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COMMON CONDATIONS OF RABBITS AND HERBIVOROUS
RODENTS REAL EXAM 80 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
2024 LATEST VERSION
What are features of dermatological disease? - CORRECT ANSWER-frequently seen often secondary to systemic disease/stress/poor husbandry (history important) most treatments not licensed What is the normal hair loss processing in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-usually moult twice a year (spring and autumn) starting at head and proceeding caudally females have dewlap from which they pull fur to line nest when pregnant/pseudopregnant (will also pull fur from belly/thighs/chest) What can the scent gland in guinea pigs cause? - CORRECT ANSWER-greasy fur What are features of vit C in guinea pigs? - CORRECT ANSWER-cannot synthesise it, must be provided in diet hypovitaminosis C causes dermatological problems as well as systemic What is the normal hair anatomy in chinchillas? - CORRECT ANSWER-very dense fur (up to 90 hairs per follicle) must have dust bath provided daily (essential for maintaining coat condition) avoid humidity (>50-60%, >80% leads to matted fur) fur slip natural defence mechanism (will lead to bald patches) What is the small animal exemption scheme? - CORRECT ANSWER-permits certain medicine to be placed on the market without a marketing authorisation, subject to certain conditions applies only to vet medicine labelled exclusively for use in listed animals that are not intended for human consumption not relevant under cascade as not licensed
What animals are medicines permitted under the SAE scheme for? - CORRECT ANSWER-aquarium animals, cage birds, homing pigeons, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets, rabbits What are features of cheyletiella parasitovorax in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-scurfy skin, white flakes in fur, scaling, hair loss of dorsum zoonotic, more common in immunocompromised/debilitated rabbits (not grooming) diagnosis (tape strips, microscopy see big mites) treatment (ivermectin, treat in-contacts, change bedding after each treatment) What are features of psoroptes cuniculi in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-ear mites spread by direct contact, survive 3 weeks in environment crusting and ulceration in external ear canals, pruritus, head shaking, drooping pinnae diagnosis (direct visualisation, microscopy) treatment (ivermectin/selamectin, analgesia, treat in- contact rabbits) What are features of fleas in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-cat flea (ctenocephalides felis) if in house, European rabbit flea (vector for myxomatosis) diagnosis (similar to cat/dog, see fleas/dirt) treatment (imidacloprid topical licensed adulticide, permethrin spot on, selamectin, do not use fipronil, treat cats/dogs/environment) What are treatments for ectoparasites in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-ivermectin (0.2-0.4mg/kg PO/SC/topically every 10-14 days x 3 treatments, not licensed) Xeno 450/Xeno 50 mini (ivermectin spot on, not licensed, SAE) Xenex ultra spot on (permethrin spot-on, not licensed, SAE) stronghold (selamectin spot on, not licensed) advantage 40/80mg (imidacloprid, licensed for use in rabbits for fleas) What are predisposing factors for flystrike in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-perineal faecal soiling (e.g. from caecotrophs/D+), dental disease, obesity, low fibre diet, urine soiling/scald (e.g. cystitis/renal disease/neuro disease/spinal pain)
secondary bacterial infection can progress to osteomyelitis S. aureus/strep species/corynebacterium pyogenes predisposing factors (obesity, Vit C deficiency, rough flooring, inappropriate substrate, wet/soiled bedding, genetics in rex rabbits) treatment (difficult and often unsuccessful, address husbandry, antibiotics, analgesia, surgical debridement, bandages) amyloidosis due to chronic infection in G pigs prognosis guarded What are features of cheilitis in guinea pigs? - CORRECT ANSWER-predisposing factors (vit C deficiency, abrasive/acidic food e.g. fruit, poxvirus) ulcers and crust around mouth/philtrum, reduced appetite diagnosis (cytology, C&S, histopathology) treatment (clean and debride lesions, systemic antibiotics, orobase, analgesia, lesions may be self limiting) What are features of cervical lymphadenitis in guinea pigs? - CORRECT ANSWER-strep zooepidemicus (commensal in oropharynx which gains access to cervical LN via abrasions to oral mucosa and causes abscesses) treatment (antibiotics dependent on C&S) What are features of rabbit syphilis? - CORRECT ANSWER-treponema cuniculi, often subclinical, transferred by direct/venereal contact clinical signs 3-4 weeks post exposure, erythema, oedema, ulcers, scabs in perineal/genital areas/lips/eyelids diagnosis (characteristic clinical signs, response to treatment, silver stains) DDx (myxomatosis, ringworm) treatment (penicillin G 42,000-82,000 IU/kg IM weekly x 3 treatments) What are features of moist dermatitis in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-chronic salivation (dental disease) dewlaps in obese female rabbits (secondary infection with pseudomonas aeruginosa, blue fur disease) treatment (clip and clean, chlorhexidine) What are features of perineal skin dermatitis? - CORRECT ANSWER-urine/faecal soiling, secondary myiasis common
