dyspnoeic rabbit

Re: dyspnoeic rabbit

Mark Rowland — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:40:58 GMT

It's not something I've tried but then again I would be a bit pissed off if I were a client and the rabbit kicked out and broke its back! Not sure how the vds would react to that one ;-)

Re: dyspnoeic rabbit

CatherineThomas — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:56:53 GMT

At one of the talks I've been to in the last year I remember someone talked about doing "the wheelbarrow test" for thymoma. Apparently if you lift their hind legs off the table like a wheelbarrow the eyes will bulge if they have a thymoma. Is that right mark?

Re: dyspnoeic rabbit

Mark Rowland — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:40:48 GMT

Hello The eyes can bulge due to an increase in pressure from blood returning to the heart. A cranial space occupying mass e.g. thymoma can cause this as can heart failure so supportive care bloods and rads are indicated in this case.

Goodluck

Re: dyspnoeic rabbit

Holly Norman — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:04:33 GMT

Sorry to hitchhike on the back of someone else's thread but have a similar case that I could definitely use some help with.

5yo FN Rex presented with 'bulging eyes' and dyspnoea. Housemate not affected.Very snuffly URT. Eyes were 'bulgy' but retracted with pressue, non-painful, conjunctiva slightly erythematous. On oral exam- teeth looked good. Improved after one week of Baytril and Metacam. Been eating/drinking throughout. Due to return this evening having 'gone off it's back legs'. Not- vaccinated.

Just wondering if anyone had any other advice- will try and get in for bloods/x-rays. My primary diff was Pasteurella but now I'm confused! Help!

Re: dyspnoeic rabbit

Mark Rowland — Sat, 05 May 2012 18:47:29 GMT

I'll get the normals to you next week :-)

Re: dyspnoeic rabbit

Sarah Keir — Sat, 05 May 2012 18:13:32 GMT

I echo dogs and cats so it would be great to give it a go with rabbits. We have a few crazy bunny huggers as clients who would be willing to pay for such investigations but the rest is a struggle to get them to do anything other euthanasia.

With DCM do they get enlarged atria like dogs? Are there any normal values for rabbits? How about measuring things like Fractional Shortening? Useful or not?

Any info would be great!

Re: dyspnoeic rabbit

Mark Rowland — Sat, 05 May 2012 17:44:25 GMT

Ha ha what you need is someone at your practice who can scan hearts. That's not me I'm afraid. I am aware of my limitations. Fortunately I've got someone at the practice who can do this for me. A lot depends on the size of the rabbit. Many are done under gaseous anaesthesia which isn't ideal. We do as many conscious as we can. I'll have to ask and get back to you. In fact you have prompted me to get her to give me a few lessons ( something I've been meaning to do for a while). I've got normal values if you need them so pm me if they are required. All the best Mark

Re: dyspnoeic rabbit

Sarah Keir — Sat, 05 May 2012 10:58:41 GMT

I can imagine it is difficult to get rabbit to lie in lateral to echo them. Do you get a decent view of heart in sternal recumbancy?

Re: dyspnoeic rabbit

Mark Rowland — Sat, 05 May 2012 10:29:19 GMT

Dcm seems to be most common. Heart size evaluation can be difficult on rads as the heart is squished cranially. Echo seems to be the best way to confirm. Post the rads if you wish Goodluck

Re: dyspnoeic rabbit

Sarah Keir — Sat, 05 May 2012 10:24:52 GMT

What sort of heart disease do rabbits get - vavular degeneration, DCM, HCM? Obviously looking for pulmonary oedema on xray but what else would indicate heart disease?

Re: dyspnoeic rabbit

Dagmar Steele — Sat, 05 May 2012 09:25:22 GMT

Mark is the expert but I'd like to second what he said, Rabbits don't do well on steroids! And I've seen a substantial amount of heart disease in rabbits, so x-ray would be good. In Germany we don't usually GA for x-rays, maybe it can be done without GA if you're really worried? Wear gloves to hold the rabbit on the table and stretch it well, it can be done with most of them. (Having said that I wouldn't worry too much about a quick flush of gas)

Re: dyspnoeic rabbit

Mark Rowland — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:56:25 GMT

Stop the pred now. This drug will cause immunosuppression in rabbits I would gas down for rads and get bloods Switch to injectable penicillin and metacam, pending rads to assess heart and lungs. Goodluck