| Small Mammal and Rabbit Focus |
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 Rabbits and guinea pigs especially are becoming ever more common as companion animals requiring specialist veterinary treatment and ever more complex laboratory testing. The laboratory diagnostics of these animals is an area of specific interest to us at CTDS, particularly in the areas of haematology and cytology.
Most of the leucocytes in rabbits and guinea pigs appear very similar to those of other mammals. Novices may easily mistake heterophils (the lapine and cavian equivalent of neutrophils) for eosinophils and be surprised to see mononuclear cells called Foa-Kurloff cells which are unique to Guinea pigs. For further information on cell morphology and images click here.
CTDS veterinary laboratory provides a wide range of rabbit, guinea pig and small mammal tests. Below are examples of the most commonly requested diagnostic tests for rabbits and small mammals. Please consult the price list for additional tests or contact the laboratory if you need assistance with test choice or sample preparation.
Laboratory tests:
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Haematology |
- Complete Haematology - Includes differential WBC count and film comment, requires EDTA or heparin whole blood and fresh blood smear.
- Clotting times - PT and APTT requires citrated plasma.
- Reticulocyte count - requires EDTA or heparin whole blood.
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Blood screens and profiles
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- Rabbit screen - biochemistry screen includes haematology (reduce fee by £5 if haematology is not required) requires 1ml heparin blood, or EDTA and serum and fresh air dried blood film preferable.
- Rabbit profile - extended biochemistry profille which includes haematology (reduce fee by £5 if haematology is not required), requires 1ml heparin blood, or EDTA and serum and fresh air dried blood film preferable.
- We are always happy to customise profiles to meet your needs.
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Microbiology |
- Complete faecal examination - (Code M1) includes:
Aerobic culture (sentest as appropriate), selective cultures for salmonellae,
worm egg count, Coccidial oocysts, cryptosporidia and rotavirus,
other protozoa as ppropriate, Gram stain for Clostridia Spiroforme . - requires faecal material
- Skin examination (Code D4)-
Dermatophyte microscopy and culture, ectoparasite examination and bacteriology (sentest as appropriate)- requires plucked hair and skin scrape.
- Complete urine examination (M2) - labstix, crystal and microscopical analysis, urine culture (sentest as appropriate), quantitative urine protein/creatinine ratio.
- Calculus (urolith) analysis (code M6) - calculus, stone,
calciuria, "sand" or "sludge."
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Serology and virology |
- Encephalitozoon cuniculi - requires 0.2ml serum - please enquire about E. cuniculi titre levels.
- Treponema cuniculi (Rabbit syphilis) - requires 0.2ml serum .
- Myxomatosis - requires 0.2ml serum
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