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

gastric dilation/impaction trichobezoar gastric ulcer dehydration dysbiosis pain death

secondary to ileus secondary to poor diet antibiotics oral "cillins", lincosamides, cephalosporins, macrolides--DO NOT GIVE Tyzzer's disease

Rabbit Medicine Flashcards by Amanda Neujahr

Digestive system characteristics of rabbits

monogastric, hindgut-fermenting, herbivores
stomach should never be empty
should not be able to vomit (well-developed cardiac sphincter)

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Cecum function

ferments fibers and starches

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Colon function

sorts excretia

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Rabbits quickly eliminate ________

(different from other herbivores)

fiber

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Contents of cecum (microbes)

Gram positive and negative anaerobes
- Bacteroides most common
large ciliated protozoa
yeast

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Size of cecum

10x the capacity of the stomach

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What % of intestinal contents may be in the cecum?

40%

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What is the end of the cecum called?

veriform appendix

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Other names for ileus

gut stasis, GI hypomotility, gastric stasis syndrome, gastrointestinal syndrome

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Prognosis for ileus depends on what?

cause
how long it has been going on

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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

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other GI conditions besides ileus

foreign bodies, obstructions, trichobezoars

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Ileus can result in:

gastric dilation/impaction
trichobezoar
gastric ulcer
dehydration
dysbiosis
pain
death

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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)

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Physical exam findings that may indicte ileus

doughy abdomen, palpation of a foreign body, painful abdominal palpation, dehydration

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Chemistry findings consistent with ileus

severe azotemia, ketoacidosis, hepatic lipidosis(due to anorexia)

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Radiographic findings-ileus

reduced stomach fill and large gas pockets

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Radiographic findings of obstruction

distended stomach-air, fluid

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How do trichobezoars appear radiographically?

striated appearance surrounded by gas

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Supportive care considerations for ileus

warmth
fluids (100-150 ml/kg/day)
nutrition
analgesics (buprenorphine +/-
prokinetics (Cisapride) if not obstructed
exercise (obesity)

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Pathogenesis of dysbiosis

overgrowth of gram negative and Clostridium spp.->enterotoxemia->diarrhea & dehydration->death

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Causes of dysbiosis

secondary to ileus
secondary to poor diet
antibiotics
- oral “cillins”, lincosamides, cephalosporins, macrolides–DO NOT GIVE
Tyzzer’s disease

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Three causes of Tyzzer’s disease

hepatic necrosis
degenerative myocarditis
necrotizing ileotyphlitis

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How do rabbit teeth grow?

open rooted=grow continuously

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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?

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