Rabbit Medicine and Surgery Q&A 13

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A one-year-old pet rabbit presents with unilateral exophthalmos and a history of anorexia and excessive salivation.

Question	Answer		Article
What are the differential diagnoses in this case?	Retrobulbar space-occupying lesion, such as an abscess (possibly associated with tooth root overgrowth) or neoplasia (for example lymphoma); increased intraocular pressure such as glaucoma, infection, haemorrhage or neoplasia. Exophthalmos has been reported in rabbits with an intrathoracic mass (thymoma) and following long-term external jugular catheter placement.		Link to Article
What further investigative procedures would you perform?	Ophthalmoscopy may detect ocular infiltrates. Intraocular pressure measurements will be elevated in glaucoma. Oral examination and radiography of the skull is indicated to rule out underlying dental disease. Ultrasonography of the orbit may demonstrate an abscess and needle aspiration may be used to sample the contents. Aspirates are likely to be purulent material associated with Pasteurella multocida or other bacterial infection.		Link to Article