Rabbits Flashcards

1
Q

What is an important GIT syndrome in rabbits

A

Gut stasis

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2
Q

What is the pathogenesis of gut stasis in rabbits

A

Related to other diseases - a symptom not a Dx

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3
Q

What are some Sx of gut stasis in rabbits

A

Anorexia, pain, slow gut motility, reduced faecal production, depression, lethargic, lack of gut sounds or excessively loud borborygmi, impactions felt on palpation

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4
Q

What are the two most important initial Tx for gut stasis in rabbits

A

Analgesia

Fluid support - interstitial fluid flows into the gut causing dehydration

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5
Q

Why are rabbits with gut stasis not suitable candidates for a GA

A

Electrolytes are not secreted / reabsorbed predictably = electrolyte derangement

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6
Q

How can gut stasis be Dx on rads?

A

Dilated loops of guts with fluid and gas

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7
Q

Which blood test is linked to GI obstruction in rabbits?

A

Blood glucose

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8
Q

What blood glucose level is linked to GI obstruction and gut stasis in rabbits?

A

Levels > 18mmol/l

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9
Q

What are the DDX for gut stasis in rabbits (9)

A
GI obstruction
Dysbiosis
Failure to ear caecotrophs
D+
Mucoid enteropathy 
Bloat
Caecal impaction
Parasites
Dysautonomia
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10
Q

How do the Sx of GI obstruction differ with location in rabbits

A

Higher the obstruction the more acute and severe the Sx

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11
Q

Which class of drugs is contra-indicated in rabbit GI obstruction

A

Pro kinetics

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12
Q

Define dysbiosis

A

A challenge to or alteration of the gut bacteria

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13
Q

What 4 things is dysbiosis related to in rabbits

A

AntiB use
Body temp
Changes in gut motility
Drastic alterations in diet

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14
Q

What are the Sx of dysbiosis in rabbits

A

Change in faecal consistency

Altered appetite

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15
Q

Which 5 AntiB should not be used in rabbits

A

PLACE AntiB

Penicillins
Lincomycin
Aminoglycosides
Clindomycin
Erythromycin
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16
Q

What is failure to eat caecotrophs often misdiagnosed as in rabbits

A

Diarrhoea

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17
Q

How can Diarrhoea and failure to eat caecotrophs be differentiated in rabbits

A

Rabbits not eating caecotrophs will still produce hard faecal pellets

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18
Q

What are the three main causes of a rabbit failing to eat caecotrophs

A

A change in taste of caecotrophs - diet change, meds, infection

A change in consistency of caecotrophs - more runny than usual due to infection or inflam

An inability to eat them - pain e.g. dental disease, OA, vestibular disease causing poor balance

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19
Q

What results from D+ in rabbits

A

Gut motility disordered - atonic guts
Rapid fluid loss
Electrolyte imbalance

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20
Q

What are the main causes of D+ in rabbits

A

Coccidiosis
Tyzzers disease - clostridium pilliformis
Salmonella
Campylobacter

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21
Q

What is mucoid enteropathy in rabbits

A

D+ complex seen in juvenile rabbits related to low fibre diets

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22
Q

What are the main Sx of mucoid enteropathy in rabbits

A

Mucoid bloody D+

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23
Q

How does bloat appear in rabbits

A

Gut loops filled with gas

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24
Q

What is the pathogenesis of bloat in rabbits

A

Bacteria produce gas in response to a change in microbiome or diet

Gastric dilation = functional obstruction of pyloric outflow

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25
Q

What is caecal impaction in rabbits linked to

A

Abnormal function of fusus coli

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26
Q

What are the Sx of caecal impaction in rabbits

A

No caecotrophs produced = loss of BCS

Painful large doughy caecum on palpation

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27
Q

Why is coccidiosis mostly seen in rabbits prior to weaning?

A

Adults immune post weaning

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28
Q

What is coccidiosis associated with in rabbits

A

Stress
Overstocking
Poor hygiene

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29
Q

What type of disease can coccidiosis cause and what are the agents responsible

A

6x enteric eimeria spp and 1x hepatic eimeria spp

Enteric = D+, stunted growth, weight loss, lethargy, death

Hepatic = subclinical, weight loss, stunted growth, ascites, jaundice, hepatomegaly

30
Q

Other than coccidiosis, what three other gut parasites affect rabbits

A

Passalurus ambiguus - pinworm

Obeliscoides cuniculi - stomach worm

Trichostrongykus retortaeformis - intestinal worm

31
Q

Why is routine worming not indicated in pet rabbits?

