Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Common dental and spine problems in pet rabbits in Finland
By Mäkitaipale, J et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2015·Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Health survey of 167 pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Finland.
- Species:
- rabbit
Plain-English summary
A health check of 167 pet rabbits in Finland revealed that many owners might not realize their rabbits have health issues. In fact, 70% of the rabbits examined had some abnormal findings, with the most common problems being dental disease, spine deformities, skin issues, and eye disorders. Dwarf lop rabbits were particularly prone to spine problems. The study found that older rabbits, especially those over three years old, were more likely to have health issues. Regular vet check-ups are recommended for all rabbits, especially as they age, to catch any hidden health problems early.
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Abstract
Only a limited amount of information is available about health status of pet rabbits. The aim of this study was to obtain data about the health status of pet rabbits considered healthy by the owners in Finland. Physical examination and lateral abdominal and lateral skull radiography were performed on 167 pet rabbits of which 118 (70.7 per cent) had abnormal findings in at least one examination. The most common findings were acquired dental disease (n=67, 40.1 per cent), vertebral column deformities and degenerative lesions (n=52, 31.1 per cent), skin disorders (n=28, 16.8 per cent) and eye disorders (n=12, 7.2 per cent). Vertebral column angulating deformities were significantly more common in dwarf lop rabbits (P≤0.001). The prevalence of health disorders was significantly higher in rabbits over three years of age of which 51 (82.3 per cent) had findings in at least one examination (P<0.05). Rabbits as prey animals hide their illness, which cause difficulties to owners to recognise health problems. Because of the high prevalence of clinical and radiological findings in apparently healthy pet rabbits, regular physical examinations are advised, especially for animals over three years old.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26475828/