Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Rabies infection causing paralysis in two pet rabbits
By Karp, B E et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1999·Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Rabies in two privately owned domestic rabbits.
- Species:
- rabbit
Plain-English summary
Two domestic rabbits in Maryland became seriously ill after being infected with rabies, likely from a raccoon. They showed symptoms like not eating, weakness in their left front leg, and one rabbit had head tremors and a tilt. One rabbit got sick 25 days after a raccoon attack and was euthanized shortly after, while the other died just four days after showing signs of illness. Unfortunately, there is no rabies vaccine for rabbits, so the best way to protect them is to keep them away from wild animals.
People also search for: rabbit rabies symptoms · how to protect rabbits from raccoons · rabbit not eating and weak
Abstract
Two privately owned domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Maryland were found to be infected with the raccoon variant of the rabies virus in 1998. Both rabbits had an acute onset of anorexia and paralysis or paresis of the left forelimb; 1 also developed head tremors and a head tilt. One of the rabbits became ill 25 days after being attacked by a raccoon (Procyon lotor) and was euthanatized 3 days after onset of illness. The other rabbit, which was housed in an outdoor hutch, died 4 days after onset of clinical signs; the source of infection in that rabbit remains unknown. Currently, there is not a rabies vaccine approved for use in rabbits; thus, the only way to prevent the infection in rabbits is to prevent exposure. Veterinarians in rabies-enzootic areas should be familiar with the clinical signs of rabies in rabbits and should caution rabbit owners about the need to protect their pets from contact with wildlife.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10613216/