Background In non-traditional species it can be difficult to obtain a sufficient volume of blood before clotting occurs. To prevent clotting, syringes are sometimes pre-heparinized. In various non-mammalian species, the use of heparin to preserve samples has altered the quality of complete blood counts (CBCs). Recent research in dogs and cats has supported the use of amikacin as an effective anticoagulant via platelet disaggregation. Methods Forty-two client-owned rabbits had blood collected and divided into microtainers containing EDTA, EDTA with amikacin, and EDTA with lithium heparin. A CBC was performed on each microtainer sample, and blood smears were prepared from each anticoagulant type. To assess the association between CBC parameters and anticoagulation method, linear mixed-effects models were fit with anticoagulation methodology modeled as fixed effects and rabbit ID modeled as a random effect. Results With the addition of amikacin to EDTA, there was a significant decrease in RBC (q=1.81e-07) and HGB (q=2.60e-05) and an increase in MCV (q=4.20e-15) and reticulocyte count (q=6.72e-04) when compared to EDTA alone. With the addition of amikacin to EDTA or the use of pre-heparinized blood into EDTA, there was a significant decrease in the number of eosinophils (q=5.80e-05 and q=1.19e-04, respectively) compared to EDTA alone. Conclusion Pre- heparinization nor amikacin into EDTA prevented platelet aggregation and, therefore, were not effective in preventing clots during rabbit blood collection. The addition of amikacin to ETDA altered red cell count and morphology, whereas both amikacin and heparin in ETDA falsely lowered eosinophil counts.