Exam 1 rabbits, ferrets

For rabbits where are injections preferred

• Epaxial (dont use legs)

What is the preferred venipuncture in rabbits

• Lateral saphenous

• marginal ear vein last resort

What type of breathers are rabbits?

• Obligate nasal breathers

When taking a radiograph of rabbits should there be any food in their stomach or no?

• Rabbits should always have food in their stomachs.

GI microbiome of rabbits is mostly made of

• Gram-positive bacteria

• Dont use antibiotics that selectively target gram positive or you will get a overgrowth of gram-negative (endotoxins)

What drugs do you not use in rabbits?

• Front line

• place acronym

What type of teeth do rabbits have?

• Aradicula, hypsodont (*elodont)

• like horses, all grow entire life (3mm/wk)

• must be constantly worn down

• occlusal surface cheek teeth slightly angled

• all teeth are open rooted and contiually grow

Rabbit vision

• monocular

how many nasal lacrimal ducts do rabbit have?

• one located medial ventral

Rabbits commonly get cataracts, ulcers (high atropinase levels) and phacoclastic uveitis

What causes phacoclastic uveitis

• E. canniculi

• sporizoite goes into lens capsule and causes a rupture

• opportunistic of immunocomprised

E cuniculi tropism

• Neuro/Reno tropic

  • granulomatous meningoencephalitis

  • chronic interstitial nephritis

  • phacoclastic uveitis

• blamed for acute head tilt

Rabbit presents with bilateral exophtalmis is 100% of the time due to

• Thymoma

• check thoracic chest compliance, T3-6

What are the temperature regulators in rabbits?

• Ears

• Dilate in hot temperatures

What ear mites do rabbits get?

• Psoroptes cuniculi

How do you treat ear mites in rabbits

• Ivermectin or selamectin

• Do NOT clean ears

• do NOT use frontline

Messy front paws/for limbs are indicative of

• Darcrocystitis

Asymmetric at jaw in rabbit may be indicative of

• abscess

Should rabbits be fasted before surgery

• no DO NOT fast rabbits before surgery

In rabbits fracture of which vertebrate can occur with struggle

• L7

what should not be used on the floor of cages for rabbits?

• Cedar pie grates

• Note: keep away from other animals including other rabbits

Due to rabbits not having any foot pads what can they be prone to?

• Pododermatitis called sore hock

If kept outdoors rabbits can be prone to?

• heat stroke

can rabbits vomit

• no

How much hay should you feed a rabbits?

• unlimited

• should make up most of their diet

• only give them unlimited amounts of pellets

You should give rabbits up to 4 cups of

• fresh darkley coloured vegetables

young rabbits have a PH of 5-6.5 in their stomach once they are weaned it drops to

• 1

young rabbits diet contains up to 18% of protein what is a good source?

• Alfalfa

Since rabbits are like horses can you change the diet rapidly or slowly

• you must change the diet slowly

should rabbits have food in their stomachs always

• yes rabbits should always have food in their stomach and some GIT sounds

• they eat frequently

• diet: high fiber, low CHO

What are good OTC food for rabbits

• canned baby food or canned pumpkin

When should rabbits be spayed and why is it important

• 4-8 months old all females

• will get uterine adenocarinoma if not

What intestinal parasites do rabbits get

• Tapeworms

• coccidia (most common)

• pinworms (oxyruis ambiqua)

What is Cyniclomycoes gluttulatus?

• Pseudo parasite

• it is a yeast that lines the stomach of rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchilla

Rabbits are susceptible to rabies what vaccine do you use?

• all susceptible to rabies but few transmit it (peracute death)

• not considered important threat

• no approved rabies vaccines for rabbits or rodents

Rabbit presents with peracute death, (fever >greater than 104) anorexia, lethargy, and bleeding

what virus?

• Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus - 2

signs:

• peracute death

• fever (>104)

• anorexia

• lethargy

• bleeding

spread:

• fomites

• other rabbits

• persist for a long time

• wildlife

Rabbits have what type of inguinal rings

• large open rings

• testicles can retract into abdomen

In rabbits who has a dewlap male or females

• Females contain the dewlap

80% of unspayed rabbits develop uterine adenocarcinoma at three years or older which can metastasize to chest liver, skeletal system

when should they be spayed

• around six months

Rabbits have how many uterine horns and cervix do they have

• two separate uterine horns each with its own cervix

Dental disease presentations

Dacryocystitis

• messy front paw/forelimbs, mouth

• weight loss and inappetence

• malocclusion

• abscesses

zoonotic fur mites that may be a asymptomatic that can cause dry flaky skin

non burrowing

• Cheyletella parasitovarax

• wealking dander

• exacerbated by stress

• treatment = revolution

cecotropes contain bacteria and good vitamins and energy.

where are they absorbed

• Jejunum

three differentials if a rabbit presents with anorexia

• stasis

• GI obstruction

• liver lobe torsion

what is the first thing you do when a rabbit presents anorexic

• obtain rectal temperatue (low is red flag)

• next do a palpation for belly pain listen to a GIT sounds and check for stool production

• then do diagnostic test

stasis/Dysbiosis in rabbits

• normothermia

• smaller or abnormal stools

• non-painful abdomen

• gut sounds diminished / not absent

• anorexia can be >12hr

• rads: food in stomach, segmental gas in colon

How do you treat stasis in rabbits

• supportive care

• fluids and nutrition and pain meds if painful

with rabbits should you give pmotility drugs with stasis

• no evidence that it works

signs of obstruction in rabbits

• anorexia <12hr

• may be shocky

• hypothermia (<99F)

• BG (high 200’s over 300)

• painful to palp

• gas in stomach (tympanic)

What woyld you see on radiographs that is indicative of gastric obstruction in rabbits

• large distended stomach that passes L2

• stomach is filled with fluid and jester

• small intestines have gas or fluid

How to treat rabbit gastric obstruction

• stabilize; warm pt

• IV/IO fluids - shock doses

• pain meds - hydro

• lidocaine CRI

• orogastric decompress under sedation/anesthesia - ASAP

• assess

• surgical or medical management

Liver lobe torsion

Signs:

• lethargy

• hypothermia

• decreased fecal production

• tachypnea

• pain in cranial abdomen

• CRT prolonged

• ACUTE <12hr

Diagnostics:

• POCUS: no blood flow to area

• ALT, ALKP, AST 3-10x elevated

• ±anemia

• (± rads - less helpful)

• abdominal palpation

• radiographs (enlarged liver past last rib)

• liver anlaytes: increase ALT

• ultrasound - right caudate lobe

Treatment:

• stablize (warm)

• pain meds

• transfuse or hypertonic saline

• surgery - remove lobe

• medical management alone >60% fataltiy

rabbit summary that presents with an acute abdomen

• low body temp and moribund

• sick for less 12hrs

• moderate to severe pain

• most common rules outs: LLT vs OBSTRUCTION

Pasteurellosis

• common bacterial disease of rabbits

• respiratory, then blood to any organ system; brain, bone, repro

Wry Neck - Rabbit

• etiology unknown

• otoconia (BPPV)

• Iatrogenic

• Otitis Media/iterna

• rarely e. cuniculi

Urolithiasis rabbits

• unknown cause

• high calcium diet NOT been shown to cause

• multifactorial

• herbivores

  • high pH

  • all calcium based

  • surgery necessary

Which antibiotics are toxic to pocket pets

• penicillin

• lincomycin

• aminoglycosides

• cephalosporin

• erythromycin

safe = chloramphenicol, enrofloxacin

• ferrets hedgehogs and and sugar gliders do not have the sensivitivies

Sedative and anasthetics are strongly recommended specifically

• Midazolam

• espcially in respiratory distress

Why are ferrets susceptible to heat stroke

• they are cold weather animals

you see a ferret with two tattoos what doses it mean

• descented and neutered

• one means = descented

• they come from marshals

ferrets from marshalls are released at eight weeks old with two vaccines

are they fully vaccianted?

• no they become fully vaccinated at 12 weeks old

ferrets GI tract

• they contain a shorter GI tract than cats so they poop every 4 hours

• protein and fat needs are higher than cats

• they do not tolerate fiber

ferrets can conhabitate with other animals except with

• Birds

like dogs ferrets are susceptible to

• heartworm

vaccines for ferrets

• canine distemper (mucopurulent ocular/nasal discharge and hard pad)

• rabies

• Q3 weeks until 14 weeks old

• if you see conjunctivites pretty much only time they get it is with distemper

• near 100% mortality with distemper

When giving a ferret distemper vaccines in clinica. What should you do?

