The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the causes of morbidity and mortality in free-ranging raptors admitted to a wildlife rehabilitation center (WRC) in Abruzzo Italy from 2005 to 2016 and the associated risk factors. A total of 2496 free-ranging raptors were included in the study. We analyzed the raptors’ medical records, epidemiological information, bird characteristics, cause of admission, final diagnosis, and outcome. The prevalence rates of nocturnal and diurnal raptors were 49% and 51%, respectively. Nocturnal raptors showed trauma as the primary cause of admission (45.8%, 558/1219), followed by nestling (including birds on their first flight attempt or presumed abandoned by their parents) (39.2%, 478/1219), and starvation (5.6%, 68/1219). Diurnal raptors showed trauma (73.1%, 934/1277), starvation (12.1%, 155/1277), and nestling (5.8%, 74/1277) accordingly. A description of the dangers for wild birds of prey in the Abruzzo region was provided to assist in the planning of rescue and rehabilitation activities in the WRC. Finally, the cause of admission, GAP, and BCS can be used as prognostic factors during the bird entry process.

Objective: Describe lateral ear canal resection and bulla osteotomy with marsupialization (LECARBOM) in rabbits with otitis media (OM), and report outcomes, complications, bacteria cultured from middle ears, and their antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) results.Study design: Retrospective clinical case series; single referral hospital.Animals: Forty‐two rabbits with naturally occurring OM.Methods: Medical records (2011–2021) of rabbits with CT‐confirmed OM undergoing surgery were reviewed for outcomes, complications, bacteria cultured from middle ears, and AST.Results: Surgery was performed on 48 ears, and outcomes determined 21 days postoperatively. All rabbits survived the procedure. Otitis externa resolved in all lop‐eared rabbits. Of 29 ears with OM‐associated head tilt, eight (28%) resolved, nine (31%) improved, seven (24%) remained unchanged and five (17%) worsened. Outcome was not associated with head tilt duration nor OM severity. Postoperative complications occurred in 12 (25%) cases, seven of which had wound margin dehiscence that healed by 21 days. The most frequent bacteria isolated were Pasteurella multocida (16%), Bordetella bronchiseptica (14%) and Staphylococcus aureus (14%). Bacteria were sensitive to azithromycin, marbofloxacin or enrofloxacin and resistant to penicillin.Conclusion: LECARBOM is a well‐tolerated surgical procedure to treat OM. It also improved or stabilized 83% of cases with head tilt and resolved all cases with otitis externa.Clinical significance: LECARBOM with administration of an AST‐sensitive antibiotic, or azithromycin when no AST is performed, should be effective in rabbits with OM. Postsurgically, it resolves or alleviates most secondary conditions such as otitis externa, head tilt and facial nerve paralysis.

Background: Otitis is a major disease impacting both pet guinea pigs and laboratory guinea pigs that are used as models in human otological studies. Methods: Medical records from two veterinary clinics were retrospectively reviewed to identify guinea pigs diagnosed with computed tomography (CT)‐confirmed otitis between 2014 and 2023. The clinical signs, treatment and bacteria isolated in these cases were noted, and predisposing factors were identified. Results: Thirty‐six guinea pigs out of the 1477 seen at the clinics during the study period had otitis, giving a prevalence of 2.4%. The majority (61%) of guinea pigs had non‐specific clinical signs, with 12 (33%) having respiratory signs and nine (25%) having dental disease. Only 14 animals (39%) had vestibular signs. Females were less likely to have otitis than males (odds ratio: 0.2). No age predilection was identified (age range 5–60 months). Animals with vestibular signs or respiratory signs had 21.8 and 9.5 times higher odds of having otitis, respectively. Treatment was divided into medical management or surgery and antibiotic therapy. No difference in survival times was observed regarding treatment received. Limitations: Limitations of the study include the small number of animals and lack of repeat CT. Conclusion: Veterinarians should remember that otitis is a common disease in guinea pigs of all ages, with males being slightly more predisposed than females. Affected animals can have non‐specific clinical signs, such as respiratory or dental disease. Head tilt is the most common vestibular sign.