Animal Care Associates, Inc
840 Oakwood Road
Charleston, WV 25314
304-344-2244

Miscellaneous Rabbit Medical

Hairballs

Like cats, rabbits frequently develop hairballs within their stomachs. But unlike cats, rabbits cannot vomit. It is currently thought that hairball development is related to a lack of dietary fiber and which slows the emptying of the stomach contents (gastric stasis). This eventually leads to an impacted, dehydrated food ball full of hair that cannot pass out of the stomach. As the "hairball" increases in size, it begins to occupy more of the stomach, leaving less room for food. Initial signs of gastric stasis include reluctance to eat, smaller fecal pellets, weakness, weight loss and, eventually, death from starvation.

Some cases can be successfully managed conservatively with careful use of fresh pineapple or papaya products and intestinal lubricants such as Felaxin. The use of these products alone will  not correct the underlying problems, which is usually a lack of dietary fiber, a decrease in the amount of water consumed, inactivity, obesity, and/or general illness.

Cases that do not respond to conservative treatment require aggressive medical therapy that includes rehydrating the patient, introducing high fiber foods, and giving intestinal motility drugs. Surgery may be necessary to remove the hairball from the stomach. Conservative treatment is usually attempted before resorting to surgical intervention.
  

Heat Stress (Heat Stroke)

Rabbits are especially susceptible to heat stroke, particularly those that are overweight and/or heavily furred. Environmental temperatures about 85° F, high humidity (above 70%), inadequate shade and ventilation, crowding and other forms of stress are additional predisposing factors.

Signs of heat stroke include panting, salivation, ear reddening, weakness, refusal to move, delirium, convulsions and, eventually, death. Heat stroke can be successfully treated if recognized early. Heat-stressed rabbits should either be sprayed or bathed with cool water. Another very effective way to rapidly lower the body temperature involves applying cool running water to the ear flaps. Once these first-aid measures are undertaken, a veterinarian should be contacted immediately.

Prevention of heat stroke involves providing adequate shade from the sun (if the rabbit is housed outdoors) and ventilation (if the rabbit is housed indoors or with many other rabbits). A continuous light mist or spray of water and/or a fan operating over a container of ice and directed at a rabbit within its enclosure can help lower the air temperature, whether the rabbit is housed indoors or outdoors.

Hutch Sores("Sore Hocks")

Hutch sores are chronically ulcerated and infected wounds on the weight-bearing surfaces of the rear (and sometimes the front) paws. They are caused by a number of predisposing factors: reduced thickness of fur on the bottoms of the feet; continued thumping of the rear feet when frightened; excessive body weight; repeated or continual urine-soiling of feet; lack of movement from living in a small enclosure; and abrasions from irregular cage flooring. Hutch sores can occur in rabbits housed on solid floors, but are more common in rabbits kept in enclosures with wire floors. Pet rabbits that are housed indoors or outdoors should be confined in roomy wire cages with Plexiglass covering about one-half of the cage floor's surface area.

Hutch sores are treated with antibiotics (both topically and by injection) and periodic bandaging of the affected feet. Treatment is usually long-term and also requires identification and correction of the underlying causes. Hutch sores must be treated aggressively to prevent infection of deeper soft tissues and bone.

Temporary Selective Anorexia

Some pet rabbits occasionally refuse to eat alfalfa pellets. Affected rabbits usually continue to eat other items in their diets. This condition occurs most often in response to stress, such as that associated with inadequate husbandry or sudden environmental changes. Affected rabbits may continue to refuse to eat pellets for weeks. Old or spoiled (rancid) pellets will also be steadfastly refused.

This condition is diagnosed indirectly. Physical examination of the rabbit reveals nothing abnormal and laboratory tests on blood samples are normal. Other causes of inappetence must also be ruled out, such as hairball formation.

Overgrown Claws

Overgrown claws are easily torn when caught in fabric or wire mesh.  A panicked rabbit can also inflict painful scratches with them.  Clipping claws require experience and judicious restraint of the rabbit, and should be done as needed.  Declawing rabbits is NOT  recommended.