• wait 15 to 30 minutes after and assess for any reactions

• type one hypersensitivity reactions

• if happened once then increase of 80% with subsequent vaccine

treatment:

• antihistamine, epinephrine, dexamethasone, O2, fluids prn

• can premed with diphenhydramine

can you test ferrets for microfiliaria

• No (cannot do snap test)

• definitive diagnosis is ultrasound

Can you treat ferrets with Melarsomine

• no they die

• best way is used preventative early such as advantage multi (labeled)

Where do you auscultate heart in ferrets?

• Near xiphoid

is it pahtological when you see a large spleen in a ferret?

• No, they naturally have big spleen

Ferret has red brown earwax. is this normal?

• Yes, they are asymptomatic to otodectes cynotis

ferrets are genetically deaf completely

• white body with dark eyed and badger face

Which ferret has dminished hearing

• White ferrets that have red eyes because they lack pigmeent in iris

Ferrets commonly get dental disease specifically

• cracked canine teeth

Ferrets have what type of teeth

• Brachydont

Number one hematopoetic disease of ferrets

• Lymphoma

physical exam why should you generally compress an anterior mediastinum

• want to see if theres compliancy because if not then thymoma possible

you shaved a ferret for a surgery. A week later owner brings ferret back because skin is blue is this normal?

• yes normal

All ferets have what GI bacteria

• Helicobacter mustelidae

• can get ulcers and is zoonotic

What happens if female ferret in estrus is not bred or spayed?

• severe bone marrow suppression and fatal anemia

• slow takes about a year

First sign of adrenal disease in a ferret

• symmetrical alopecia of tail

ferrets do not tolerate fiber very well true or false

• true

• require high protein and higher fat than cats

younger ferrets and older ferrets usual GI obstruction

younger ferrets:

• any household item, espeically rubber items

older ferrets

• fiber or hair dont usually obstruct from household items

ferrets may not show radiographic obstructive pattern

ferrets shouldnt have food in their stomach on radiograph. true or false

• true

• due to their fast GI transit time

Adrenal disease ferret tumor occurs where

• Zona reticularis (sex hormones)

symptoms of adrenal disease in ferrets

• alopecia

• pruitus

• increased aggression

• dry brittle hair coat

• prostatic changes (may not have signs of hair loss)

• vulvar enlargement

why do ferrets become obstructive?

what type of stones?

• uroliths due to grain free diets

• cysteine stones

• second theory is genetic disorder that blocks proximal to build absorption

in ferrets what is the only treatment for uroliths

• surgery

• dissolution diets do not work because may predisosed to struvite

• females less likely to be obstruvtive

How do you treat hyperplasia prostatic disease secondary to adrenal disease

• Decompress/catheterize

• GNRH agonist (deslorelin)

• flutamide (shrink prostate)

is cystic hyperplasia prognosis good

• No if from hyperplasia prostate becomes cysic, then it is guarded and harder to treat

• need ultrasound to tell difference

• radiograph = double bubble

What is the best management practice for stopping adrenal disease in ferrets

• Deslorelin acetate implants (start first visit)

Insulinnoma symptoms in ferrets

• ptylism

• hypoglycemia

• seizures

• run blood glucose with alpha track (less than 65 is indicative)

Treatment for insulinnoma

• prednisone, diazoxide

• frequent small high protein meal, high fat, low carbs

• if you add surgery, can give you an additional one year plus survival time

• combination is preferable

what does green poop mena in ferrets

• food moved through the GI tract too fast and has not been brocken down by biliverdin

• occurs with ECE, rapid food changes, lymphoma

top two common causes of GIT disease

• foreign body obstruction

• epizootic catarrhal enteritis (coronavirus)

• both preent the same time

What is the typical history for ECE

• older ferret exposed to a new ferret within last two weeks

• newer ferret usually asymptomatic

• ferret breaks with watery, greenish-yellow, mucoid stool, anorexia

ECE good prognosis

• mild regenerative anemia, mid increase in WBC

• ALT<800, ALP<400

ECE poor prognosis

• marked increase WBC, it shift, non-regenerative anemia

• ALT>1000 ALP>400

Main treatment for ECE

• supportive care

• triple antibiotics

• gastro protectant

chinchillas can live 10 to 15 years, whereas guinea pigs live

• 4 to 6 years

should guinea pigs and chinchillas be housed separately or in groups

• groups