Rabbit with scaling skin

Re: Rabbit with scaling skin

John Ellis — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 21:45:12 GMT

We had a rabbit with ears that were grossly identical to your rabbits...... A colleague performed scrapes and plucks which we're negative for parasites/fungus, and due to owner cost concern, the rabbit was then treated with topical fuciderm..... it got 100% better in about 2 weeks! The rabbit relapsed about 1yr later and again responded rapidly to fuciderm. I'm not sure about possible degree/effect of systemic steroid absorption in rabbits from using fuciderm (cortavance could be a better option?) though. The rabbit in our case did not have evidence of other lesions though.

Re: Rabbit with scaling skin

claire power — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 12:22:56 GMT

Thanks very much Marie, I will try the F10 cream and continue with the ivomec for now and see if the owners will go for referral.

The biopsies were taken from various scaling lesions on the head, around the eyes and ears. He also has crusting lesions on his nose now too. DO you think it is worth a trial penicillin injection in case of syphilis if he doesnt respond to other treatment - although there are definitely no genital lesions, and he is housed next to but not in contact with another rabbit ( who doesnt have lesions that the owner has seen) ?

Thanks again !

Claire

Re: Rabbit with scaling skin

Marie Kubiak — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 19:38:02 GMT

Hi,

you've done a thorough work up and this would usually yield an answer in most cases so a bit of a tricky one! Where exactly where the biopsies taken from?

I'm no dermatologist but things I would consider would be:

self-trauma due to facial/TMJ/ear pain

sebaceous adenitis with failure of typical histopathological changes (biopsy of as yet unaffected area?)

Hepatocutaneous syndrome

Thymoma (one not large enough to be radiographically identifiable)

Endocrine disease (Thyroidal/adrenal)

Superficial vasculitis

Contact dermatitis

Inflammation from biting insects (rabbit fleas like the ears but tend to stay attached at the margins)

I would consider referral to a dermatologist at this stage as no single cause fits perfectly, but if funds have run out then re-exam and see if anything has altered and if not then an empirical/symptomatic approach may help in the short term (NSAIDs, 400mcg/kg ivermectinby injection weekly for 4wks, topical emollients and antimicrobials - I like F10 barrier cream due to wide spectrum but it is very greasy), wait and see but warn the owner repeat biopsies in future may be needed if problems persist to try and identifying advancing lesions. The best scenario is that this is a severe reaction to mite infestation (given original improvement) and the remaining dead mites/debris have been broken down and aren't histologically visible but are promoting a mild reaction while everything around heals, but I'm clutching at hopeful straws with that!

Marie