Rabbit Medicine 1 & 2

Question 1

Detail diet for rabbits?

Answer 1

• Hay or grass should be ad lib.
• Straw has less nutritional value.
• High protein hay eg legumes – alfafa should be avoided.
• Pet rabbits being fed treats and high caloric fruits/veggies

Question 2

Describe social bonding in rabbits?

Answer 2

• Positive signs: grooming, lying near each other, eating
• Neutral signs: ignoring, mounting, chasing, pulling fur, nipping

Question 3

when introducing a new rabbit what to do?

Answer 3

• Start with exchanging scents – introduce some used bedding, litter tray, toys, boxes
• See each other with a barrier – observe behaviour. Have a place to hide if needed.
• Introduce in a neutral space with places to escape. Avoid areas that one rabbit can be cornered.
• Avoid ‘stress to bond’ technique.

Question 4

What different risks with putting different sexes( neutered or not together) ?

Answer 4

• FN & MN – most compatible and stable
• FE & FE – stable, uterine and mammary pathology (uterine adenocarcinoma) risk
• MN & MN – fairly stable
• FN & FN - fairly stable, low uterine and mammary pathology risk.

Question 5

What to remember if puting male and female together?

Answer 5

Males can store seme, about 4 week after castration

Question 6

what vaccines for rabbits?

Answer 6

Myxomatosis & rabbit haemorrhagic diarrhoea

Question 7

When to give vaccines?

Answer 7

• Nobivac vaccine - recommended at 7 weeks of age, duration of immunity 1
  year (yearly repeat), 3 weeks onset of immunity.

Question 8

how is Myxomatosis spread?

Answer 8

Spread by close contact and biting insects (mosquito, fleas) so indoor rabbits still need vacc.

Question 9

Goal of dental exam/ tx?

Answer 9

reduce inflammation, reduce
pain, bring teeth to normal anatomy, returning
function

Question 10

What can we use for exam/ dentals?

Answer 10

Table top mouth gag & cheek dilators

Question 11

What purpose of dental?

Answer 11

Question 12

What incisor malocclusion options are there ?

Answer 12

1. Trim teeth frequently (2-6 wks) using a side cutting burr or diamond disc
2. Incisor reshaping: alter occlusal angle
3. Incisor extraction ) teeth can regrow

Question 13

What is Encephalitozoon canibuli?

Answer 13

• Obligate intracellular protozoa
• High seroprevalence in UK
• ZOONOTIC

Question 14

How is E.c spread?

Answer 14

environmental spore contamination

Question 15

What else to know about E.c?

Answer 15

• Ensure new animals are tested negative
• Affects GIT, CNs, kidney,& other

Question 16

C.S of encephalitozoon?

Answer 16

PUPD, lameness, paralysis, head tilt

Question 17

TX Encephalitozoon?

Answer 17

Fenbendazole 20mg/kg q24h for 28d

Question 18

What does normal urine look like in rabbits?

Answer 18

normal -> cloudy with calcium crystals

Question 19

Describe Sludgy blader/ calculi

Answer 19

gritty sedimenttion can cause damage to mucosal lining - inflammation

Question 20

C/S for sludgy bladder?

Answer 20

hunched, inactive, straining, dark coloured urine, blood, staying on litter tray, buxism

Question 21

Dx for sludgy bladder?

Answer 21

Haematology, biochem, urinalysis, radiography USG

Question 22

Tx sludgy bladder?

Answer 22

Fluids, anti-inflammatory catheterize and flush, antibiotic, treat ancillary problems - urine scald, gut stasis

Surgical removal of calculi

Question 23

GI stasis factors?

Answer 23

Diet, stress, medication, blockage

Question 24

What is GI stasis?

Answer 24

Reduction in peristalsis, gas build-up, discomfort

Question 25

Tx for Gi stasis?

Answer 25

• Ranitidine & Cisapride - whole GI
• Metoclopramide - upper GI
• Buprenorphine for general discomfort
• Force feed small amounts and encourage to eat

Question 26

Caecal impaction can present as…?

Answer 26

Persistent bradycardia because of inc vagal tone caused by full gut

Question 27

What to use for tx of caecal impaction?

Answer 27

• Stool softeners eg lactulose
• FLuids
• Pain relief - meloxicam, methadone, lidocaine CRI
• Avoid prokinetics until stool softeners have taken effect
• used glycopyrrolate for bradycardia

Question 28

What pre-procedure considerations?

Answer 28

• Space to hide
• Companion for support?
• Soft toy with warm bottle
• Don’t need to fast
• If anorexic - consider hypoglycemia, GI stasis?
• Don’t vomit -oesophageal sphincter keeps things down

Question 29

how to position rabbits for surgery?

Answer 29

• GIT can put pressure on
  diaphragm.
• Lift cranial portion of body

Question 30

Post care feeding?

Answer 30

• Make slurry to syringe feed.
• High fiber feeding formulas
  (commercially available)
• Soaked pellets.
• Add fruits/juices to
  encourage intake.

Question 31

What other post op care in rabbits?

Answer 31

• Recovery from anaesthesia should be as smooth as possible
• Soft, padded, quiet
• Prevent using e-collars (caecotrophy & stress)
• Pain management very important –
• Check site - glue reaction?

Question 32

What behavioral problems can rabbits get?

Answer 32

• House soiling
• ‘Aggressive’ like behaviour towards people/pets
• Damaging human property
• Fighting with conspecifics

Question 33

Antibiotic use in rabbits?

Answer 33

• Antibiotics that may results in serious side effect – think the PLACE rule:
• Penicillins, Lincosamines, Aminoglycosides, Cephalosporins, Erythromycin

Question 34

What Abs ‘can be used for treating small mammals’?

Answer 34

Metronidazole, Fluoroquinolones (not pradofloxacin), Tetracyclines, Sulfonamides,
Macrolides