Rabbits Flashcards
How much urine does a rabbit produce daily?
10-35ml/kg
Whats the heart rate of a rabbit?
180-300bpm
Whats the temperature of a rabbit?
38.5-40 celsius
Whats the daily water consumption of a rabbit?
50-100ml/kg
Whats the gestation period of a rabbit?
30-32d
Whats the daily food consumption of a rabbit?
50g/kg
What % of a rabbit’s bodyweight is skeletal?
7-8%
Whats the dental formula of a rabbit?
2033/1023
Whats the vertebral formula of a rabbit?
C7, T12, L7, S4, C15-16
Which breed of rabbit is prone to pododermatitis?
Rex breeds as no guard hairs
Where are the scent glands in rabbits?
- Under chin
- @ anus (anal glands)
- Eitherside of perinuem (inguinal glands)
What is the ‘visual streak’ in rabbits?
Optic disc with retinal vessels and myelinated nerve fibres spreading horizontally from it, with high density of photoreceptors parallel to vessels to allow all points on a horizon to be monitored.
Which points in the nasolacrimal duct are prone to blockage?
2 sharp bends: proximal to maxillary bone and at base of incisor teeth
What is the sacculus rotundus?
Dilation at the ileocaecocolic junction composed of lymphoid tissue.
Which part of the colon is taeniated?
Proximal colon = taeniated, 35-50cm
Fusus coli
Distal colon = non-taeniated, 80-100cm
What is the fusus coli?
Thickened circular muscle at the junction between the proximal and distal colon, which controls colonic motility and forms distinct pellets.
Describe the lymph tissue of the rabbit.
50% = gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) including tonsils, appendix, S.I. peyer’s patches and sacculus rotundus
What nutritional value to caecotrophs have?
Vitamin B
Vitamin K
Amino acids
VFAs
Which lymph nodes might be palpable in a rabbit?
Popliteal and prescapular
When and what do you vaccinate rabbits with?
Combined myxamatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic diarrhoea disease: 1 dose from 5 weeks with annual boosters thereafter.
What are the clinical signs of myxomatosis?
Skin lesions
Thickened eyelids with semipurulent discharge
Pneumonia (if inhaled)
SUDDEN DEATH
What are the clinical signs of rabbit haemorrhagic disease?
Peracute: SUDDEN DEATH
Acute: quiet, pyrexia, increased respirations, bleeding from orifices
When is neutering performed in rabbits?
Female: 4-6mo
Male: >4mo
Why is neutering recommended in rabbits?
Female: prevent breeding, prevent uterine adenocarcinoma
Male: reduce fighting behaviour, prevent breeding
When is extraction of an INCISOR indicated?
Malocclusion
Root infection
Loss of opposite tooth
Abscesses
When is extraction of a CHEEK TOOTH indicated?
Never- as staggered, so extraction affected more than 1 opposing teeth.
List the likely causes of diarrhoea in a YOUNG rabbit.
Increased gastric pH- allowing Clostridial entry,
Tyzzer’s disease
What is the aetiological agent in Tyzzer’s disease?
Clostridium piliforme
List the likely causes of diarrhoea in an ADULT rabbit.
Increased CHO in diet- causes bacterial overgrowth
Sudden dietary change
Stress/concurrent illness
A/b’s- especially penicillin orally
What are the causes of gastric stasis in the rabbit?
- Mechanical obstruction = dehydrated ingesta secondary to chronic dehydration, FBs or infiltrative lesions
- Abnormal function of myenteric neuronal/gastric smooth muscle
Primary = anorexia, poor diet, post-surgical adhesions, lack of exercise, toxin ingestion
Secondary = pain, environmental stressors, change in environment, loss of companion, extreme temp/humidity etc.
What are the clinical signs of gastric stasis caused by a mechanical obstruction?
Acute anorexia and no faeces, with a rapidly depressed collapsed rabbit. Tympanic abdomen and shock.
What are the clinical signs of gastric stasis caused by abnormal myenteric neuronal/smooth muscle function?
Gradual reduction in appetite and the size/amount of faeces, with gradual depression and dehydration.
