Michelle Tandika Hadi
Division of Veterinary Basic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia

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Haematological Recovery in a Juvenile Rabbit with Severe Pancytopenia Following Ascorbic Acid Supplementation Jee Wen Li; Michelle Tandika Hadi; Tan Ying Jie; Nur Shaqeera Farhanah Binti Rosli; Lim Chi Yao
Journal of Basic Medical Veterinary Vol. 15 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Basic Medical Veterinary, June 2026
Publisher : Universitas Airlangga

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.20473/jbmv.v15i1.83640

Abstract

A 1.5-month-old domestic rabbit weighing 725 g presented with severe pancytopenia characterized by critical reductions in red blood cells (RBC: 1.00 × 10⁶/µL), white blood cells (WBC: 0.7 × 10³/µL), haemoglobin (1.7 g/dL), haematocrit (6.4%), and platelets (54 × 10³/µL). The rabbit exhibited moderate stress but remained alert and responsive. Given the life-threatening haematological status and the absence of a specific underlying disease, supportive therapy with oral ascorbic acid supplementation was initiated at 100 mg/kg/day for seven days. Post-treatment haematological evaluation demonstrated a dramatic recovery, with RBC increasing to 5.71 × 10⁶/µL, WBC to 5.4 × 10³/µL, haemoglobin to 9.9 g/dL, haematocrit to 35%, and platelets to 225 × 10³/µL. A second rabbit with more severe baseline pancytopenia (RBC: 0.40 × 10⁶/µL, WBC: 0.2 × 10³/µL) receiving identical treatment died on day six, demonstrating the prognostic significance of baseline haematological severity. This case illustrates the potential role of ascorbic acid in supporting haematopoietic recovery in juvenile rabbits with reversible bone marrow suppression and highlights the importance of early intervention before critical thresholds are exceeded. Vitamin C supplementation may represent a valuable supportive therapy in young rabbits experiencing stress-related or nutritional haematological compromise.