Common Radiographic Findings in the Rabbit

Key Points

  • Radiography can be challenging in the rabbit.
  • Utilize tabletop technique placing rabbits directly on the film cassette.
  • Use fine or detail-intensifying screens or cassettes to maximize anatomic detail.
  • Lateral films may be taken with only manual restraint in some rabbits, however sedation or general anesthesia may be needed for the best positioning.
  • It is normal to see some gas present within the rabbit gastrointestinal tract.
  • It is also normal for rabbits on a calcium-rich diet (i.e. alfalfa-based) to have calciuria or a significant amount of radiopaque sediment in their urine.
  • Normal chest radiographs can be particularly challenging to evaluate in rabbits. The cranial lung lobes are small and are obscured by a wide mediastinum, and the caudal lung lobes contain pronounced vasculature.

Radiography can be challenging in the rabbit. This article reviews equipment needs, clinical techniques, as well as normal and common abnormal findings in the abdomen, chest, musculoskeletal system, as well as ears and nose . . .


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References

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Capello V, Lennox AM, Widmer W. Clinical Radiology of Exotic Companion Mammals. Wiley-Blackwell, 2008.

Debenham JJ, Brinchmann T, Sheen J, Vella D. Radiographic diagnosis of small intestinal obstruction in pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus):  63 cases. J Small Anim Pract. 2016;60(11):691-696.

Di Girolamo N, Selleri P. Disorders of the urinary and reproductive systems – Disorders of the urinary system. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2021. Pp. 209-212.

Donnelly TM, Vella D. Basic anatomy, physiology, and husbandry of rabbits. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed. St. Louis: Saunders; 2021. Pp. 131-143.

Fisher PG, Künzel F, Rylander H. Neurologic and musculoskeletal diseases – Otitis media-interna. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2021. Pp. 240.

Hallman RM, Brandão J. Diagnostic imaging of the renal system in exotic companion mammals. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2020;23(1):195-214. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2019.09.004. PMID: 31759447.

Kelleher S. Radiology of rabbits – Master class. Proc Annu Conf CVC 2008.

Lennox AM. Advanced exotic companion mammal radiology. Proc Annu Conf American Board of Veterinary Practitioners 2019.

Lennox AM, Mancinelli E. Respiratory disease – Diagnostic testing. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2021. Pp. 190.

Oglesbee B, Lord B. Gastrointestinal diseases of rabbits – Diagnostic testing. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2021. Pp. 175.

Silverman S, Dennison S. Imaging in special species. Proc Annu Joint Conference Assoc Avian Vet and Assoc Exot Mammal Vet, 2010. Pp. 237-246.

Silverman S, Tell L. Radiology of Rodents, Rabbits, and Ferrets: An Atlas of Normal Anatomy and Positioning. St. Louis: Saunders; 2004.

Tarbell AL, Fischetti AJ. Diagnostic imaging. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2021. P. 560.

Varga M. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, 2nd ed. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann Elsevier; 2014.

 

FURTHER READING

Artiles CA, Sanchez-Migallon Guzman D, Beaufrère H, Phillips KL. Computed tomographic findings of dental disease in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): 100 cases (2009-2017). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2020;257(3):313-327. doi: 10.2460/javma.257.3.313. PMID: 32657651.

Buch D, Saldanha A, Muehlbauer E, et al. Computed tomographic findings of the urinary tract in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). J Exotic Pet Med. 2022;40:1-7.

de Matos R, Ruby J, Van Hatten RA, Thompson M. Computed tomographic features of clinical and subclinical middle ear disease in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): 88 cases (2007-2014). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2015;246(3):336-43. doi: 10.2460/javma.246.3.336. PMID: 25587734.

Dierig JA, Fehr M, Eckert Y, et al. Diatrizoate contrast agent study for luminal patency and visualization of the gastrointestinal tract in healthy rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and its influence on selected blood parameters and fecal quality. J Exotic Pet Med. 2021;37:8-15.

Jekl V. Respiratory Disorders in Rabbits. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2021;24(2):459-482. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2021.01.006. PMID: 33892895.

Lübke VC, Fehr M, Köstlinger S. Validation of whole-body radiographs for examining uterine disorders in sexually intact female rabbits. Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere. 2019;47(1):14-24. doi: 10.1055/a-0804-1704. PMID: 30808035.

Müllhaupt D, Wenger S, Kircher P, Pfammatter N, Hatt JM, Ohlerth S. Computed tomography of the thorax in rabbits: a prospective study in ten clinically healthy New Zealand White rabbits. Acta Vet Scand. 2017;59(1):72. doi: 10.1186/s13028-017-0340-x. PMID: 29065887; PMCID: PMC5655941.

Regalado A, Legendre L. Full-mouth intraoral radiographic survey in rabbits. J Vet Dent. 2017;34(3):190-200. doi: 10.1177/0898756417723145. PMID: 28814181.

Richardson J, Longo M, Liuti T, Eatwell K. Computed tomographic grading of middle ear disease in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculi). Vet Rec. 2019;184(22):679. doi: 10.1136/vr.104980. PMID: 31147450.

Vilalta L, Altuzarra R, Espada Y, Dominguez E, Novellas R, Martorell J. Description and comparison of excretory urography performed during radiography and computed tomography for evaluation of the urinary system in healthy New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Am J Vet Res. 2017;78(4):472-481. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.78.4.472. PMID: 28345995.

To cite this page:

Kelleher S. Common radiographic findings in the rabbit. June 10, 2010. LafeberVet Web site. Available at https://lafeber.com/vet/common-radiographic-findings-in-the-rabbit/