A-Z NAVLE Study Guide - Page 59 Topics

Vocabulary flashcards covering rabies and page 59 rabbit health, anatomy, diseases, reproductive notes, and rectal tear grading/treatment.

Rabies

A highly fatal viral disease of the nervous system (Rhabdovirus) with major zoonotic potential; transmitted via saliva/bite; incubation weeks–months; progresses through prodromal, furious, and paralytic stages; diagnosed by brain tissue IFA with Negri bodies; prevention by vaccination under veterinary supervision (often after 12 weeks).

Rhabdovirus

Bullet-shaped RNA virus that causes rabies.

Incubation period (rabies)

Time from exposure to onset of clinical signs; typically weeks to months.

Prodromal stage (rabies)

Early behavioral changes with variable clinical signs.

Furious/Excitative stage (rabies)

Hyperesthesia, tremors, bellows, circling, aggression, abnormal behaviors.

Paralytic/Dumb stage (rabies)

Depression, stupor, paralysis; dysphagia with drooling; death from respiratory arrest.

Rabies diagnosis

IFA staining of brain tissue; autopsy shows Negri inclusion bodies in neurons.

Negri bodies

Inclusion bodies in neurons associated with rabies infection.

Rabies vaccination/control

Vaccination under veterinary supervision to prevent rabies.

Vaccination age (rabies)

Initial vaccination typically given after >12 weeks but <16 weeks of age.

Rabies transmission

Via saliva, usually through a bite wound.

Rabies vaccination site

Vaccine given subcutaneously, commonly in the right rear limb near the stifle.

Rabbit incisors

Rabbits have two pairs of continuously growing incisors (upper and lower).

Rabbit teeth growth

Teeth continually grow and require dental care; dental disease can prevent eating.

Cannot vomit (rabbit)

Rabbits do not vomit; GI health and dental health affect eating.

Pylorus and gut anatomy (rabbit)

Small pylorus; large cecum; cecal pellets; coprophagic; B vitamins produced in gut.

Hairballs (Trichobezoars)

Hair balls formed from ingested hair; prevented by adequate dietary fiber.

Gestation/kindling (rabbit)

Gestation 30–33 days; rabbits kindle (not whelp) from 4–12 kits.

Sexual maturity (rabbit)

Reach sexual maturity at about 4–5 months.

Neutering and uterine cancer (rabbit)

Neuter females to prevent litters and reduce uterine adenocarcinoma risk.

Double cervix (rabbit)

Female rabbits have a double cervix.

Rabbit diet (daily)

Grass hay ad libitum; ¼–½ cup pellets; ¼–½ cup vegetables; feed SID (once daily).

Venipuncture sites (rabbit)

Marginal ear vein, cephalic, lateral saphenous, and jugular veins.

Rabbit housing (husbandry)

Small wire cage with a board to rest on to prevent sore hocks.

Rabbit skin diseases

Mites (Psoroptes cuniculi), ringworm (Trichophyton), barbering (Cheyletiella parasivarax).

Rabbit syphilis

Treponema infection described as rabbit syphilis.

Cuterebra (rabbits)

Cuterebra (warble fly) larvae on outdoor rabbits, typically on the face.

Abscesses (rabbit)

Usually due to Pasteurella; debridement recommended.

Pasturella/Pasteurella (rabbit)

Pasteurella infections cause respiratory disease ('Snuffles') and abscesses; chronic carrier state.

Slobbers

Hypersalivation with moist dermatitis around the mouth.

Trichobezoars

Hair balls from ingesting hair; prevented by adequate fiber.

Mucoid enteropathy

GI condition in rabbits treated with antibiotics such as penicillin, erythromycin, lincomycin, tylosin.

Clostridial overgrowth

Overgrowth of Clostridia in the gut; can be fatal.

Fatty liver (rabbit)**

Develops when off feed; requires force feeding.

Pasteurellosis (snuffles) in rabbits

Respiratory infection with Pasteurella; can cause chronic abscessation; treated with antibiotics (e.g., Baytril, TMPS).

Pyometra (rabbit)

Uterine infection commonly associated with Pasteurella.

Urolithiasis (rabbit)

Urinary stones; calcium oxalate crystalluria may occur on pelleted diets.

Torticollis (rabbit)

Head tilt often due to otitis media; can arise with Pasteurellosis.

Encephalitozoon cuniculi

Microsporidia causing CNS signs in rabbits.

Heavy metal toxicity

Non-infectious CNS insult from heavy metals.

Recurrent uveitis (rabbit)

Periodic ophthalmia; immune-mediated inflammation of the uveal tract.

Rectal tears (mares context)

Rectal tears graded I–IV by tissue layers penetrated; Grade IV perforates into peritoneal cavity; grave prognosis.

Rectal tears – Grade I

Tear involves submucosa or mucosa only.

Rectal tears – Grade II

Rupture of muscular layers only; less common.

Rectal tears – Grade III

Involves mucosa, submucosa and muscular layers.

Rectal tears – Grade IV

Perforates rectum into peritoneal cavity; poor prognosis.

Rectal tears – treatment (Grade I)

Sedation and careful palpation; broad-spectrum antibiotics, IV fluids, Banamine; address promptly.

Rectal tears – treatment (higher grades)

Immediate surgical correction; if tear detected, cotton pack cranial to tear, broad-spectrum antibiotics, NSAIDs; pack and ship.