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This image shows the liver of a rabbit that died from a torsion of the caudate process of the caudal lobe of the liver (arrow). This is the most common part of the liver to be involved in liver lobe torsion in rabbits. The image shows its position behind the ribs on the right side of the abdomen

Shock readily causes renal vasoconstriction in rabbits that can result in acute renal failure

Abdominal haemorrhage was found in this rabbit that died on the way home after examination and treatment for anorexia. During the consultation. the rabbit struggled as the owner was returning it to its carrier. Unfortunately the rabbit escaped and fell from the consulting table. Post-mortem examination showed that abdominal haemorrhage from a ruptured liver was the cause of death. The liver was pale (arrow). Histopathology confirmed the presence of heaptic lipidosis.

Hepatic lipidosis is the end point of untreated gut stasis. Fat is broken down as an energy source and is broken down by beta-oxidation in the liver. A metabolic bottleneck occurs and ketoacidosis is the result. Affected rabbits die from liver and/or kidney failure. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy may occur. Gastric ulceration is another feature of untreated gut stasis. This image shows the appearance of the liver and stomach of a rabbit that died from hepatic lipidosis: the liver is very pale and the dark areas on the stomach are ulcers. The primary problem was a dental spur.

Enterotoxaemia is characterised by inflammation of the caecum ( and sometimes other parts of the intestinal tract. The contents of the caecum are liquid and haemorrhagic

If the small intestine becomes occluded by a foreign body (often a pellet of compressed fur, yellow arrow), the stomach (white arrow) and small intestine that is proximal to the obstruction (turquoise arrow) become dilated and tympanitic and the intestine that is distal to the obstruction is collapsed and empty.

Gastric dilation is a feature of intestinal obstruction. The stomach can be grossly distended with gas and fluid so it becomes inflamed

Occasionally a spur on the tooth can perforate a major blood vessels in the mouth and cause fatal haemorrhage. In this case the buccal artery had been perforated by a sharp spur on the tooth that had torn the mucosa (arrow). A large blood clot was occluding the pharynx.

This image shows the oral cavity of a rabbit that was presented salivating and dyspnoeic. There was a loud respiratory noise. He had a history of dental disease and most of the crowns in his teeth were missing. The symptoms suggested a laryngeal foreign body so the rabbit was anaesthetised and a piece of hay that was lodged in his larynx was removed. There was significant sublingual oedema that subsided. The rabbit recovered from this incident but only because the owner presented the rabbit promptly.

This picture shows the abdominal organs of a fat rabbit that died from gut stasis. He was presented for veterinary treatment because he was lethargic and anorexic. He died shortly after admission and the post-mortem examination was performed within an hour. A spur on an upper cheek tooth was discovered during post-mortem examination. It was digging into the cheek causing an ulcerated, necrotic area in the mucosa. This was the most likely cause of the anorexia and the triggering factor for gut stasis. The image shows several features of gut stasis. There is a pale fatty liver, some gastric ulceration, an empty caecum distended with gas and empty gas filled intestines. It takes at least 3 days for a rabbit to die from gut stasis. Death can be prevented by providing food and fluid (syringe feeding) and medication to stimulate gut motility. Treatment of the cause of gut stasis (in this case dentistry) is also necessary.