Rabbit Diseases Flashcards
The most common and troublesome disease of domestic rabbits that can cause rhinitis, conjuctinvitis, bronchopneumonia, otitis media and externa, genital infx, and abscesses
Pasterurellosis
The causative agent of Pasteurellosis
Pateurella multocida
AKA Snuffles
Upper respiratory form of pasteurellosis
Rhinitis
A head tilt, seen in conjuction with ear infections
Torticollis
Genital infection in does
pyometra
Genital infection in bucks
Orchitis
Present in the respiratory tract of healthy and diseased rabbits
Can affect young rabbits 4-12 wks of age
Bordetella bronchiseptica
2nd to pasteurellosis as a health problem in rabbits and is treated symptomatically
Enteric dzs
EPEC
A secondary agent rather than primary cause of dz
Treated symptomatically
Enteropathogenic E. coli
E Coli is AKA
Escherichia coli
Clostridia perfringens, clostridia difficile, and Clostridia spiroforme are forms of this dz
The disruption of normal stomach flora
Enterotoxemia
Changes in feeding, weaning, abx tx, and concurrent infections can be the cause of
Enterotoxemia
Erythromycin, Clindamycin, Lincomycin, Streptomycin are all abx that should be
avoided
Chloramphenicol, Baytril, Trimethoprim sulfa, Gentamycin, and Metronidazole are all abx that are
safer
Lactobacillus preparations help with
normal flora of the gut
Caused by poor housing conditions and not common in rabbits
Causative agent is C. piliforme
Tyzzer’s Dz
Relatively uncommon in rabbits; treatment is not recommended
Zoonotic
Salmonellosis
May be seen in septicemia, dermatitis, and abscesses
Common cause of conjunctivitis or mastitis in does
Staphylococcus aureus
Usually due to unsanitary housing
Occurs sporadically in lactating does and occasionally in pseudopregnancies
“Blue breast”
Mastitis
Causative agent: Francisella tularensis
Can cause sudden death and lesions on spleen and liver
Transmitted by biting insects
Fatal zoonotic dz that can spread to hunters and wildlife handlers
Tularemia
Meningitis, septicemia, and cutaneous lesions are C/S in humans for this zoonotic dz
Tularemia
AKA Rabbit syphillis/Vent dz/Treponematosis
Caused by treponema cuniculi
Nonpathogenic to humans
Causes lesions on external genitalia, perineal region, and face
Venereal spirochetosis
Caused by the poxvirus
Natural host is the Cottontail rabbit and is transmitted by mosquitos or direct contact
Causes gelatinous SQ masses, conjunctivitis, and SQ edema
Myxomatosis
Caused by a poxvirus (Shope fibroma virus)
Arthropod vectors
Causes firm SQ masses on the feet and legs
Fibromatosis
Caused by the papovavirus
Viral warts that are oral or cutaneous that could develop into squamous cell carcinoma
Papillomatosis
The rabbit ear mite
Nonburrowing mite that chews on the skin of the inner ear that results in dry, brown, crusty material that accumulates on the inner surface of the ear
Psoroptes cuniculi
The dandruff mite aka Walking dandruff that causes thinning of the hair and scaly lesions
Transmittable to humans, dogs, and cats
Cheyletiella
What kind of fleas can infest rabbits?
Dog and cat
Passalurus ambiguus is an example of this type of parasite that infects rabbits
Pinworms
Cittotaenia ctenoides is an example of this type of parasite that infects rabbits
Tapeworms
A protozoan that can cause lesions on the brain and kidneys, ataxia, depression, posterior paralysis, and head tilt
Dx with ELISA test
Encephalitozoon cuniculi
2 forms of coccidosis
Intestinal and hepatic
Causes intestinal coccidosis with few C/S
many Eimeria species
Causes hepatic coccidosis in young animals
Eimeria stiedae
Most common neoplasia in does that are older than 5 yrs
Causes decline in reproductive performance and bloody vulvar discharge
Metastisizes
OHE should be considered in all females
Uterine adenocarcinoma
Most common neoplasia in juvenile and young adults
Lymphosarcoma
Form of glaucoma that is inherited through poor breeding
Chronic
Buphthalmia
Fractures of the lumbar spine are most common where?
L7-S1
If a rabbit has a lumbar fracture, what is a c/s?
Posterior paralysis
Gastric hairballs that can cause no fecal material production and anorexia
Trichobezoars
This can be given po once a day to help lubricate the intestines and move a hairball
Mineral oil
This has an enzyme called papain in it to break down hair in the intestinal tract
Pineapple juice
What conditions can cause a rabbit to suffer from heatstroke?
> 85 degrees, 70% humidity, poor ventilation, and crowding
Can occur in obese does a few days prior to kindling
Pregnancy toxemia
Causes clear, acidic urine
Pregnancy ketosis
Changes in feeding routines or environment may cause this
Coma and death is common
Metabolic ketosis
Large gravid uterus compresses the aorta to the renal vessels which causes a decrease in blood flow to the uterus and placenta
Toxic ketosis
Short, upper jaw
Mandibular prognathism
Known as a “Sore Dewlap” or “Hutch burn”
Caused by various bacteria and constant wetting of the fur
Moist dermatitis
Malocclusion or drinking out of a bowl can cause this type of moist dermatitis
Sore Dewlap
Moist dermatitis that is caused from prolonged contact of the skin with urine or soiling by diarrhea
Hutch Burn
AKA “Sore hocks”
Affects the vental metatarsals
Usually in heavy rabbits or nervous rabbits that are on rounded, wire, mesh floors
Pododermatitis
Common in pet rabbits that is caused from too much Ca in the diet
Urolithiasis
