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Toa Payoh
Vets Clinical Research
Making veterinary surgery alive
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2 Cases of
scabies in rabbits in Singapore
- 2002 and 2010
Dr
Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Updated:
15 July, 2010
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 toapayohvets.com
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129 |
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Case 1.
2002 - The rabbit fooled the vet
Dr
Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
First recorded: 28 Feb 2002 |
 The
Owner adopted this blue-eyed rabbit although she could have bought a
healthy one. The rabbit stopped eating for a few days after
adoption. "My husband says it is suffering from a kidney
disease," the Owner said. The kind human doctor could be
teasing her, but he took time on a Sunday morning to bring this
blue-eyed rabbit to consult me.
One look at the skinny rabbit was not enough to diagnose that it was
suffering from kidney disease. This male rabbit of probably less
than one year old could be having nephritis too. Blood tests
needed to be done but it would increase the cost to the
Owner. A new ordinary rabbit costs around twenty five
dollars although dwarf rabbits cost much more. This was
just an ordinary rabbit.
 The crusts were thick on the nose and feet and was what
veterinarians called a pathognomic diagnosis of rabbit mange.
"It is rabbit mange," I said. "After one injection, the
crusts on its nose and feet would fall off within 3 days. He should be
home in 7 days." Over the years, this was what happened to
all similar cases.
The rabbit was given an anti-mite injection under the skin. I reduced
the dosage as it was not healthy. He was not eating for a few days
and was emaciated and the injection might just kill him. However,
the fur hid all ribs and bones.
 This rabbit did not pass stools for the next three days, an unusual
occurrence for any rabbit. Rabbits seem to pass stool many times a
day and this one must was really anorexic. How he could eat, I don't
know as the crust on his nose overgrow into the lips and muzzle. I knew
he loved grapes and water melons. They were soft and sweet.
On
the seventh day, the doctor's wife phoned, expecting the rabbit to
be able to go home. I did say three days. The nose crust was as firm as
it could be. Should I give another anti-mite injection? Was the
dosage too low? Some veterinarians gave two injections.
 I
checked the rest of the body. The bottom of the feet
showed some new pink skin where the crusts had fallen
off.
As if the rabbit knew about my worries, his crust fell off on the next
day, that is, the eighth day after the injection. I felt so much
better.
 The
rabbit definitely felt much better as it could now eat and drink from
the water bottle. It could hop on the grass without feeling pain and
itchiness.
It
would be an uneventful recovery. This rabbit certainly fooled
me. It is thanks to modern advances in veterinary medicine that
rabbits with crusty noses and feet need not suffer the pain of
disease. If only all rabbit Owners in this world are aware that there is an effective and
inexpensive injection to cure it.
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Case
2. 2010 - The rabbit screamed and
jumped out of its bag
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
First recorded: 13 July 2010 |
E-MAIL
TO DR SING JULY 5, 2010
 Hi,
I
have a 10-week-old rabbit
and I felt it had sarcoptic mange. I began
to see dark brown crust on the nose area and
it is itching there often. Actually I just
got it from the pet shop last month. I saw
the spot there but I thought it is the
colour of the nose and that time there was
no
crust. Then I realised that the brown spot
seemed to grow bigger but since it was not
crusty, I thought its the colour of the
nose. May I know how much is your
consultation and the 2 jabs? Do you except
Diners card? Thanks.
Regards
Name of Owner |
S cabies
in rabbits can be a very itchy disease. The
rabbit keeps scratching
Ivomec injections can be painful for some
thin rabbits as in this case. This rabbit
was injected 0.15 ml of ivomectin diluted
with saline subcutaneous and put back into
the carrier bag which was on the
consultation table. Suddenly she screamed
and sprang out of the bag and landed onto
the floor. I could not catch her in time.
Fortunately there were no fractures or
injuries.
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FEEDBACK E-MAIL TO DR SING JULY 12, 2010
Hi Dr Sing,
Sorry for the delay. My
rabbit was initially traumatized for
one day as he didn't stretch out his body
like he used too. However, he seemed to be
eating a lot more hay than usual. His
scratching reduced by ~80%, which is good
news as he can sleep peacefully
On Saturday (July 10, 2010, 5 days after
0.15 ml ivermec injection SC), he was
feeling ok as he began to hop in his cage.
The crust is still there though but I
haven't applied the shampoo yet as I do not
want to cause more stress to him. I will be
applying the shampoo today onwards. Anyway,
thank you so much for your help. I
will update you soon on his progress.
Regards
Name of Owner |
FEEDBACK E-MAIL TO DR SING JULY 14, 2010
Hi Dr Sing,
How are you doing? Just to let you know that
the dark brown crust fell off yesterday. I
can see new pink skin at his nose, ears and
feet. The nose shape is still odd though. I
will let you know once the nose shape
resumes back to normal. He is eating more
hay and pellets now.
Regards
Name of Owner |
It takes
around 7 - 10 days after the
ivomectin for the thick nose crust to fall
out. This means the mites had died.
Usually one injection is sufficient.
In 2010,
I noticed that many pet shop rabbit sellers
use spot-on insecticides applied behind the
head and between the shoulders to pre-empt
scabies from developing |
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MORE INFO: Goto:
Rabbits
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