Ultrasonography is feasible for diagnosis of otitis media in unsedated pet rabbits.

Tympanic bullae ultrasonography is a feasible, rapid first-line tool for diagnosing otitis media in unsedated pet rabbits.

This prospective single-center study evaluated the feasibility and diagnostic performance of tympanic bullae (TB) ultrasonography (US) for detecting otitis media (OM) in live, unsedated pet rabbits, using CT as the reference standard. Fifteen client-owned adult rabbits (30 middle ears) underwent both head CT and TB US on the same day between January 2022 and March 2023. CT identified OM in 17 of 30 middle ears (56.7%). Ultrasonography successfully evaluated 29 of 30 TBs, with a mean examination time of 9.8 minutes per rabbit. Two independent blinded observers assessed US images, yielding a mean sensitivity of 88.3% (95% CI, 73%–97%) and specificity of 79.2% (95% CI, 57%–94%) for OM detection. Interobserver agreement was moderate (Cohen κ = 0.496). The study demonstrates that TB US is a practical, rapid, and noninvasive first-line imaging tool that does not require sedation, making it particularly advantageous in predisposed populations such as lop-eared rabbits. Despite good diagnostic performance, US has limitations including moderate interobserver variability and occasional inconclusive results. CT remains the gold standard and is recommended when US findings are equivocal or when detailed anatomical information is needed for surgical or therapeutic planning. Overall, TB ultrasonography represents a valuable, accessible alternative to CT for initial OM screening in rabbits in clinical practice.

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