Exotics Flashcards
describe feet and special features of rabbits
special features:
-molt 2x/year, starts from head
feet:
-no foot pad
-hair protects the feet instead
-metatarsus is vulnerable (plantigrade)
-rex breeds without guard hair esp vulnerable
describe abscesses in rabbits
- pus is thick and difficult to remove
- heterophils lack myeloperoxidase (the enzyme that liquifies purulent material) so pus is super thick
- treat abscesses like a tumor
- do NOT try to place a drain!
describe bacterial diseases in rabbits
- can manifest as abscesses when result from skin wounds or from bacteremia
- facial abscesses arise from dental problems
describe cellulitis in rabbits
- due to staph aureus or pasteurella multicoda
- clinical signs:
-edematous, painful skin (neck, head, or thorax); don’t want to eat because face hurts
-anorexia, febrile - diagnosis:
-based on clinical signs
-significantly different from abscess presentation - treatment:
-aggressive systemic antibiotic treatment
-scar often falls off with pus located under it
-clean and debride (under heavy sedation or even anesthesia)
describe moist dermatitis
etiology:
1. common in overweight animals with dewlap hanging into water dish (females) or with dental disease
2. constant wetting of the skin will cause pseudomonas colonization
clinical signs:
1. fur turns blue due to pseudomonas
treatment:
1. clip fur and clean with antiseptic solution
2. systemic antibiotics
describe fleas in rabbits
species:
1. spilopsyllus cuniculi
2. ctenophalides felis (most commonly!); so ASK OWNER if they have cats
signs:
1. pruritis
2. self-inflicted trauma
diagnosis:
1. direct feces or flea
2. wet paper test
treatment:
1. treat all cats in the house as well or else will never resolve
2. treat like usual for fleas but DONT USE FIPRONIL IN RABBITS
describe myiasis/fly strike in rabbits
- common in summer and in outdoor bunnies
- can be primary (licilia sp.) or secondary
- usually poor husbandry is involved
- clinical signs:
-only seen after eggs hatch
-might be mild (low number of egg count)
-might be severe! - diagnosis: presence of larvae
- treatment:
-supportive care, shock therapy
-topical and systemic ivermectin
-systemic antibacterial
-topical SSD ointment
describe cuterebra sp.
- opportunistic, parasitic infestation caused by the rodent or rabbit botfly
- cuterebra lesions are most common in the summer and fall when the larvae enlarge and produce a swelling approx 1cm in diameter
- definitive diagnosis: finding and ID larvae
-second instar larvae are 5-10mm in length and gray to cream color
-third instar larvae are dark, thick and heavily spined= stage most commonly seen by veterinarians - treatment:
-enlarge and probe pore with forceps/scissors
-DONT SQUEEZE lesion: may rupture the larvae, leading to chronic FB reaction and secondary infection (anecdotal reports of larval rupture causing anaphylaxis)
-remove larvae intact
-flush, debride (if necessary)
-will heal by secondary granulation
describe ulcerative pododermatitis
- an environmental disease
-chronic ulcerative dermatitis of the metatarsal area
-Rex rabbit breed predisposed (lack guard hair)
-common scenario is obese inactive rabbit on solid hard floors - clinical signs:
-dry reddish skin
-swellings to crusts and sores
-radiographically: osteomyelitis - treatment:
-correct cause: weight, floor, etc.
-debride and clean as with other wounds
describe rabbit syphilis
- etiology: treponema paraluiscuniculi
- transmission: venereal or direct contact
-can be infected at birth
-NOT zoonotic!
-incubation: 3-6 weeks - clinical signs:
-skin lesions start with reddish discoloration, edema, then progress to crusting
-can be asymptomatic for years - diagnosis:
-best via biopsy, silver stain
-serology (same as human test) can be used - treatment:
-can be self-limiting
-Pen G is drug of choice
describe fungal disease in rabbits
- etiology:
-microsporum canis (house rabbit) (MAY fluoresce, but if not does NOT rule out)
-trichiophyton mentagrophytes (outdoor)
–asymptomatic carriers, ZOONOTIC potential
- clinical signs:
-lesions around eyes, nose, mouth, etc.
-areas of alopecia, scaling, broken hairs, crusting - treatment:
-disinfect environment
-clip and clean
-topical or oral griseofulvin
describe viral disease in rabbits
- myxomatosis, caused by a leporipox virus
-mosquitoes are vectors - clinical signs:
-edema of face is chief clinical sign! (big head)
-die because eyes are so swollen they are blind and blind bunnies in the wild = bad news bears - prevention only, no treatment
- in the US, myxomatosis is largely restricted to the coastal area of California or Oregon (more common in EU)
describe psoroptes cuniculi
- rabbit ear mite, causes intense ear canal irritation
- feeds on dander and mite saliva causes inflammatory reaction
- direct transmission
- clinical signs:
-head shaking
-ear pruritis
-hyperemia
-ear crusting
-otitis media - diagnosis:
-mite ID via microscope - treatment:
-avermectin PO and topically
-do NOT debride manually!! SO painful, and will fall off on own with antiparasitic treatment
describe cheyletiella parasitovorax
- rabbit fur mite, non-burrowing mite/walking dandruff
-ZOONOTIC: causes papular dermatitis in humans - diagnosis: adhesive tape prep
- treatment: avermectins (1x/week as opposed to 1x/month in dogs and cats)
describe self-mutation/barbering
- not common, can also be barbered by a dominant animal in the house
- often occurs during estrus and on low-fiber diet
- has been reported after xylazine and ketamine injection too close to sciatic nerve, inflammation = numbness of leg and chew leg off
describe an instance fur chewing/plugging
could be normal if clean, it’s what females do to make nests for babies
-could be pregnant or pseduopregnant
describe cutaneous lymphoma in rabbits
- the most common skin cancer in rabbits at UGA
- can manifest with multiple different clinical signs
-usually skin is thick and hyperkeratotic and non-painful - diagnosed by biopsy
- responds well to radiation but if appears aggressive suggest systemic chemo as well
describe sebaceous adenitis
no logic or reason, rabbits can get it
some case reports of successful treatment, likely refer any case
-biopsy to diagnose
