Rabbit Syphilis or Treponematosis
What is rabbit syphilis?
Rabbit syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a spirochete organism (bacteria) called Treponema cuniculi. Humans cannot get this organism or disease from a rabbit. The spirochete that causes rabbit syphilis is different than the one that causes the human form of syphilis (Treponema pallidum).
How did my rabbit get syphilis?
Rabbits get syphilis from other infected rabbits through sexual contact, direct contact with the sores of an infected rabbit, or at birth, during the vaginal passage. Your rabbit may have had the infection when you obtained it, but it takes days or weeks for the skin lesions to show up.
What are the signs of syphilis in rabbits?
Signs of the T. cuniculi infection are confined to places where the skin meets mucous membranes (the mucocutaneous junctions), such as the external genitals, anus, lips, nostrils, and eyelids. Skin lesions start in these areas as redness and swelling, then progress to pimple-like sores, then ulcerate and end up as crusty sores. These sores may come and go, appear to resolve, then reappear perhaps after episodes of stress. Often, lesions are seen only around the face, from rabbits sniffing each other. Genital sores may be missed, as this is not an area of the body that owners tend to examine on a regular basis.
How is rabbit syphilis diagnosed?
Rabbit syphilis is usually diagnosed presumptively based on history and/or diagnosed by the physical signs your rabbit is showing. Rabbit syphilis may also be diagnosed in retrospect, by its response to treatment. There are some blood tests available, but it may take up to 12 weeks for results. Your veterinarian may also send skin biopsies to a laboratory for analysis to confirm the diagnosis.
How is rabbit syphilis treated?
Your veterinarian will treat the infection with two to three weekly administrations of injectable procaine penicillin.
Caution: NEVER use oral penicillin or amoxicillin, as they may cause a fatal intestinal condition in rabbits.
© Copyright 2025 LifeLearn Inc. Used and/or modified with permission under license. This content written by LifeLearn Animal Health (LifeLearn Inc.) is licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying, printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written consent of LifeLearn. This content does not contain all available information for any referenced medications and has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, or Health Canada Veterinary Drugs Directorate. This content may help answer commonly asked questions, but is not a substitute for medical advice, or a proper consultation and/or clinical examination of your pet by a veterinarian. Please contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health. Last updated on Jun 27, 2025.
