Dental and oral disease in Lagomorphs

The dental diseases of rabbits are unique because of their dental anatomy and physiology. Common problems of Lagomorph dentition are covered in this article including malocclusions, periodontal disease, and their treatment. The anatomy of Lagomorph dentition is reviewed and anesthesia protocols are included.     

Stress-induced Cushing's syndrome in fur-chewing chinchillas

One of the most serious problems in the chinchilla industry is 'fur-chewing', when the chinchilla bites off areas of its own or some other animal's fur. The condition generally develops in both genders at the age of 6-8 months. In chinchilla farms in Croatia an incidence of 15-20% has been observed. A pathomorphological, microbiological and parasitological investigation was conducted on eleven 6- to 11-month-old chinchillas of both sexes with clinical symptoms of 'fur-chewing' and three chinchillas without such signs. Histopathology of the adrenal glands and of the chewed skin revealed changes typical of Cushing's syndrome in 'fur-chewed' chinchillas, such as hyperkeratinisation of the epidermis, epidermal atrophy, pronounced follicular and sebaceous gland atrophy, hyperkeratinisation of the follicles with comedo formations and the presence of calcium salts in subcutis.     

Malocclusions in guinea pigs,chinchillas and rabbits

The types of malocclusions encountered in rodents and lagomorphs are classified. Diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are reviewed. Some malocclusions are curable, whereas others can only be controlled. The need to perform a complete oral examination and to find a cause for the condition is stressed, as it will seriously affect the prognosis.     

Serodiagnosis of Lyme disease in UK dogs

Lyme disease is a chronic, multisystemic, inflammatory disorder of man and animals associated with infection by the tick-borne spirochaete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease was recently reported for the first time in a dog in the UK (May and others 1990). Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we have performed a serological survey to investigate the prevalence of antibodies to B burgdorferi in UK dogs. The survey has shown that dogs from many areas in the UK have serum antibodies to B burgdorferi, that the presence of serum antibodies is associated with known exposure to ticks and that some dogs seropositive for B burgdorferi have clinical signs consistent with Lyme disease. High levels of serum anti-Borrelia antibodies are not diagnostic for canine Lyme disease, but, in association with appropriate clinical signs, they help to confirm the diagnosis in suspected cases.     

Control of some internal parasites of chinchillas

An unidentified coccidia was found in chinchillas. Treatment with sulfamethazine apparently eradicated the infection from several herds. Ostertagia females and 1 Trichostrongylus colubriformis male were also found in chinchillas, causing emaciation. A dose of thiabendazole of 100 mg./kg. of body weight was effective against the roundworms, but it was toxic. A dose of trichlorphon, 100 mg./kg. of body weight, was effective and safe. Hymenolepis infection caused emaciation and death. Treatment with doses of niclosamide, 200 mg./kg. of body weight, was successful in removing tapeworms, ending deaths, and improving the condition of the host. It did not eradicate the infection.