Term
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Definition
- pox virus
- usually fatal disease of european rabbit
- may get passive immunity from doe- lasts 4-5 wks
- virus persists in hutches - insect vectors- rabbit flea, mosquito
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Term
| myxomatosis clinical signs |
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Definition
- skin lesions develop 4-5 d after inoc.
- eyelids become thickened, closed completelyby 9d. with semipurulent ocular discharge.
- secondary lesions develop throughout the body
- if infection by inhalation- pneumoic signs are seen
- Different strains have differing virulence ( high virulence- sudden death and transmission reduced )
- young rabbits particularly susceptible and die more rapidly
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Term
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Definition
- more lethal at low temperatures: good nursing and high temp recovery aid
no specific therapy |
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Term
| Myxomatosis Prognosis and prevention |
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Definition
Grave, death usually as a result of inhalation, secondary bacterial infection, or predation
Prevention: Bivalent RHDV/myxoma virus vaccine 1 dose sc from 5 weeks. Annual booster
- vector control |
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Term
| Rabbit Heamorrhagic disease |
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Definition
- calcivirus
- host specific to european rabbits
rabbits less than 4 weeks old, have physiological immunitiy, remain unaffected and develop lifelong immunity when exposed to virus
- susceptibility increases until 6-10 weeks ofage.
- shed in urine, faeceas, aerosol
- insect vectors
virus survives several weeks in carcasses and skin |
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Term
| Rabbit Heamorrhagic disease clinical signs |
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Definition
- Short incubation period of 3-4 days
peracute cases- sudden death
acute cases: quiet, pyrexic and increased resp rate and usually die within 12 hr from DIC or liver failure |
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Term
| Rabbit Heamorrhagic disease : treatment, prognosis and prevention |
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Definition
- no specific therapy
- grave prognosis
- Bivalent RHDV/myxoma virus vaccine 1 dose sc from 5 weeks
Annual booster
- new strain, VHD-2 still out there |
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Term
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Definition
Neutering of all non-breeding female rabbits (at 4-6 months of age) is strongly recommended to prevent uterine adenocarcinoma, which can affect 50-80% of intact does over 3 years of age. Male rabbits (>4 months of age) are often also neutered for behavioural reasons and to prevent breeding.
- stops pseudopreg in females and companion fighting
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Term
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Definition
- routine worming not necesary
- treat heavy burdens of oxyurids/pinworms with fenbendazole
- test rabbits before treatment given
- Those at risk of flystrike (obese, urinary incontinent, etc) should be treated prophylactically with a fly repellant and insect growth inhibitor (cyromazine).
- Topical or injectable SC Ivermectin can be used to treat a variety of mites and lice
- treat fleas with imidacloprid
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Term
| What should never be used in Rabbits for parasite treatment? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
Non-specific signs such as anorexia, lethargy and weight loss are the most frequent presenting complaints in rabbit practice.
Careful history-taking, patient evaluation and selection of diagnostic tests will aid in the identification of the underlying problem.
Anorexia should be considered an emergency in rabbits as the gastrointestinal stasis will rapidly ensue, which can be fatal if untreated. Monitoring of appetite, urine and faecal production and observation of behaviour from a distance may provide vital clues.
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Term
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Definition
- malocclusion, most common dental abnormality
- mandibular and maxillary abscesses associated with dental infections
- periodontal disease and pulpitis are often involved, |
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Term
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Definition
8-10 wks of age
- Breed predispositions of mandibular prognathism/maxillary brachygnathism include some dwarf and lop-eared breeds. Primary incisor malocclusion and elongation cannot be corrected - the mandibular incisors becoming straighter due to lack of occlusion and maxillary incisors form spiral curvatures, and may penetrate the palate or cheek if left untreated.
It is likely that a secondary cheek teeth elongation will occur due to the overgrown incisors increasing the angle the mouth is open.
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Term
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Definition
- adult rabbits
- inadequate dental wear is common where rabbits are fed high carbs-> elongation of entire tooth
- Increased length and curvature of the cheek teeth result in spike formation on the lingual occlusal surface of the mandibular teeth and the buccal occlusal surface of the maxillary teeth. Lateral mandibular movement is also restricted. This elongation of the cheek teeth prevents normal occlusion and therefore dental wear of the incisors resulting in secondary incisor malocclusion
- Calcium deficiency or calcium:phosphorus imbalances due to selective feeding when offered excessive quantities of coarse-mix food can lead to alveolar bone resorption and tooth loosening, and will enhance the progression of dental disease and resorption. Cheek tooth elongation and curvature lead to spaces opening up between the teeth, periodontal pocket formation, infection and eventually abscessation.
- Traumatic injury including mandibular symphysis separation, temporomandibular joint subluxation, mandibular ramus fractures, tooth fractures with subsequent pulp exposure and tooth root abscess formation are also commonly seen.
