Rabbit conjunctivitis

13 Rabbit conjunctivitis







CLINICAL EXAMINATION


General clinical examination can be variable. In many animals it will be normal but a significant number will have evidence of respiratory disease – nasal discharge, increased respiratory rate and effort, mild pyrexia and so on. Sometimes the rabbit will be thin. As with all rabbits which are presented to the surgery their teeth should be checked!


On ophthalmic examination the affected eye(s) will be obviously red and inflamed. Thus marked conjunctival hyperaemia will be present, usually affecting both bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva, and moderate chemosis is frequently also present. Sometimes the conjunctiva is so swollen that visualization of the eye itself is difficult. Moderate blepharospasm is present, frequently with significant lid swelling as well as hyperaemia. The lids should be checked for signs of entropion which can occur in young rabbits and will cause secondary conjunctival hyperaemia. An ocular discharge is almost always present but can be very variable in nature. Initially it is usually serous but rapidly becomes mucopurulent and can be very thick and sticky – adhering to the eyelids and medial canthal skin and sometimes causing local skin excoriation.


The cornea should always be stained with fluorescein to check for evidence of corneal ulceration but this can be difficult in very painful eyes with excessive chemosis. A slight miosis can be present but in general intraocular examination is unremarkable.




Sep 10, 2016 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on Rabbit conjunctivitis

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