Week 3: Rabbits

Parasitic Encephalitis

-**CEREBRAL LARVAL MIGRANS due to Baylisascaris spp.** -**clinical signs include torticollis (wry neck), ataxia, tremors, lack of coordination, and falling ** -**condition is untreatable in rabbits and ZOONOTIC** -**cuterebra larvae can cause similar signs in rabbits**

Ear Mites

-**OTOACARIASIS is caused by Psoroptes cuniculi** -clinical signs include pruritis, head shaking, and inflammation of the ears (NOT head tilt) -treat with ivermectin and environmental sanitation

Rabbit Syphilis

-**TREPONEMIASIS is caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema paraluis cuniculi** -"vent disease" is NOT ZOONOTIC, resembles "hutch burn" -**diagnose by clinical signs that include dry, crusty lesions on the mucous membranes of head and rump** -**can only be treated by administration of penicillin (which has been linked to epileptiform seizure activity and enterotoxemia in some rabbits)**

Ringworm

-**ZOONOTIC fungal skin infection commonly caused by Trichophyton metagrophytes**

Rabbit Behavior

-**although uncommon, be aware of signs of aggression towards people (ex. growling, charging, or flailing with front feet)** -**thumping a hind foot is a general warning or alarm call**

Radiographs

-**anesthesia is best to stretch and position rabbit for lateral or VD view, prevents injury to rabbit and movement on image** -**DV view is preferred for better alignment of spine** -**rapid respiratory rate requires short exposure time**

Removing a Rabbit from a Cage

-**approach the cage in a quiet manner so as not to startle the rabbit** -**grasp the loose skin over the back and fold the nose between the rear legs** -**lift out of the cage backwards supporting the hind legs**

Restraint

-**back legs should never be allowed to "dangle"** -**return rabbit to kennel or carrier by placing rump into enclosure first, then release front of animal so it turns away from you**

Proliferative Enteropathy

-**caused by Lawsonia intracellularis bacterium** -**pathogenesis of disease is unknown but thought to cause malfunction of cecal digestive processes** -clinical signs include abdominal pain and distension, mucoid diarrhea, and dehydration

Neoplasia

-**non-breeding females can be spayed to prevent UTERINE ADENOCARCINOMA** -clinical signs include vulvar bleeding, anemia, and a palpable abdominal mass -clinical signs include vulvar bleeding, anemia, and a palpable abdominal mass** -typically see enlarged lymph nodes, kidneys, spleen, and liver

Coccidiosis

-**usually Eimeria spp. are seen in herbivores** -clinical signs include diarrhea, liver failure, jaundice, anorexia, and wasting -transmitted by fecal-route

Plants and foods that are toxic to rabbits include:

-Aloe, azalea, calla lily, lily of the valley, and philodendron -Apple seeds, raw beans, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, rhubarb, and potato or peels, choclate

Cuterebra Larvae

-Botfly -**Must be removed INTACT or risk infection and chronic foreign body reaction**

Clostridial Enterotoxemia:

-Clostridium spiroforme, perfringens, or difficile -**common when weaning, changing food, with temperature fluctuation ( all stressful situations for rabbit) OR with antibiotic administration**

Signs of Pain or Distress

-Decreased muscle mass -Decreased weight -Dehydration -Ocular discharge -Protrusion of nictitating membrane -Anorexia -Limited movement -Depressed -Non-responsive -Fecal staining of the coat -Interruption of night feces production -Constipation -Diarrhea -Hairballs from excessive grooming -Sore hocks from shifting weight -Stretching -Lying flat from abdominal discomfort

Hares are bone

-Furred with open eyes -Precocial -Flattened terrestrial nest -Long ears

Rabbits are born

-Hairless and blind -Altricial -Below ground burrows

Indoor housing

-Keep between 61-72 F with 30-70% relative humidity -Can be litter box trained with paper litter -Don't place near heating and cooling vents so temperature doesn't change drastically -Will gnaw everything so "bunny proof" if allowed to roam

Rabbits large cecum function to

-Mix GI tract contents with microflora for bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates to volatile fatty acids -Absorb water and volatile fatty acids

Pellets

-Nutritionally complete -Use within 3-6 months of mill date -consume 5% of their body weight in dry feed per day -Contain 10-22.5% fiber

Outdoor housing:

