Rabbits (LS)

Question 1

What drug should NEVER be given ORALLY to Rabbits?

Why?

Answer 1

• Penacillin/lincomycin
• Dysbiosis

Question 2

How do rabbits breath?

Answer 2

Obligate nasal breathers

Question 3

How many Incisors do rabbits have?

TQ!

Answer 3

6!

• 2 Maxillary incisors & 2 peg teeth→ top
• 2 Mandibular incisors → bottom

Question 4

What predisposes Rabbits to Lumbar FX?

TQ

Answer 4

Lightweight skeletons & LARGE mm. mass

Question 5

What is unique about the

Female Rabbit reproductive tract?

Answer 5

NO UTERINE BODY! → Duplex Uterus

2 horns

2 cervices

Question 6

What type of castration do you perfom on male rabbits?

Answer 6

Closed castration

Question 7

Most GIT problems in rabbits are related to lack of ______.

Answer 7

Fiber!

(Avoid simple sugars & fruits→ slow down GI motility)

Question 8

Where is a common site for Lumbar FX in Rabbits?

Answer 8

L7

Question 9

What is the most common neoplasm in female rabbits?

Answer 9

Uterine Adenocarcinoma

(> 50% of females > 5 yrs)

Question 10

2nd most common neoplasm in rabbits?

Answer 10

Lymphosarcoma

Question 11

Which breed of rabbit gets congenital glaucoma?

Answer 11

New Zealand Whites

Question 12

What is a disorder of hip, pelvis, spine & long bones of young rabbits?

Answer 12

Splay leg or “Swimmer”

(hereditary musculoskeletal disorder)

Question 13

How can you promote appropriate

dental wearing in rabbits?

Answer 13

Feed hay!

Question 14

Pathogenesis of Gastric Trichobezoars?

Answer 14

• Low fiber diets
• Dehydration
• prolific shedders (Angora)

Question 15

C/S of Trichobezar

Answer 15

• loss of appetite
• absent or decreased feces
• doughy mass on palpation of cranial/mid-abodmen

Question 16

What is unique about the dietary Calcium uptake in the rabbit?

Answer 16

Not dependent on Vitamin D

Question 17

Excess dietary Calcium can lead to the formation of __________

Answer 17

Uroliths

(avoid feeding alfalfa pellets and alfalfa hay)

Question 18

What is special about Rabbit urine that predisposes them to Uroliths?

Answer 18

• High in Ca²⁺ carbonate & Triple phosphate crystals
• Very Alkaline

Question 19

What 2 things can be normal to find in urine?

Answer 19

• Small amount of sand
• Small amount of crystals

Question 20

Prevention of Urolithiasis?

Answer 20

• Decrease Calcium in diet (grass hay, green veges, timmothy pellets; avoid excess alfalfa)
• Weight control
• Increase exercise

Question 21

What are the main causes of the abscesses in rabbits?

Answer 21

• Pasteurella
• Dental Dz

Question 22

What is a common and significant dz in rabbits?

What is the causative agent?

Answer 22

Pasturellosis/Snuffles

Pastuerlla multocida

Question 23

When does infection of pasteurellosis occur in rabbits?

Answer 23

Develops when stressed (most rabbits are carriers)

Question 24

How do rabbits spread Pasteurella?

Answer 24

Sneezing

Question 25

C/S of Pasteurellosis

Answer 25

* **Sneezing, nasal discharge** * **Conjunctivitis** * Otitis * **Dyspnea** * **Neurological ** * Subcutaneous swelling * Vaginal discharge

Question 26

What finding makes the prognosis for Pasteurellosis poor?

Answer 26

Pulmonary abscesses

Question 27

Tx- Pasteurellosis

Answer 27

* **Enrofloxacin** (most isolates, but increasing resistance) * **Injectable penicillin** * Surgical excision of abscesses or infected organs

Question 28

Pasteurellosis - Control and prevention in Rabbitries

Answer 28

* Culling * Culture or serology to detect carriers * **NO vax currently**

Question 29

Common inhabitant of the respiratory tract (asymptomatic)

Answer 29

*Bordetella bronchiseptica*

Question 30

Why would you recommend to a client to house their rabbit and guinea pig separately?

Answer 30

* Rabbits are asymptomatic carriers of *B. bronchiseptica* * **May transmit to species (dog, guinea pigs) where it is more pathogenic**

Question 31

Causative agent of Enterotoxemia

Answer 31

*Clostridium spiroforme* toxin

Question 32

C/S - Enterotoxemia

Answer 32

* Abdominal pain * Hunched posture * Teeth grinding * Anorexia

Question 33

Dx- Enterotoxemia

Answer 33

* Anaerobic fecal Culture * Gram stain of fecal smear → helically coiled, semicircular rods

Question 34

Tx- Enterotoxemia

Answer 34

* Supportive care * Motility modifiers →Metaclopramide * Probiotics * **Cholestyramine** (binds toxin)

Question 35

Prevention of Enterotoxemia

Answer 35

* Minimize stress * Change feed gradually * Wean at 3 weeks & not earlier * Use appropriate antibiotics * FIBER!!

Question 36

What causes Rabbit Syphilis?

Answer 36

*Treponema cuniculi* | (Treponematosis)

Question 37

Dx - rabbit syphilis

Answer 37

* **Skin scraping ** * Dark field microscopy * **Silver stain** * Serological testing (screening of rabbitries)

Question 38

Tx- rabbit syphilis

Answer 38

* Usually self limiting * **Injectable** penicillin

Question 39

What should you do with the bunnies from a doe with Septic Mastitis?

Answer 39

* Remove bunnies → DO NOT FOSTER * Bottle feed

Question 40

Cystic/Non-Septic Mastitis - Tx/Px

Answer 40

Ovariohysterectomy

Question 41

**Why is it important to spay non-breeding does?**

Answer 41

**In order to avoid adenocarcinoma and cystic/non-septic mastitis**

Question 42

What causes Tularemia/Rabbit Fever?

Answer 42

*Francisella tularensis*

Question 43

Which animals are asymptomatic for **Tularemia** (Rabbit Fever)? Who shows clinically signs & gets it?

Answer 43

* Wild animals * Rare in domestic rabbits & rodents --\> will usualy show signs if infected

Question 44

Rabbit Fever - Transmission

Answer 44

​Breaks in skin, ingestion, inhalation, blood sucking vectors ex) fleas, ticks

Question 45

What dz of rabbits is Zoonotic and Reportable? (this is why you should be careful while doing necropsy)

Answer 45

*Francisella tularemia*/Rabbit Fever

Question 46

What causes Dermatophytosis (Ringworm)? Why are we concerned?

Answer 46

* *Trichophyton mentagrophytes * * *Microsporum* spp * Zoonotic! → wear gloves

Question 47

What is the agent of **Cheyletiella** (Walking Dandruff)? Why do we care?

Answer 47

*Cheyletiella parasitovorax* (fur mite) ZOONOTIC (humans, dogs, cats)

Question 48

Which drug is contraindicated for treatment of fleas in rabbits?

Answer 48

DO NOT USE FRONTLINE IN RABBITS (FIPRONIL)

Question 49

What dz forms granulomas in the brain of rabbits?

Answer 49

Encephalitozoonosis | (*Encephalitozoan cuniculi*)

Question 50

Important points about **Rabbit Hemorrhagic Dz**?

Answer 50

* REBORTABLE * Highly contagious * Calicivirus * C/S: * anorexia * lethargy * pyrexia * spasms * **SUDDEN DEATH**