No abstract

Thymomas are rarely recorded in rabbits, and the literature includes comparatively few cases. Medical records were reviewed to identify all pet rabbits in which a mediastinal mass was diagnosed between Feb 2007 and Jan 2010. Signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic work-up (including laboratory data, diagnostic imaging, and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of the mediastinal mass), treatment modalities, survival time, and histologic findings were evaluated. Cytologic and/or histopathologic examinations revealed thymomas in all rabbits with mediastinal masses (n=13). Rabbits with thymomas showed clinical signs of dyspnea (76.9%), exercise intolerance (53.9%), and bilateral exophthalmos (46.2%). In seven rabbits the thymoma was removed surgically. Two rabbits were treated conservatively, and four rabbits were euthanized because of their poor clinical condition. The two rabbits that underwent surgery were euthanized 6 mo and 34 mo later. Mediastinal masses in rabbits appear to be more common than previously believed and consist primarily of thymomas rather than thymic lymphomas. Cytology of samples collected by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration is an accurate diagnostic tool for the identification of thymomas in rabbits. Due to a high rate of perioperative mortality, intensive perioperative care and the provision of a low-stress environment are recommended for a successful thoracotomy.

Although the incidence of uterine disorders in pet rabbits is high there are only a few retrospective studies and case reports on genital tract disease in female rabbits. Uterine disorders were assessed in 50 pet rabbits. In 31 pet rabbits with suspected clinical uterine disease, medical records were further reviewed regarding clinical signs, diagnostic workup, treatment as well as the outcome itself. Uterine adenocarcinoma (54%) was most frequently diagnosed, followed by endometrial hyperplasia (26%). Serosanguineous vaginal discharge was the predominant clinical sign observed by the rabbit owners. In approximately 50% of the rabbits with suspected uterine disorders, abdominal palpation revealed enlarged and/or irregular masses in the caudoventral abdomen indicating uterine lesions. Out of 23 rabbits undergoing ovariohysterectomy, four were either euthanized or died shortly after surgery because they were clinically unstable. Overall, 80% of the ovariohysterectomized animals were still alive 6 mo after surgery. In female pet rabbits that are not breeding, either ovariohysterectomy should be performed at an early age or routine checks including ultrasonography of the abdomen are recommended on a regular basis.

No abstract

Sixty-six guinea pigs with dental disease were presented to the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria, from 2006 to 2010. Almost all patients had a history of eating difficulties (95 per cent) and underwent clinical and oral examination as well as CT of the head. Findings on extra- and intraoral examination were asymmetric elongation (n=28) and symmetric bridging (n=24) of cheek teeth, obliquely worn incisors (n=17), palpable lower jaw swellings (n=13), exophthalmos (n=10) and incisor macrodontia (n=6). Eighty per cent of guinea pigs with exophthalmos showed ipsilateral periapical disease of the maxillary cheek teeth on CT. Ninety-two per cent of patients with palpable lower jaw swellings showed corresponding dental pathologies on CT. Periapical disease of incisors (n=11) and cheek teeth (n=32) were the most common findings on CT. All abnormally large incisors were found on oral examination and CT, but macrodontia of cheek teeth could only be visualised by CT. Deviation of the lower jaw evaluated in awake animals by visual inspection appeared to correlate with cheek teeth abnormalities. Results emphasise the importance of diagnostic imaging, in particular CT, in guinea pigs with dental disease in order to localise lesions and underlying aetiologies.