As pruritus is the most common clinical sign of parasitic infection of rabbits, attention must be directed toward husbandry to rule out other causes and to correct deficiencies. Refresh your knowledge in this article from Clinician’s Brief, our official clinical practice journal, written by David Eshar, DVM, DABVP (ECM), DECZM (SM & ZHM), Kansas State University.
Lice between parted hair on physical examination of a rabbit (see full article).
Dermatologic diseases are among the most common clinical presentations in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Most dermatoses in rabbits occur secondary to parasitic infestation.
Many clinical presentations in rabbits result from suboptimal husbandry (eg, environment, diet); therefore, a thorough review of patient husbandry is critical for successful diagnosis and treatment of dermatoses and/or parasitic infestation. The owner should be questioned about the patient’s caging system, substrate, bedding, and diet and whether the patient is indoor, outdoor, or both. More targeted questions pertaining to skin disease (eg, duration of any past diseases, treatment, whether other animals in the household are also showing dermatologic signs) can also be beneficial. Once identified, any husbandry deficiencies should be corrected and the environment treated (eg, cage cleaned, bedding removed, other animals in the household evaluated) to control the parasitic infestation and prevent recurrence.
Clinical Signs
Rabbits infested with ectoparasites can show a variety of clinical signs, most commonly pruritus, scaling or crusting, hair loss, erythema, excoriations, erosions, alopecia, and/or nodules. Pruritus is the most common clinical sign associated with ectoparasites in rabbits2-4; thus, recognition of pruritus in patients, in other animals in contact with the patient, or in the owner is crucial.
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