The Use of an External Skin-Stretching Device for Wound Management in a Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

A 4-year-old male, neutered Polish Dwarf Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) presented to the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a degloving injury resulting from an unknown trauma. The wound covered approximately 30% of the rabbit’s dorsum and right flank, extending from the tail base to the last rib. The wound was infested with maggots. A large portion of the affected skin was devitalized with extensive exposure of the underlying musculature. After initial stabilization, the rabbit’s wound was thoroughly explored, debrided, and lavaged while the rabbit was under sevoflurane anesthesia. Primary closure was impossible without extreme skin tension, so an external skin-stretching device was placed to recruit skin for delayed primary closure. The device was maintained for 72 hours, and then a delayed primary closure was performed. The external skin-stretching device is an inexpensive, noninvasive method of wound management in wounds that would otherwise have tension that would preclude primary closure. The device also allows the clinician to repeatedly visualize, lavage, and debride the wound before closure and places pressure on the primary layer of a wet-to-dry bandage, without which debridement would not occur. This case is the first reported use of an external skin-stretching device in a pet rabbit.

Key words:  Oryctolagus cuniculus , Polish Dwarf Rabbit , wound management , external skin-stretching device , delayed primary closure , pet rabbit medicine