A retrospective study (2006-2020) of cytology and biopsy findings in pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) and four-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) seen at an exotic animal clinic in Tokyo, Japan

Exotic Animal Practice in East Asia: A Retrospective Study of Species Distribution and Their Common Diseases at 2 Exotics-only Veterinary Clinics in the East Asia Region

The objective of this clinical retrospective study was to analyze the prevalence and distribution of different avian and exotic animals presented to 2 exotics-only veterinary hospital in Hong Kong and Taiwan over a 1 year period. Exotic companion mammals, predominated by rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) that were often diagnosed with fractures, were the most commonly presented group of patients in the hospital in Hong Kong while second most of that in Taiwan, with dental disease being commonly presented in the species. This study provided a general overview of avian and exotic patients presented to exotics-only practices in the East Asia region.

Diseases of domestic rabbits by purpose; a retrospective study of 2,583 cases received at 4 diagnostic laboratories in California, USA, 2013-2022

Domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are commonly kept as pets or bred for laboratory investigation, meat, fur production, or a combination of these purposes. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the prevalence of diseases in domestic rabbits according to purpose. We retrieved results of autopsies, biopsies, and cytologies from 2,583 cases received at 4 diagnostic laboratories in California from 2013-2022. Rabbits were classified as pets (2,241; 86.8%), laboratory animals (92; 3.6%), meat-production animals (60; 2.3%), or multipurpose animals (190; 7.4%). A final diagnosis was reached in 2,360 (91.4%) cases and was classified by system, etiology, and type of process. Pet rabbits had the highest median age (5.9 y; vs. 3 y, 0.67 y, and 0.25 y in meat, multipurpose, and laboratory rabbits, respectively), and most of the neoplasms were diagnosed in this group (872 of the total 896 neoplasms in the study; 97.3%), with tumors of the skin, female reproductive tract, and hematolymphoid system being the most common. Laboratory rabbits had a high prevalence of infectious enterotyphlocolitis (40 of 92; 43.4%), and ~45% of those cases were due to opportunistic colibacillosis. Infectious and parasitic pneumonias were common in meat rabbits (18 of 60; 30%); pneumonic pasteurellosis accounted for >60% of those cases. Infectious cholangiohepatitides were common in multipurpose rabbits (61 of 110; 55.5%), with rabbit hemorrhagic disease representing the most common etiology (82.4% of those cases). Our results demonstrate that purpose of use can predict prevalence of disease in rabbits submitted to diagnostic laboratories.

Ferret Dermatology

Skin diseases commonly affect pet ferrets, with neoplastic, endocrine, and parasitic diseases being the most common. This review includes clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, and treatment of diseases with a dermatologic presentation in ferrets.