What are features of abscesses/cellulitis? - CORRECT ANSWER-often secondary to dental disease/bite wounds/self trauma S. aureus, P. multocida, Pseudomonas, Proteus, E. coli, Corynebacterium, Bacteroides in rabbits address underlying dental disease, surgical removal, marsupialisation, flushing What are causative agents of pyoderma? - CORRECT ANSWER-staph aureus, strep epidermidis What are features of otitis externa in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-purulent exudate can be difficult to distinguish from normal rabbit ear wax What are treatments for bacterial skin disease? - CORRECT ANSWER-antibiotics (ideally based on C&S as well as safety, antibiotic associated enterotoxaemia risk if using oral penicillins/cephalosporins) topical ointments rarely used (may ingest while grooming, risk of dysbiosis) supportive care (analgesia, vit C in G pigs) What are predisposing factors for dermatophytosis (ringworm) in guinea pigs and chinchillas? - CORRECT ANSWER-immunosuppression, stress, overcrowding, poor nutrition (hypovitaminosis C in G pigs), high environmental temp/humidity, dirty/wet bedding/grooming dust, poor ventilation, old age, concurrent disease What are features of dermatophytosis (ringworm) in guinea pigs and chinchillas? - CORRECT ANSWERtrichophyton mentagrophytes (UV fluorescence not useful), microsporum species zoonotic (wear gloves, warn owners, barrier nursing) most common in young animals commonly carrier asymptomatically in guinea pigs until stress event causes outbreaks of clinical signs clinical signs (alopecia, erythema, crusting, scaling, scabs, no pruritus, kerions i.e. moist raised hairless lesions, secondary bacterial dermatitis, delayed hypersensitivity reactions, most often on head/face/around eyes/nose/mouth/ears/forelimbs) death can occur in neonates with severe infections diagnosis (microscopy, skin scrapes in 10% KOH, fungal culture, skin biopsy)
What is the immune response associated with EC? - CORRECT ANSWER-IgM rises early (within 7 days) and is non measurable after day 38 IgG rises more slowly (from 21-28 days) and persists for years organisms in brain around 98 days post infection What does positive EC IgM indicate? - CORRECT ANSWER-too early for EC to be responsible for any CNS disorders What does negative EC IgM indicate? - CORRECT ANSWER-rabbit CNS signs are not due to EC What does positive EC IgG mean? - CORRECT ANSWER-rabbits signs could be due to EC What does negative EC IgG mean? - CORRECT ANSWER-very recent infection (cannot be used to screen for disease in well rabbits) What is seen with the brain manifestation of EC? - CORRECT ANSWER-non suppurative granulomatous encephalitis head tilt, ataxia, circling, horizontal nystagmus, hemiparesis, posterior paralysis, seizures, urinary incontinence What is the treatment for EC? - CORRECT ANSWER-many drugs investigated fenbendazole only drug with published evidence supporting in vivo effects against EC bone marrow suppression possible but adverse effects not widely reported in mammals 20mg/kg PO 1 x daily for 28 days What is the atypical form of myxomatosis? - CORRECT ANSWER-benign fibromatous swellings in previously vaccinated rabbits, often survive with supportive care What are features of hypovitaminosis C in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-many clinical signs of deficiency affecting different organs and tissues dermatological signs (rough hair coat, scaling of pinnae, poor wound healing, secondary bacterial/parasitic skin infections due to immunosuppression)
treatment (correct diet, provide sufficient vit C 10mg/kg/day adult, 30mg/kg/day during pregnancy/illness, supportive care, treat secondary infections) cannot overdose vit C (water soluble) but degrades quickly so ideally provide in several forms What are features of cystic ovarian disease in guinea pigs? - CORRECT ANSWER-hyperoestrogenism clinical signs (non-pruritic symmetrical alopecia over dorsum and flanks, abdominal distension) endometrial hyperplasia/endometritis/fibroleiomyomas often associated) diagnosis (abdominal palpation, US/radiography) treatment (OVH) What are features of endocrine alopecia seen during late pregnancy in guinea pigs? - CORRECT ANSWERnon-pruritic bilateral flank alopecia, resolves after parturition In what species has hyperadrenocorticism been reported? - CORRECT ANSWER-guinea pigs What are neoplastic causes of skin disease in guinea pigs? - CORRECT ANSWER-trichofolliculomas on dorsum (benign, solitary, central pore with discharge, treatment with surgical excision) adenomas/lipomas/lymphomas/fibrosarcomas/carcinomas sebaceous cysts (non-neoplastic, same as in dogs) What are neoplastic causes of skin disease in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-SCC, lymphoma, malignant melanomas, viral related fibromas/papillomas What are behavioural causes of skin disease in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-females pluck fur during pregnancy What are features of fur chewing/barbering in chinchillas/guinea pigs? - CORRECT ANSWER-underlying cause (stress, overcrowding, low fibre diet, boredom, dermatophytes), may be self inflicted (head and neck unaffected) or cage mate expression of dominance female guinea pigs may barber their offspring (resolves after weaning) may be hereditary in chinchillas
