Rabbit Medicine 1 & 2 Flashcards
Detail diet for rabbits?
- 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
Describe social bonding in rabbits?
- Positive signs: grooming, lying near each other, eating
- Neutral signs: ignoring, mounting, chasing, pulling fur, nipping
when introducing a new rabbit what to do?
- 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.
What different risks with putting different sexes( neutered or not together) ?
- 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.
What to remember if puting male and female together?
Males can store seme, about 4 week after castration
what vaccines for rabbits?
Myxomatosis & rabbit haemorrhagic diarrhoea
When to give vaccines?
- Nobivac vaccine - recommended at 7 weeks of age, duration of immunity 1
year (yearly repeat), 3 weeks onset of immunity.
how is Myxomatosis spread?
Spread by close contact and biting insects (mosquito, fleas) so indoor rabbits still need vacc.
Goal of dental exam/ tx?
reduce inflammation, reduce
pain, bring teeth to normal anatomy, returning
function
What can we use for exam/ dentals?
Table top mouth gag & cheek dilators
What purpose of dental?
What incisor malocclusion options are there ?
- Trim teeth frequently (2-6 wks) using a side cutting burr or diamond disc
- Incisor reshaping: alter occlusal angle
- Incisor extraction ) teeth can regrow
What is Encephalitozoon canibuli?
- Obligate intracellular protozoa
- High seroprevalence in UK
- ZOONOTIC
How is E.c spread?
environmental spore contamination
What else to know about E.c?
- Ensure new animals are tested negative
- Affects GIT, CNs, kidney,& other
C.S of encephalitozoon?
PUPD, lameness, paralysis, head tilt
TX Encephalitozoon?
Fenbendazole 20mg/kg q24h for 28d
What does normal urine look like in rabbits?
normal -> cloudy with calcium crystals
Describe Sludgy blader/ calculi
gritty sedimenttion can cause damage to mucosal lining - inflammation
C/S for sludgy bladder?
hunched, inactive, straining, dark coloured urine, blood, staying on litter tray, buxism
Dx for sludgy bladder?
Haematology, biochem, urinalysis, radiography USG
Tx sludgy bladder?
Fluids, anti-inflammatory catheterize and flush, antibiotic, treat ancillary problems - urine scald, gut stasis
Surgical removal of calculi
GI stasis factors?
Diet, stress, medication, blockage
What is GI stasis?
Reduction in peristalsis, gas build-up, discomfort
Tx for Gi stasis?
- Ranitidine & Cisapride - whole GI
- Metoclopramide - upper GI
- Buprenorphine for general discomfort
- Force feed small amounts and encourage to eat
Caecal impaction can present as…?
Persistent bradycardia because of inc vagal tone caused by full gut
What to use for tx of caecal impaction?
- Stool softeners eg lactulose
- FLuids
- Pain relief - meloxicam, methadone, lidocaine CRI
- Avoid prokinetics until stool softeners have taken effect
- used glycopyrrolate for bradycardia
What pre-procedure considerations?
- 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
how to position rabbits for surgery?
- GIT can put pressure on
diaphragm. - Lift cranial portion of body
Post care feeding?
- Make slurry to syringe feed.
- High fiber feeding formulas
(commercially available) - Soaked pellets.
- Add fruits/juices to
encourage intake.
What other post op care in rabbits?
- 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?
What behavioral problems can rabbits get?
- House soiling
- ‘Aggressive’ like behaviour towards people/pets
- Damaging human property
- Fighting with conspecifics
Antibiotic use in rabbits?
- Antibiotics that may results in serious side effect – think the PLACE rule:
- Penicillins, Lincosamines, Aminoglycosides, Cephalosporins, Erythromycin
What Abs ‘can be used for treating small mammals’?
Metronidazole, Fluoroquinolones (not pradofloxacin), Tetracyclines, Sulfonamides,
Macrolides