-Protect from cold below 55F and heat above 85F -Provide covered nesting box with insulative bedding in the winter -Provide shade and easy access to fresh water -Protect from drafts and moisture

What are the clinical signs of vertebral luxation

-Rear limb paresis -Lack of pain response -Loss of anal sphincter tone -Can confirm with radiographs -Euthanasia is recommended

Vitamin E deficiency

-Signs include difficulty moving and arophy of hind leg muscles -May also see myodystrophy leading to abortions, stillbirths, and neonatal deaths -Dx by history, clincial signs, and high concentration of serum creatine phosphokinase

Vitamin A deficiency

-Signs include stillbirths, hydrocephalus in kits, and ocular lesions -Signs of hypervitaminosis A resemble reproductive signs of hypovitaminosis A

Greens

-Use as a treat, don't overfeed -Can offer alfalfa, broccoli leaves, turnip, mustard greens, carrots and tops, kale, beet tops, parsley, clover, yams, and dandelions

Antibiotic Toxicity:

-bacterial overgrowth of Clostridium spp. following oral antibiotic administration -**shouldn't administer any medication that targets gram+ bacteria in the GI tract (especially the cecum!!)** -**"safe" antibiotics include tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfa, enrofloxacin, and doxycyline** -**NEVER use clindamycin or lincomycin** -signs include severe watery diarrhea, fever, bloat, and acute death

More Ectoparasites

-mange mites - **Cheyletiella parasitovorax is a rabbit fur mite** -"**WALKING DANDRUFF" and thinning fur** Scotch tape test **contagious and POTENTIALLY ZOONOTIC**

For IM injection:

-place animal on table tucking head between your nondominant arm and flank -Your elbow hides the rabbit's eyes while that hand can immobilize the pelvic limb -your dominant hand can deliver the IM injection

Pinworm

-species specific to rabbit so NOT CONTAGIOUS TO HUMANS -found in cecum and large intestine but usually nonpathogenic -can treat with ivermectin, fenbendazole, or pyrantel pamoate

Rabbit Hypnosis

-work in a very quiet room -carefully place rabbit in dorsal recumbency -rub the abdomen and top of the head -speak in a monotone voice -covering the eyes may help

Rectal temp

101.3-104F

HR

130-325 bpm

HR varies from ____

130-325 bpm

Normal dental formula is

2 ( I 2/1, C 0/0, PM 3/2, M 3/3)

Right AV valve has ony ____ cusps

2 not 3

Gestation is ___days

29-35

Rabbits can shed every ___ months

3

RR

30-60 brpm

Only ____% of the body weight is bone- these animals were bred for meat

7; bones are less radiodense

Diets must supply _, _ and _

A,D, and E

The scrotum in ___ to the penis

Anterior; but located posterior in most other placenal mammals

Cecotrophy occurs directly from the ____ so can only be prevented by placement of an e-collar

Anus

The serum of many rabbits contains _____, an enzyme that hydrolyzes atropine and renders it useless

Atropinesterase

Gut bacteria produce adequate quantities of vitamin ____ and vitamin ___

B and K

___ and ___ are more common in rabbit blood than the circulation of other species

Basophils and reticulocytes

_______ (or night feces) are small, soft, moist fecal pellets covered in a mucus-like membrane

Cecotrophs

Unsafe litters include ___ or ____ _____, ____ litter, or ____ litter

Cedar or pine shaving, clumping litter, or clay litter (Paper pellets preferred)

Which lumbar area is most often affected?

Commonly L7

Night Feces: Rabitts engage in

Corpraphagy (or cecotrophy)

Female rabbits have a large fold of skin on the neck called a ____ and will pluck hair from this area when nesting

DEWLAP

The space where canine teeth would normally be found is the _____

DIASTEMA

Sudden diet changes can lead to ___ and ____

Diarrhea and death

small oral commissure + long teeth + small glottis + narrow oropharynx + large and fleshy tongue + laryngospasm =

Difficult intubation for the technician

_____ is the emission of a jet of urine at a partner during a display of courtship

Enurination

____ both digestible and indigestible, are an important part of the rabbit diet

Fiber

Rabbits lack

Footpads, the entire metatarsal area and toes are covered with coarse fur -Hind feet are webbed -Claws similar to dog nails with "quick" -Both male and female rabbits will scent mark territory (including the kits) and exhibit open hostility to exert dominance over rivals -Chin glands, anal glands and inguinal glands can vary in size depending on the level of sexual activity of the rabbit