Describe how you would treat gastric stasis caused by abnormal function.
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT:
Fluids, nutritional support, analgesia, pro-kinetics e.g. ranitidine, exercise to stimulation bowel movements.
Describe how you would treat gastric stasis caused by a mechanical obstruction.
SURGICAL removal, with prior attempt at stabilisation.
What are the clinical signs of upper respiratory disease in rabbits?
Sneezing Snoring Dyspnoea Ocular discharge Conjunctivitis Dacryocystitis Nasal discharge (including "dirty hankies")
What are the clinical signs of lower respiratory disease in rabbits?
Dyspnoea Cyanosis Anorexia Depression Lethargy Pyrexia Hypothermia Pulmonary rales Increased respiratory efforts
Which parasite causes “walking dandruff”?
Rabbit fur mite- Cheyletiella parasitovorax
Which parasite causes otitis externa?
Rabbit ear mite- Psoroptes cunculi
Which agent causes rabbit syphilis?
Treponema cuniculi
What are the clinical signs of syphilis in the rabbit?
Crusting at the nose and perineum
How is syphilis treated in the rabbit?
Penicillin injections 1x/week for 3 weeks
What are the risk factors for plantar pododermatitis?
Obesity
Inactivity
Poor sanitation
Breed disposition- Rexes (no guard hairs)
List the potential causes of urine scald in the rabbit.
UTI Spinal lesions- cant groom itself Encephalitozoonosis Urolithiasis/hypercalcinuria Obesity Renal failure Malformation Ectopic ureters Conditions that prevent normal grooming e.g. dental disease
What is the causative agent of encephalitozoonosis?
Encephalitozoon cuniculi
Describe the pathogenesis of encephalitozoonosis.
Infects WBCs -> cell ruptures releasing spores into the extracellular fluid -> affects brain/kidney/eye
Which organs does encephalitozoonosis affect?
Brain
Kidney
Eye
What are the clinical signs of encephalitozoonosis?
Head tilt Torticollis Hindlimb paresis Paralysis Tremors Convulsions Urinary incontinence Cataracts Lens-induced uveitis
How is encephalitozoonosis diagnosed and treated?
Diagnosis: paired serology (IgM = acute, IgG = chronic), PCR detects spores in urine/faeces, endoscopic kidney biopsy
Treatment: oral fenbendazole daily for 4 weeks
What is the ideal diet for a rabbit?
78% hay/grass (ad-lib, but at least own body weight per day)
20% leafy greens (2 handfuls containing at least 5 different types)
2% pellets (twice daily, good way to monitor appetite)
Why is fibre important for rabbits health?
Wears teeth correctly
Provides energy (40% energy from VFAs)
GI health- ‘scratch’ factor
Allows normal herbivore behaviour- welfare
Which vessels can be used to place an intravenous catheter?
Marginal ear vein
Lateral saphenous vein (but v wobbly)
Cephalic vein (if big enough bunny)
Which sites can be used for intraosseous catheterisation?
Proximal tibia
Proximal femur
Proximal humerus
What is the maintenance fluid rate for rabbits?
4ml/kg/hour (approx 100ml/kg/day)
What is the gold standard method of urine collection in the rabbit?
Catheterisation (also free catch and cystocentesis)
Where can you give an IM injection?
Dorsal lumbar muscles Quadriceps muscles Semimembranous muscle Semitendinosus muscle (only suitable if
Which sites can be used for blood sampling in the rabbit?
Marginal ear vein
Lateral saphenous vein
Jugular vein
Cephalic vein
What is the normal pH of rabbit urine?
8.2
What is the common cause of pink rabbit urine?
Due to poryphrin (from dandelions, stress)
What causes increased albumin in the rabbit?
Dehydration
Hypovolaema
Prolonged hyperthermia
Which antibiotics are safe for rabbits?
TMPS
Fluoroquinolones
Metronidazole
Tetracyclines
Describe how to prevent suture reactions in rabbits.
Its common to get adhesions/pus.
- use Ca-channel blocking agent ‘veropamil’ or NSAIDs
- use hydrolytically degrading suture materials (NOT catgut)
