Surgical Treatment of Facial Abscesses and Facial Surgery in Pet Rabbits

Computed Tomographic Findings Secondary to Dental Pathologies: Comparison between Rabbits and Guinea Pigs

(1) Background: dental pathologies are the most frequent reason for requesting a CT scan of the head in rabbits and guinea pigs. The study aimed to review head CT exams of both species to identify and characterize lesions secondary to dental disease. (2) Methods: head CT studies of 48 rabbits and 52 guinea pigs with dental pathologies were reviewed. (3) Results: dental abnormalities of mandibular teeth were the most represented, both in rabbits (81.2%) and guinea pigs (98%). The aggressive bone lesion associated with teeth was the more frequently observed bone lesion in rabbits' mandible and maxilla; in guinea pigs, the more frequent bone lesions were bulging around the roots of the teeth with focal lysis in the maxilla, and without focal lysis in the mandible. In the maxilla, the increased attenuation of nasal cavities (rhinitis) was the most frequently observed abnormality both in rabbits (60%) and guinea pigs (83.3%); the exophthalmos was more represented in rabbits (53.3%). In the mandible, the cavernous space-occupying lesion was more represented both in rabbits (92.3%) and guinea pigs (73.3%). (4) Conclusions: lesions secondary to dental pathologies were often observed both in rabbits and guinea pigs; CT examination has proven to be valuable in detecting secondary alterations in both species.

Changes in rabbit lymphocyte subpopulations and activation following long-term administration of meloxicam

Meloxicam is a commonly used analgesic in rabbits. However, its possible impact on lymphocyte subpopulations remained unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate a possible effect of long-term administration of meloxicam on rabbit lymphocyte subpopulations. The study included 8 rabbits given meloxicam orally once daily (1 mg/kg BW) for 14 days and 8 rabbits as a control group. Peripheral blood samples were collected on day 0 (before the first dose of meloxicam), day 3, 7 and 14. Samples were evaluated with a haematology analyser and a flow cytometer. A significant decrease in T: B cell ratio was found in all samples taken during meloxicam administration compared to day 0, as well as in comparison with the control group (P < 0.01). A significant increase (P < 0.05) in proportion of CD5 +CD8 + lymphocytes occurred by day 3. Subsequently, although the values slightly decreased, they still remained elevated throughout all the experiment compared to the values from day 0 (P < 0.05). A slight decrease in T and B cell activation (CD5 +CD25 + and IgM+CD25 +) noticed by day 3, declined during the next days of administration and became more and more significant (finally, P = 0.0078). Since a high significant decrease (P < 0.01) in both T and B cell activation as well as a significant increase (P < 0.05) in CD5 +CD8 + T cells proportion were observed after meloxicam administration, a predicted effect of long-term administration of meloxicam on rabbit lymphocytes was confirmed.