RESULTS OF A MODIFIED NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION IN 26 HEALTHY RABBITS

Abstract

Abstract Up to 11% of rabbit cases in clinical practice present with suspected neurological disease, necessitating a detailed neurological examination. However, neurological evaluations of rabbits are usually based on protocols developed for dogs, and fail to take into account the differences in reaction patterns between prey and predator species. The aim of this study was to report the results of a neurological examination modified for rabbits, so that clinicians might avoid misinterpretation of test results and reduce both the length of the examination and related stress. A neurological examination protocol for rabbits as suggested by Vernau et al. (2007) 1 was tested on 26 healthy rabbits, and the applicability of each test assessed. A number of tests were not found to be useful, e.g., the consensual pupillary light reflex which elicited a response in only 6 of 23 animals. Based on our results, we recommend a rabbit-specific neurological examination, which is shorter and less stressful for the patient.