Rabbit Medicine Flashcards
Digestive system characteristics of rabbits
- monogastric, hindgut-fermenting, herbivores
- stomach should never be empty
- should not be able to vomit (well-developed cardiac sphincter)
Cecum function
ferments fibers and starches
Colon function
sorts excretia
Rabbits quickly eliminate ________
(different from other herbivores)
fiber
Contents of cecum (microbes)
- Gram positive and negative anaerobes
- Bacteroides most common
- large ciliated protozoa
- yeast
Size of cecum
10x the capacity of the stomach
What % of intestinal contents may be in the cecum?
40%
What is the end of the cecum called?
veriform appendix
Other names for ileus
gut stasis, GI hypomotility, gastric stasis syndrome, gastrointestinal syndrome
Prognosis for ileus depends on what?
- cause
- how long it has been going on
Causes of ileus
Pain
- dental, visceral, musculoskeletal, post-op
Stress
- pain, husbandry
Diet
- low indigestible fiber, high protein, high carbohydrate, abrupt diet change
Other
- obesity, dehydration, anesthesia, toxins, GI
other GI conditions besides ileus
foreign bodies, obstructions, trichobezoars
Ileus can result in:
- gastric dilation/impaction
- trichobezoar
- gastric ulcer
- dehydration
- dysbiosis
- pain
- death
Clinical signs of ileus
- can be acute or chronic
- anorexia
- decreased feces
- abnormal feces
- weight loss
- lethargy
- pain (hunched, not moving, stretching, dull eyes/eyes partially closed, bruxism, vocalization)
Physical exam findings that may indicte ileus
doughy abdomen, palpation of a foreign body, painful abdominal palpation, dehydration
Chemistry findings consistent with ileus
severe azotemia, ketoacidosis, hepatic lipidosis(due to anorexia)
Radiographic findings-ileus
reduced stomach fill and large gas pockets
Radiographic findings of obstruction
distended stomach-air, fluid
How do trichobezoars appear radiographically?
striated appearance surrounded by gas
Supportive care considerations for ileus
- warmth
- fluids (100-150 ml/kg/day)
- nutrition
- analgesics (buprenorphine +/-
- prokinetics (Cisapride) if not obstructed
- exercise (obesity)
Pathogenesis of dysbiosis
overgrowth of gram negative and Clostridium spp.->enterotoxemia->diarrhea & dehydration->death
Causes of dysbiosis
- secondary to ileus
- secondary to poor diet
- antibiotics
- oral “cillins”, lincosamides, cephalosporins, macrolides–DO NOT GIVE
- Tyzzer’s disease
Three causes of Tyzzer’s disease
- hepatic necrosis
- degenerative myocarditis
- necrotizing ileotyphlitis
How do rabbit teeth grow?
open rooted=grow continuously
Where to points develop on teeth in rabbits?
lower lingual, upper buccal
Clinical signs of dental disease in rabbits
- decreased appetite
- dropping food
- ptyalism
- bruxism
- decreased feces
- weight loss
Most common intestinal parasite of rabbits
coccidia (12 Eimeria species infect rabbits)
most common is Eimeria perforans
Which coccidian causes hepatic disease and is usually asymptomatic?
Eimeria stiedae
Reportable disease of rabbits in USA
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (Calicivirus)
How is rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus shed?
urine, feces, respiratory secretions
Clinical signs of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus
- hepatic necrosis
- death from DIC
Paturella multocida trasmission
aerosol, direct contact, fomites
Respiratory symptoms associated with P. multocida
nasal discharge, conjnctivitis, snuffles, sneezing, pneumonia
P. multocida can cause ______ in rabbits
respiratory and otitis symptoms
Pasteurella multocida is sensitive to what abx?
SMZ-TMP, Baytril
B. bronchiseptica affects what species?
- most rabbits carry-not affected
- clinically affects guinea pigs, cats, dogs, pigs
Describe E. cuniculi characteristics
- obligate, intracellular, microsporidium, fungal-like agent
- Zoonotic-immunocompromised individuals, contact lens wearers
- environmentally resistant (spores may survive for 6 wks at 72C)
E. cuniculii primarily affects what organs?
brain, kidneys
Clinical signs associated with E. cuniculi. What causes these?
clinical signs usually caused by granulomas and inflammatory response; signs include torticollis, ataxia, renal disease, uveitis
Steroids in rabbits?
- rabbits are sensitive-use with caution
- can cause immunosuppression
Rabbits are susceptible to heat stroke when temp is >_____
85 degrees F
Clinical signs of heat stroke in rabbits
- weakness
- incoordination
- seizure
- coma
Most common form of ear mites in rabbits
Psoroptes
“walking dandruff”
Cheytiella
What spp. of fleas do rabbits get?
Ctenocephalides
Causes of dermatitis in rabbits
slobbers secondary to dental disease, urine scald, diarrhea
Suitable drugs to use for premeds in rabbits
midazolam, butorphanol, or buprenorphine
Should you place a rabbit in a box or anesthesia chamber?
NO! risk of injury to back
Fast rabbits?
no
What happens if you just try to anesthetize the rabbit by turning gas on high? how should you anesthetize the rabbits with gas anesthetic?
- rabbits will hold breath, result in complications
- instead, increase concentration gradually
Dexmedetomidine-effect on pulse?
lower
What anesthetic agent raised doppler blood pressure in one study?
ketamine
Use _______ if deeper sedation desired
dexmedetomidine
Considerations for rabbit OVH
- bicornuate uterus
- FRAGILE-don’t use spay hooks
Risk of adenocarcinomas in intact female rabbits?
50-80% by 4 years if not bred
Metastasis of adenocarcinoma?
liver, lung
(uncommon for it to go to bone, brain)
Clinical signs of adenocarcinoma in a rabbit
hematuria, cystic mammary glands, decreased fertility, lethargy, anorexia
Rabbits considered cryptorchid if testicles not descended by what age?
4 months
Testicles usually descend by what age?
12 weeks
Testicular neoplasms
- seminoma
- interstitial cell tumor
- sertoli cell tumor
- teratoma
Cause of venereal spirochetosis
Treponema paraluiscuniculi
Symptoms of venereal spirochetosis
infect skin of perineum-redness, edema, vesicles, ulcers, scabs. also scabs and vesicles on nose.
Myxomatosis
- enzootic in western USA
- benign skin tumors in wild rabbits, more severe in domestic rabbits
- lethargy, anorexia, skin hemorrhage, seizures, high mortality
- if survive, can have blepharoconjunctivitis or cutaneous nodules
