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Di Girolamo N, Petrini D, Szabo Z, Volait-Rosset L, Oglesbee BL, Nardini G, Possenti M, Gerosa S, Rota S, Huynh M, Vitolo D, Devescovi E, Nicoletti A, Selleri P, Guillier D, Reese D, Nicolier A, Reyes-Gomez E, Matteucci G, Reavill DR, Binanti D. Clinical, surgical, and pathological findings in client-owned rabbits with histologically confirmed appendicitis: 19 cases (2015-2019). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2022; 260:82-93. [PMID: 34843442 DOI: 10.2460/javma.20.08.0446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To report clinical, surgical, and pathological findings in client-owned rabbits with histologically confirmed appendicitis. ANIMALS 19 rabbits. PROCEDURES Medical records for client-owned rabbits that had a histologic diagnosis of appendicitis were reviewed. RESULTS Median age of the rabbits at presentation was 24.0 months (range, 4 to 84 months). Seventeen cases occurred during the summer and fall seasons. Decreased appetite (17/19 rabbits), abnormal rectal temperature (hyperthermia, 9/16 rabbits; hypothermia, 4/16 rabbits), hypocalcemia (8/11 rabbits), and hypoglycemia (7/15 rabbits) were common signs. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT findings were suggestive of appendicitis in 6 of 8 rabbits and in 1 of 2 rabbits, respectively. Of the 6 rabbits that received medical treatment, 3 died at 48 hours, 1 died at 24 hours after hospitalization, and 1 died at 10 days after presentation; 1 rabbit was alive at 1,030 days after presentation. Of the 8 rabbits that underwent appendectomy, 3 died before discharge from the hospital and 1 died 113 days after surgery; 4 rabbits were alive at 315, 334, 1,433, and 1,473 days after presentation. The remaining 5 rabbits either died or were euthanized before treatment could be instituted. In each of the 19 rabbits, the appendix had evidence of severe inflammation with mucosal ulceration, heterophilic inflammation, and necrotic debris. CLINICAL RELEVANCE For rabbits with decreased appetite and an apparently painful abdomen, hyperthermia, hypocalcemia, or hypoglycemia, appendicitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis. Further comparisons of medical and surgical treatments are required to establish treatment recommendations for rabbits with appendicitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Di Girolamo
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
| | | | - Zoltan Szabo
- Tai Wai Small Animal & Exotic Hospital, Tai Wai, Shatin, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
| | - Laetitia Volait-Rosset
- Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Unit, Alfort National Veterinary School, University of East Paris, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | | | - Marzia Possenti
- L'Arca Ambulatorio Veterinario Associato, Cassano d'Adda, Italy
| | | | | | - Minh Huynh
- Exotic Department, Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Frégis, Arcueil, France
| | | | | | | | | | - David Guillier
- Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Unit, Alfort National Veterinary School, University of East Paris, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - David Reese
- VetCT Consultants in Telemedicine, Fremantle, WA, Australia
| | | | - Edouard Reyes-Gomez
- Unité d'Histologie et d'Anatomie Pathologique, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | | | - Diana Binanti
- AbLab Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Sarzana, Italy
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