A

Pinworm = commensal
Stomach worm = not reported in pet rabbits
Intestinal worm = not seen in UK, seen in EU and Oz

32
Q

What is dysautonomia

A

Dysfunction of the ANS

33
Q

What is another name for dysautonomia in rabbits

A

Megacolon

34
Q

What is the main risk factor for dysautonomia in rabbits

A

Low fibre diet

35
Q

What are the main Sx of dysautonomia in rabbits

A
Palpable large bowel impaction
Pain
Reduced GI function
Swallowing difficulties 
Urinary incontinence
36
Q

What is the cause of dysautonomia in rabbits

A

Link to grass sickness in horses

Clostridium botulinum toxins

37
Q

What is the difference between pre and pro biotic

A

Pre = complex molecules that promote the growth of good bacteria

Pro = forms of good bacteria given orally

38
Q

What a the Sx of dental disease in rabbits

A
Anorexia
Drooling
Tooth grinding
Wet below chin / paws - hypersalivation
Change in dietary preferences
39
Q

What causes abscesses in rabbits

A

Secondary to trauma or bite wounds
Post-surgery
Related to dental disease

40
Q

What is the best Tx for abscesses in rabbits

A

Radical excision including removal of affected teeth

Plus long course of AntiB

41
Q

What is pododermatitis

A

Dermatitis, ulcers and sores to the plantar surface of the feet

42
Q

What are the main causes of pododermatitis in rabbits

A

No foot pads - furred plantar surfaces
Obesity
Soiled bedding
Wire floors

43
Q

What is the ear mite spp seen in rabbits

A

Psoroptes cuniculi

44
Q

Which mite spp causes large white scales and is know as ‘walking dandruff’ in rabbits

A

Cheyletiella parasitovorax

45
Q

What mite is know as the fur mite and is a commensal in rabbits

A

Leporocarus gibbus

46
Q

Which flea spp can affect rabbits

A

Ctenocephalides fells, canis

Spilopsyllus cuniculli

47
Q

How can flea infestation be Tx in rabbits

A

Imidacloprid - Licensed

Fipronol toxicity

48
Q

Which ectoparasite Disease is most common is rabbits

A

Myiasis - fly strike

49
Q

Which spp of fly causes fly strike in rabbits

A

Lucila sericata

50
Q

What must occur to skin prior to fly strike

A

It must be damaged

51
Q

How can fly strike be Tx and Px in rabbits

A

Insecticidal
Ivermectin
Rearguard = cyromazine for Px

52
Q

What bacteria causes rabbit syphilis? How does it present? How is it Tx?

A

Treponema cuniculli
Sexually transmitted genital lesions with auto inoculation leading to facial lesions, lips, eyelids

Tx = penicillin via injection

53
Q

What causes myxomatosis in rabbits and what are the forms of disease

A

Poxvirus

Systemic - facial and genital oedema
Cutaneous

54
Q

How is myxomatosis transmitted

A

Insect vectors

55
Q

Which two spp cause ringworm in rabbits

A

Trichophyton metagrophytes

Microsporum canis

56
Q

What diseases does rabbit calici virus cause?

A

Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease 1 and 2

57
Q

Contrast RHD1 and RHD2

A

RHD1 = high mortality in rabbits, young immune until 6wks age, reservoir is European Brown Hare

RHD2 = related virus that causes disease in rabbits and hares, lower mortality

58
Q

What is the main resp Disease seen in rabbits

A

‘Snuffles’

59
Q

What causes snuffles in rabbits

A

Pasteurella multocida

60
Q

What is snuffles related to in rabbits

A

Stress

Husbandry

61
Q

How is resp Disease best Dx in rabbits

A

Deep nasal swab

62
Q

What can cause a head tilt in rabbits

A

Consequence of prior resp infection that has tracked to the middle or inner ear

Secondary to encephalitozoon cuniculi infection

Peripheral or central nervous disease

63
Q

What is encephalitozoon caniculli and what does it cause in rabbits

A

Micrsporidium oarasite

Neurological or Renal disease

Related to ‘Floppy Rabbit Syndrome’ and posterior paralysis

64
Q

Why is Renal Disease most commonly seen in older rabbits

A

Age = reduced GFR, reduced Renal blood flow, reduced ability to maintain acid base and fluid homeostasis

65
Q

What is urine sludging in rabbits

A

A thick paste of ca in the ventral bladder that is hard to void

66
Q

How does urine sludging occur in rabbits

A

Ca uptake in rabbits is via GIT and related to dietary content alone
Usually excreted suspended in the urine
Lack of mobility = Ca in urine settles out into a thick sludge on the ventral bladder wall

67
Q

What are the main Sx seen with urine sludging in rabbits

A

Haematuria

Urine scalding

68
Q

How is urine sludging Tx and Px

A

Increase fluid intake

Alter diet - feed vegetation wet, reduced Ca pellets, increase water-rich foods e.g. cucumber

69
Q

What can be a complication of urine sludging in rabbits

A

Urolithiasis

70
Q

What are the 6 main reproductive diseases seen in rabbits

A
  1. Phantom pregnancy
  2. Abortion
  3. Uterine varices
  4. Uterine adenocarcinoma
  5. Mastitis
  6. Mammary neoplasia
71
Q

What disease can occur in rabbits after neutering that is similar to a disease more commonly seen in ferrets?

A

Adrenal Disease

72
Q

What is the pathogenesis of adrenal disease in rabbits

A

Neutering = LH and FSH remain at stimulatory levels in blood without gonads to act on = receptor formation on adrenal surface = bind to adrenal gland and stimulate production of active reproductive hormones