bordetella bronchiseptica (often commensal but may be co-pathogen/predisposing factor for pasteurellosis) What are features of myxomatosis in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-poxvirus transmitted by mosquitoes/flies or direct contact/viral inhalation, incubation period 1-3 weeks, skin lesions in 4-5 days clinical signs (thickened eyelids, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, anorexia, depression, facial/perineal lesions i.e. oedema/scabs/mucopurulent nasal and ocular discharge, death within 14 days due to secondary bacterial infections) diagnosis (clinical signs, histopathology) treatment (unlikely to be successful, advise euthanasia) prevention (vaccination, vector control) How is pasteurellosis spread? - CORRECT ANSWER-direct contact (nasal secretions/sneezing), venereal contact, aerosol, fomites (survives several days in secretions/water), vertical/perinatal transmission (young rabbits infected from adults) entry to respiratory tract via nasal cavity, may colonise paranasal sinuses/middle ear/lacrimal duct/lungs, spread by direct extension or haematogenous (pneumonia, abscesses, mastitis, pyometra, orchitis, encephalitis, osteomyelitis), rarely acute septicaemia and sudden death What are the clinical signs of pasteurellosis in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-URT disease (snuffles, rhinitis, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, white/yellow mucopurulent nasal/ocular discharge, matted fur on forelimbs, periorbital alopecia, sneezing, dacryocystitis) otitis media/interna (head tilt, torticollis, nystagmus, ataxia) pneumonia (depression, anorexia, pyrexia, weight loss, exercise intolerance, dyspnoea, death) abscesses in thoracic cavity/lungs may be clinically inapparent How is pasteurellosis in rabbits diagnosed? - CORRECT ANSWER-C&S (deep swabs from nares but can be isolated from healthy rabbits, walls of abscesses) BAL/TW (1-2ml/kg in small aliquots) radiography (turbinate atrophy, pneumonia, pulmonary abscesses, bony sclerosis/increased opacity in lumen of tympanic bullae) haematology (leucocytosis, neutrophilia/monocytosis) What is the treatment for pasteurellosis in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-elimination of organism unlikely, can alleviate clinical signs but likely to remain a carrier, 2-3 months antibiotics based on C&S (TMPS, doxycycline, fluoroquinolones), address predisposing causes, correct husbandry and nutrition nebulisation supportive care (NSAIDs, oxygen, fluid therapy, nutritional support, ranitidine/cisapride)
dacryocystitis (repeated flushing with sterile saline, use LA eye drops +/- sedation, instillation of topical antibiotics e.g. tiacil/isathal licensed) How is nebulisation used in the treatment of pasteurellosis in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-F10 (1: dilution in sterile water, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, use antiseptic solution not disinfectant) acetylcysteine (200mg in 9ml sterile water, mucolytic) doxycycline (200mg in 15ml saline, antibiotic) enrofloxacin (100mg in 10ml saline, antibiotic) erythromycin (300mg in 10ml saline, antibiotic) What are features of bordetella bronchiseptica in guinea pigs? - CORRECT ANSWER-outbreaks associated with overcrowding, poor husbandry/diet, vit C deficiency do not keep G pigs with rabbits spread by direct contact/aerosol/fomites clinical signs (anorexia, ocular/nasal discharge, dyspnoea, abortion, pneumonia, death) diagnosis (C&S, deep nasal swabs) treatment (antibiotics e.g. enrofloxacin/TMPS, nebulisation, supportive care e.g. O2/vit C) prognosis guarded What are causes of respiratory disease in guinea pigs? - CORRECT ANSWER-bordetella bronchiseptica streptococcus pneumoniae chlamydophila caviae (also causes conjunctivitis in G pigs and chinchillas) What are predisposing factors for pneumonia in chinchillas? - CORRECT ANSWER-overcrowding, poor ventilation, high humidity, stress, temps too high/fluctuating significantly What are features of pneumonia in chinchillas? - CORRECT ANSWER-prognosis guarded B. bronchiseptica, Strep species, Pasteurella species, Pseudomonas species clinical signs (anorexia, depression, weight loss, poor coat condition, dyspnoea, nasal discharge/dried discharge on front legs, abdominal breathing) diagnosis (radiographs, US to distinguish from CHF) treatment (as for guinea pigs and rabbits but nebulisation less well tolerated) What are causes of viral respiratory disease in rabbits? - CORRECT ANSWER-myxomatosis (nasal and ocular discharge, occasional respiratory signs) viral haemorrhagic disease (calicivirus, affects rabbits >6 weeks, clinical signs of acute lung haemorrhage and sudden death or chronic hepatitis and death in 1-2 weeks) annual vaccination for both
