Description
These days, pet rabbits are seen for a variety of problems and dermatological cases are very common. The aetiology varies but problems due to due parasitic, bacterial and viral infections still constitute the higher percentage of these cases. Stress and pain also play an important part and should be taken in consideration during the initial consultation. Abscesses, especially the facial ones, can be considered a challenge and a medical approach can often be unrewarding due to the thick capsule that stops the penetration of antibiotics. Surgical treatment is considered the treatment of choice with a higher rate of success; the choice of the surgical technique e.g. removal of the entire abscess or marsupialisation, depends on the location and severity of the presentation. Urine scalding is a painful condition that affects the skin of the ventral abdomen and thighs. This is caused by the contact with urine that is very irritating to the skin causing inflammation and secondary infection. While treating it, the underlying cause such as e.g. polyuria, arthritis and suboptimal management should be addressed. Neoplastic skin disorders are generally rare. However, rabbits tend to live longer these days and tumours such as lipomas, papillomas and squamous cell carcinoma to name a few, are now more frequent. Treatment and prognosis depend on the aetiology of the tumour. Surgical excision is generally curative while chemotherapy protocols are generally limited and rarely reported. A diagnostic approach to the rabbit skin problems is similar to that of other companion animals such as cats and dogs. However, in the case of rabbits, often a specialised lab in exotic animals can aid in the diagnosis and management of the case. This lecture will discuss the most common dermatological cases seen in rabbits and will give an understanding of available diagnostic test and an update of the available treatments. Livia Benato DVM MScR CertZooMed Dip ECZM (Small Mammals) MRCVS has worked with rabbits, exotic animals and wildlife since she graduated in 2002 at the University of Parma in Italy. She gained her Certificate in Zoological Medicine in 2009. She finished her residency in Rabbit and Exotic Animal Medicine in 2011 at the University of Edinburgh (UK) where she also gained her Master by Research on rabbit probiotics. She then worked for one year at Chester Zoo (UK) as Veterinary Officer before moving back to Scotland in 2013 where she worked as University Veterinary Clinician at the University of Glasgow (UK). In October 2015 she moved to the South West but she maintained her role as Affiliate lecturer in Zoological medicine at the University of Glasgow. Since October 2015 she has been working at CityVets in Exeter (UK) as Small Mammal and Exotics Veterinary Associate. Alongside her clinical work, in 2016 she started her PhD project at the University of Bristol (UK) focusing on the topic of pain and stress in pet rabbits. Livia is a RCVS Recognised Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (Mammalian) and a European Recognised Specialist in Small Mammal Medicine.