Large muscle mass puts long bones and lumbar spine at risk for ____ or luxation

Fracture

Tularemia infection with ___ ____ bacterium

Francisella tularensis: Common in wild rabbits but can be transmitted to domestic rabbits and people **highly infectious zoonotic disease passed through skin, by aerosols, ingestion of tainted water, tics, or bloodsucking insects** -No treatment for rabbits

Yound rabbits can be sexed by applying gentle pressure to the ___ ___-

Genital opening

Rabbits have ______ instead of neutriphils

Heterophils

high ____ diets adds bulk and encourages motility so hair passes without too much build-up in the GI tract

High fiber

Ears have a

High vascularization also helps dissipate heat -12% of total body surface -Never restrain or carry a rabbit by just the ears

Sexually mature rabbits should be housed ....

Individually to avoid fighting

_____ are the predominant WBC

Lymphocytes

Ulcerative Pododermatitis "Bumblefoot" Decubital ulcers on plantar surface on hint feet. "____ ___" can lead to abscess or granuloma formation

Sore hocks

Vertebral luxation is often due to

Struggling or jumping in restricted area of cage

Pulmonary artery is ___ and ____ compared to other species

Thick and muscular

______ are easily prevented by proper diet, regular brushing and administration or oral feline laxatives

Trichobezoars

T/F: Rabbits are unable to vomit

True

T/F: Routine vaccines are not required but the rabbit and a stool sample should still be examined annually

True

T/F: Teeth must be trimmed regularly or extracted

True

T/F: The colon moes fluid and digestible material back into the cecum

True

T/F: Wet, matted fur can indicate a health issue

True

T/F: people allergic to cats are commonly allergic to rabbits too

True

Male rabbits can evert a _____ ____ and have a hairless scrotum

Tubular penis

A rabbits reproductive system is similar to the

cat; ovulation is unduced by mating. 8-10 mammary glands

average life span is 5-6 years with an increased incident of ____ with increased age

disease

If mating, should take ___ to ___ otherwise she may attack him

doe to buck; attack him as an intruder on her territory

Female rabbits are

does

meat rabbits are called

fryers

a group of rabbits is called a

herd and lives in a warren *underground burrow

Rabbits have a huge cecum, hindgut fermentation similar to ____

horses

Testicles are commonly retracted into the abdomen through open ___ ____

inguinal canals

What are the clinical signs of the snuffles

initially respiratory but organism can disseminate from the nasal passages and cause pneumonia, conjectivitis, skin abscesses, middle and inner ear infection, pyometra or orchitis, and septicemia DX by culture of lesions or nasal discharge

neonate rabbits are

kits

most pet stores sell ____ or animals that don't conform to specific breed standards

mutts

Kits are nursed for only....

a few minutes once or twice per day

To make your job a littler easier...

**If you are working in a situation where both sexes must be handled, handle the MALES FIRST and then the females.**

Tyzzer's Disease

**caused by Clostridium piliforme bacterium**

Urinalysis

**interpretation can be difficult due to heavy but normal mineral and pigment content of the urine**

male rabbits are

bucks

All the teeth are ___ ___ and grow continuously (require a grinding substrate)

Open rooted

Pasteurellosis "Snuffles" caused by bacteria

Pasteurella miltocida: Transmitted by direct contact or aerosol spread **Snuffles** is chronic, progressive, incurable, and fatal

The additional upper incisors are called

Peg teeth

Can offer _____ enzymes such as papain or bromelain (pineapple juice)

Proteolytic

The ___ ____ is a lymphoid mass found at the termination of the ileum (small intestines) into the cecum (ileocecal junction)

Sacculus rotundus

Malocclusion caused by inherited mandibular prognathism or by trauma and tooth loss, commonly called _____ because animal drools

Slobber

Rabbits veins have thin walls and are especially prone to ____ and ____ formation

Vasoconstriction and hematoma

Ingestion of the cecotrophs allows for recycling of the ____-_____, ____ _____ products of the cecum

Vitamin-rich, proteinaceous bacertial products of the cecum

Female rabbits can evert the ___ which has a small slit close to the anus

Vulva