seeds are a natural anti-inflammatory that helps fight swelling and discomfort. To reduce the symptoms of funiculitis, it is recommended to undergo a course of treatment consisting of 30 procedures with intervals of 1 day between them.
- Mix 100 grams of chamomile with the same amount of calendula and place in a saucepan with 2 liters of water. Cook for half an hour, stirring constantly. After cooling, strain through a sieve, removing any remaining raw materials. Drink 1 glass 3 times a day after meals. Calendula in combination with chamomile have a bactericidal effect and cause the death of some pathogenic microbes. Additionally, this decoction improves sleep and helps relieve pain. Treatment with this remedy must be carried out every day for six months.
- Scald two large burdock leaves with boiling water. After softening, wrap them in gauze and apply such a compress to the scrotum for 15–20 minutes. Burdock leaves reduce the severity of edema, relieve pain and improve peripheral circulation. Using this method several times a week helps prevent the development of adhesions in the area of the vas deferens.
Photo gallery: traditional therapy for the disease
Chamomile reduces pain
Burdock compresses relieve swelling
Flax seeds are used as an anti-inflammatory agent
The role of physiotherapy in the treatment of pathological conditions
In inflammatory processes of various organs, restorative or therapeutic procedures based on the action of physical factors are often used. For diseases of the male reproductive system, such techniques become the main way to prevent secondary complications. Contraindications to this treatment are:
- presence of a pacemaker,
- individual intolerance to the procedure,
- acute phase of the inflammatory process,
- chronic skin diseases in the activation stage.
What physical therapy options are used:
- Inductothermy of the groin area. The affected testicles are exposed to a magnetic field of varying frequencies and intensities. This procedure allows you to quickly and effectively get rid of swelling of the spermatic cord, and also prevents the further spread of microorganisms throughout the victim’s body.
- Laser therapy. In order to prevent the formation of adhesions in the scrotum, irradiation of the lumbar region is performed. The laser breaks down the smallest areas of connective tissue, without having any negative effect on the testicles and spermatic cords. It is believed that this method effectively copes even with cases of chronic funiculitis.
- Ultrasound treatment of the inflammatory process. Waves of various lengths penetrate deep into soft tissues, which causes the death of the pathogenic pathogen. This procedure also helps prevent the development of purulent complications due to the migration of microbes into the bloodstream.
- Electrical stimulation of the lumbar region. Special electrodes that conduct current are placed on the lower back. When the device is turned on, muscle fibers are stimulated, as a result of which the process of removing seminal fluid from the ducts is normalized. In this way, stagnation and accumulation of inflammatory contents in the scrotum can be avoided.
- Electrophoresis is a procedure for introducing pharmaceutical drugs (antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating agents) into the body using current. Several electrodes are placed in the pubic area, through which the medicine is delivered internally. This technique allows you to quickly and effectively deliver medication to the required area of the body without the use of droppers or injections.
Photo gallery: physiotherapy to combat the disease
Inductothermy relieves inflammatory edema
Ultrasound therapy causes the death of harmful microbes
Laser therapy prevents the development of adhesions
