Antibiotic (enteric dysbiosis / enterotoxemia) toxicity in rabbits — oral antibiotic contraindications
Source: Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com), a copyrighted veterinary reference. Per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3, the points below are paraphrased derived fact summaries: numerical values and proper nouns are preserved from the source, but sentences are rewritten and not quoted verbatim.
Claims
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Rabbits are classified as lagomorphs, not rodents.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Rabbit calcium metabolism yields higher normal blood calcium (up to 16 mg/dL) and a wider range than in other animals, which can prompt a false diagnosis of hypercalcemia.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Very few products are licensed for rabbits, leading to extra-label use of therapies approved for other species.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Use particular caution with antibiotics that suppress normal gut microflora and cause enteric dysbiosis and/or enterotoxemia.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* This 'antibiotic toxicity' means oral clindamycin, lincomycin, erythromycin, ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and cephalosporins are contraindicated in rabbits.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* The flea treatment fipronil is contraindicated in rabbits because of severe toxic reactions in some individuals.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Palpating the doe's abdomen for grape-sized uterine embryos is a much better way to detect pregnancy.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Other starches such as fructo-oligosaccharides or galacto-oligosaccharides do not have the same effect.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Feed hoppers are best made of sheet metal with holes or a screen in the bottom to remove fines (small broken feed particles).
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Poor sanitation leads to disease and death, so cleaning and sanitizing must be constant.
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License & attribution
Source: Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com) is a copyrighted veterinary reference and is not openly licensed. Per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3, every claim above is a paraphrased derived fact summary (numbers and proper nouns preserved, sentences rewritten), not a verbatim quotation.
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