II. Buphthalmia
III. Splay Leg
IV. Hydrocephalus
There are both hereditary and environmental causes of malocclusion.
Hereditary mandibular prognathism is apparent by 3 weeks of life and is
due to an autosomal recessive trait with incomplete penetrance. Malocclusion
of premolars and molars has been reported in older rabbits. As a
rabbit's incisor teeth grow 4" per year, it is necessary to clip them (but
not too close) every 6 to 8 weeks. Dog nail clippers (Rescoe or White
styles), bone or wire cutters and a rotary tool with disc attachment (shown
in photo) may be used to trim teeth. Care should be taken to prevent
shattering the incisors. .
This disease is congenital glaucoma caused by an autosomal recessive
defect with incomplete penetrance. There is abnormal production and
removal of aqueous from the anterior chamber. Clinical signs may
occur as early as 2 to 3 weeks of age, but are more common at 3 to 4
months of age. Signs include slight cloudiness progressing to increasing
cloudiness of the cornea, a prominent eyeball, conjunctivitis, keratitis,
ulceration, and rupture of the cornea. The condition may be unilateral
or bilateral. Affected individuals should be removed from the breeding
colony. 
Splay leg is a familial or polygenic condition with varying clinical
manifestations. Affected nursing rabbits cannot adduct affected limbs.
The condition may affect one or more limbs. Starvation due to inability
to reach food or water dishes may occur.
The mode of inheritance of this trait is questionable but has been reported
to be autosomal recessive associated with dwarfing and brachygnathism.
Vitamin A deficiency in pregnant does may cause hydrocephalic young to
be born. Vitamin A toxicity of gravid does has also been suspected
of causing skeletal abnormalities (limb deformities, large fontanels) and
hydrocephalus in stillborn term offspring as has been reported in toxicities
in humans.
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