How old are they?

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Buck Jones

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In another post, Bunty said Dr Bonney estimated a rabbit to be seven years old. Does anyone know how to do that, estimate the age of a rabbit?

By and large, I know young ones, obviously are small; they tend to have needle-sharp, little toe nails; they are inquisitive and mischievous and may bink a lot.

R.M. Lockley, in The Private Life of the Rabbit (1964) states one test, admittedly not always reliable, was,

"In the rabbit the ossification of the growing parts of certain bones, of the apophysis with diaphysis bones of the tibia, does not take place until it is about ten months old; if the soft cartilagenousgap between those bones can be felt with the thumbnail the animal can be estimated to be less than ten months' old"

Lockley studied wild European rabbits which are of the same species asour domesticated versions. His "test" has to do with leg bones, the location of which I am not entirely certain.

Has anyone else any pertinent information regarding estimating rabbits' ages?

Buck
 
does it have something to do with their teeth? a couple weeks after i got him, i took batman to the vets, they looked at his chompers & told me he was only 2 1/2months (the pet store told me he was 3mon.). but im not really sure howt hey would be able to tell age from that.
 
Dr Bonnie always looks at their teeth and eyes before she estimates their age. Also if very yound she will say his genitals are not developed and age from there
 
We can only estimate. An older rabbit's teeth may be discolored or deteriorated. As Buck mentioned,the toenails in an older rabbit become thicker. Also, poor flesh condition, matting on the front legs, moulting or eye problems can all be clues that lead to a suspicion of old age.

Pam
 

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