Rabbit wit dental disease workshop

Question 1

What is occurring in this rabbit radiograph? Is it normal?

Answer 1

Normal rabbit lateral abdominal radiograph ‘hard faeces phase’

Question 2

What is occurring in this rabbit radiograph? Is it normal?

Answer 2

Normal rabbit lateral abdominal radiograph ‘soft faeces phase’

Question 3

Describe what you can see in this lateral rabbit radiograph. Give a diagnosis

Answer 3

There is an large accumulation of gas in the intestines which is generalised. The stomach is full of ingesta and there isn’t any gas build up in the stomach itself.
Diagnosis: gut stasis

Question 4

Why would an ultrasound not be helpful in this case?

Answer 4

Too much gas in the intestines, so there will be poor visualisation using ultrasound.

Question 5

Describe what you can see in this laterolateral radiograph of the rabbit head

Answer 5

large soft tissue swelling under the mandible.
Bony proliferation of the ventral mandible
First pre-molar has an intact and visible periodontal ligament, so the root is unaffected.
Second pre-molar has no visible root/no periodontal ligament visible, so this is likely to be the initial tooth root infected that has caused a dental abscess
The first and second molars have some mild radiolucent changes, likely secondary involvement in the abscess.

Question 6

What additional radiographic views do you need in order to fully assess the teeth in this rabbit?
What other imaging modality would help you with this case?

Answer 6

Dorsoventral, right and left 40˚ obliques.
CT