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Term
| Clinical signs of dental disease |
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Definition
- anorexia
- dysphagia
- bruxism due to pain
- secondary moist dermatitis
- teeth grinding
- drinking more
- weight loss
- Root elongation of the mandibular cheek teeth results in palpable distortion of the normal smooth ventral border of the mandible. Root elongation of maxillary cheek teeth impinges on the orbit and may prevent globe retraction or cause proptosis as a sequel to retrobulbar abscess formation.
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Term
| Diagnosis of dental disease |
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Definition
- history and clinical findings
- x ray- good oblique radiograph
- CT- evaluate disease of the roots and surrounding alveolar bone
- images good for dental disease progression |
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Term
| Treatment and prognosis of dental disease |
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Definition
- NEVER CLIP RABBIT TEETH!
- corrective burring or extraction of affected teeth, supportive care and diet change to high fibre
- burring of cheek teeth requires general anaesthesia
- Indications for incisor extraction include malocclusion, root infection and loss of opposing tooth.
- Complete surgical excision ( infraorbital nerve block) is the recommended treatment of abscesses in the rabbit, followed by marsupialisation or closure after placement of an antibiotic-impregnated implant (e.g. PMMA bead). Prognosis of dental disease is dependent on the primary cause and extent of secondary changes. If there is evidence of osteomyelitis, the prognosis is guarded to poor.
- occasional teeth can grow back if remnants left behind
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Term
| Gastric stasis and GI Ileus |
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Definition
- Gastric stasis is an acquired disorder of decreased motility
- Generalized ileus is a common continuation of this condition and may arise from mechanical obstruction or from defective propulsion.
- Mechanical obstruction (e.g. dehydrated impacted ingesta secondary to chronic dehydration, foreign bodies, infiltrative lesions) cause delayed gastric empting. Abnormalities in myenteric neuronal or gastric smooth muscle function or contractility result in defective propulsion
- Primary factors associated with these functional disorders include anorexia, high-carbohydrate/low–fibre diet, post-surgical adhesions, lack of exercise, toxin ingestion (lead). Secondary factors include pain and environmental stressors such as proximity of predators or a dominant rabbit, change in group hierarchy, loss of a companion, change in housing, routine or diet, transport, extremes of temperatures or humidity. Anorexia and chronic dehydration are both causal factors and consequences of gastric stasis and ileus. Systemic dehydration leads to gut content dehydration and impaction of normal stomach contents, which includes loose hair lattices or trichobezoars.
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Term
| Gastric stasis clinical signs |
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Definition
Gradual decrease in appetite leading to anorexia (days-weeks), decreased size and amount of faecal pellets, gradual progression from bright and alert to depression, dehydration and death.
Non obstructive ileus: Bright alert initially, becoming more depressed and dehydrated gradually, gradually reducing appetite, gradually reducing faecal volume
Obstructive ileus: appear bright but rapidly become depressed, acute anorexia, acute history of no faeces
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Term
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Definition
- firm, dough like stomach on palpation
- Plain radiography in early cases reveals a mass of hair and food, appearing similar to normal ingesta. As the impaction in the stomach and occasionally caecum develops, a gas halo is often seen around the compacted material. Large amounts of gas are seen through out the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) as a result of ileus. A definitive diagnosis can only be made on exploratory laparotomy, however this usually unnecessary and is a high-risk procedure in these already metabolically unstable rabbits. The majority of gut stasis cases, can be managed medically, without any need for surgery.
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Term
| GI stasis treatment and prognosis |
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Definition
- aggressive medical management is required
1. Fluid therapy( maint. 100ml/kg/day)
2. Nutritional support
3. Analgesic ( buprenorphine, then once rehydrated ( NSAIDS eg. meloxicam)
4. prokinetic therapy ( ranitidine, cisapride, metoclopramide and domperidone)
5. exercise
6. calm environment |
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Term
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Definition
Metoclopramide or domperidone are dopamine antagonists having both central (antiemetic and depressant) and peripheral (prokinetic) effects. The prokinetic effects of metoclopramide are not as potent as cisapride and are limited to the proximal GIT. Having prokinetic effects equal to cisapride, and antacid actions makes ranitidine (Zantac) (4mg/kg per os every 12 hours) a very useful drug in the author’s opinion. Rehydration is essential
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Term
| Rabbits with obstructive ileus |
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Definition
- aggressive supportive treatment.
-Gastric dilatation and fluid accum are a feature of obstruction
- Stabilization of the rabbit prior to gastrotomy is absolutely essential to optimize a successful outcome. In some cases a small pyloric or small intestinal obstruction can be milked down into the large intestine and enterotomy avoided
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Term
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Definition
- toxic shock and death
- treat underlying disease
- 2 X daily bum cleans
- daily cleaning |
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