Overgrown Incisor Teeth

Malocclusion (improperly aligned teeth resulting in abnormal tooth growth and wear) in rabbits usually results in overgrown incisor (front) teeth. Occasionally, misdirected premolar and molar teeth are noted. Many rabbits with a malocclusion probably have a genetic deficiency that causes an abnormally short upper jaw. This structural defect prevents the continuously growing upper and lower incisors from meeting each other as the rabbit chews. Consequently, the overgrown incisors cause considerable trauma to the tongue and lining of the mouth. A rabbit's "bite" must be absolutely perfect so that it's continuously growing teeth wear down, properly.

Infections of the jawbone in the area of the incisors can also result in misalignment of these teeth. Many cases of overgrown incisors results from previous injury to the area of the jaw responsible for growth of the incisors, with subsequent uneven tooth growth.

Treatment involves periodic clipping of the incisors and attention to any wounds within the mouth caused by the overgrown teeth. The clipping procedure should be carried out by an experienced veterinarian or veterinary technician and must be done periodically for the remainder of the rabbit's life. Rabbits with this condition should never, under any circumstances, be bred.

Poisonings and Other Hazards

Pet rabbits are often allowed the "run of the house". However, rabbits love to chew and often get into trouble by chewing on electrical cords, poisonous house plants, floor mats and rugs. Electrocution, serious burns, poisoning and intestinal impaction are the most frequent consequences of such chewing.

Rabbits should be confined when their owners are away from the house and must be closely supervised when their owners are at home so that these accidents are avoided.

Trauma to the Spine

An interesting fact is that a rabbit's entire skeleton comprises only 8% of its total body weight. In comparison, a domestic cat's skeleton comprises 13% of its body weight. The rabbit's fragile lumbar spine (lower back) is surrounded by powerful muscles and is particularly susceptible to fracture. Back injuries most often occur when rabbits are dropped, or improperly picked up or restrained. Closely confined rabbits that become excited and thrash about excessively are very prone to back injuries.

Signs of back injury may include incoordination, urine soiling and uncontrolled defecation. Paralysis of the rear quarters is the most serious consequence of this type of injury. Any rabbit exhibiting any of these signs should be examined by a veterinarian at once. A thorough physical examination and radiographs (x-rays) are usually necessary to make the diagnosis and predict the eventual medical outcome. Spinal injuries are considered very serious and, generally speaking, the outcome is often unfavorable.

To avoid injury, rabbits should be picked up and restrained very carefully. A panicked, struggling rabbit should never be forcefully restrained. Instead, such a rabbit should be immediately released and re-approached when it has calmed down.

Uterine Cancer

The most common tumor of domestic rabbits involves the uterine lining. In breeding rabbits, the early signs of this tumor involve decreased fertility, smaller litter sizes, abortions and stillbirths. In pet rabbits, the most common clinical sign of a uterine tumor is intermittent bleeding from the vulva. This vulvar bleeding is often mistaken for blood in the urine. The volume of hemorrhage can be substantial and alarming. If bleeding is intermittent, the results of a urinalysis may be normal between bleeding episodes.

Though this type of tumor can spread to the lungs, the spaying of the affected doe is strongly advised. Because this type of tumor is so common, all pet female rabbits should be spayed after 4-1/2 months of age to avoid difficulties with the reproductive tract later in life.

Wryneck

Wryneck, a serious problem in pet rabbits, is a mild to severe twisting of the head that causes incoordination and sometimes total incapacitation. Wryneck is most often the result of a bacterial infection of the inner ear and is not a true neck problem. It can be treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, but the outlook with these cases is always guarded.

Unfortunately, wryneck often results from abscessation of the inner ear (and sometimes the brain). Penetration of antibiotics into the diseased area is often restricted or impossible, resulting in mild improvement, temporary relief, or no improvement at all.

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