Search results

It is usually easy to take a well positioned lateral abdominal radiograph without sedation by quietly positioning the rabbit on its side and placing a sandbag across the neck. It is very important that there is noise or sudden movements and the rabbit is handled gently.

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.

This image shows the liver of a rabbit that died with hepatic lipidosis. She died a few hours after admission, despite intravenous fluids and other supportive treatment. She was ataxic and hypothermic with a low blood glucose (4.2 mmol/l) on admission. Her urine was acidic on a dipstick due to ketoacidosis. The rabbit had undergone radical dentistry at another practice 4 days earlier and had not eaten since she was discharged on the day of dentistry.

This image shows the liver of a rabbit that died with hepatic lipidosis. She died a few hours after admission, despite intravenous fluids and other supportive treatment. She was ataxic and hypothermic with a low blood glucose (4.2 mmol/l) on admission. Her urine was acidic on a dipstick due to ketoacidosis. The rabbit had undergone radical dentistry at another practice 4 days earlier and had not eaten since she was discharged on the day of dentistry.

This image shows the liver of a rabbit that had died from a liver lobe torsion. The caudal lobe has twisted around so the blood supply was cut off. The rest of the liver has fatty infiltration.

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

Occasionally rabbits may be infected with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. During life, it causes vague clinical signs of anorexia and weight loss. At post-mortem examination , numerous white foci can be observed on the intestine, especially in the appendix ( white arrow) and sacculus rotundus (yellow arrow). Foci may also be seen in the spleen.