A breeder is responsible for ensuring the health of their bunnies. This includes having all of the animal’s veterinary records on hand. This is important so that the animal can be traced back in the event of a welfare incident. APHIS requires that breeders maintain records and make them available for inspection during business hours. This requirement does not apply to breeders who are not licensed by APHIS.
Breeding females
When breeding female rabbits, you should make sure you keep an eye on them to make sure they are healthy. If a bunny becomes ill, it will try to hide the problem by hiding it. It may even hurt itself if you startle it. Always use gentle handling techniques when handling sick bunnies and avoid jarring them. They may be afraid of you, so be careful to keep your distance.
A thorough physical exam will help the veterinarian determine if your rabbit has a medical problem. A physical exam should reveal any enlarged mammary glands and any signs of uterine disease. The vet may also conduct general blood tests to determine if a discharge is a symptom of an enlarged uterus. These tests will also detect any abnormalities in blood, such as regenerative anemia or an imbalance in electrolytes.
Veterinary records of pet animals
Veterinary records of pet animals are essential for keeping accurate and up-to-date records of your pet’s health. These records detail past and current treatments, vaccination history, and other relevant details. They are also helpful to you as the owner as they contain your contact information. For this reason, it is recommended to request a copy from your veterinarian after every visit.
Most of these records are digitised and are available for research purposes. For example, a study conducted by Lund et al. in 1999 used digitised records to study demographics and supplemented them with questionnaire data. However, this study only included data from a small sample. In contrast, O’Neill et al. collected electronic health records (EHRs) of pet animals from two different regions.
Providing veterinary care to breeders
Providing veterinary care to breeders is crucial to the success of their businesses. A good breeder should bring their animals to the veterinarian regularly for vaccinations and examinations. This ensures that they are healthy and that they do not leave them unprotected against disease. Breeders should also provide regular dental care and grooming for their animals.
Exemptions from licensing
The exemption is not automatic. The licensing authority must approve an application for an exemption based on the facts and the circumstances. If the person receiving the exemption no longer meets the exemption criteria, the agency must investigate the situation and collect license tax from the non-exempt person. A person cannot have more than one tax-exempt license in a single household or business.
Impact of proposed rule
A proposed rule to ban the sale of sick bunnies may have a negative impact on some breeders and their customers. Small-scale breeders operating within the exclusion zone may be especially vulnerable to enforcement. However, some breeders have no intention of halting their business.
Federal and state law currently have exceptions for breeders who sell directly to the consumer. These laws are aimed at protecting consumers and protecting the welfare of breeding stock. Despite these exceptions, a large number of breeders operate without the necessary licenses. This is especially problematic if breeders are selling sick bunnies as pets.
Under the proposed rule, dealers and breeders who sell research animals to research facilities will be subject to the same penalties as other breeders. Additionally, the proposal would prohibit breeders from importing or selling animals to research facilities.