Septic arthritides are occasionally encountered and are diagnosed radiographically in pet rabbits. Microbiological investigation is very important but Pasteurellar organisms often don’t survive the journey through the post to the lab and treatment with antibiotics should cover Pasteurella species in its spectrum so, in the absence of antibiograms, I recommend oxytetracycline (Engemycin 5%®; Intervet) SC q72hrs or procaine penicillin SC q4-7d.
It is important to note that the use of lincosamides orally or parenterally is contraindicated in rabbits due to the possibility of overgrowth of the large intestine with pathogenic Clostridium species while these antibiotics are in use. (But see the details of the treatment of abscesses and osteomyelitis).
Chronic deformative arthroses are occasionally encountered in pet rabbits (Rubel, Isenbugel and Wolvekamp 1991) and are usually treated conservatively or affected animals are humanely destroyed.
Hyperostotic polyarthropathy is reported in a rabbit fed excess vitamin A in the form of a diet consisting almost exclusively of diets (Frater 2001).
References
Rubel, Isenbugel and Wolvekamp 1991
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