Rabbit renal failure

Re: Rabbit renal failure

Bob Russell — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:05:45 GMT

I can think of several occasions where owners have decided not to investigate and a week later there is a request for a history as a second opinion. Having the bloods done or X-rays or this or that would usually have been cheaper than getting that second opinion!

I agree Nowt as queer as folks!

Re: Rabbit renal failure

David Mills — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 16:35:45 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="Gareth Dowdeswell"]the owner isn't more willing to spend the money. [/quote]

but

[quote user="Gareth Dowdeswell"]Owner's decided to get a second opinion from another vet[/quote]

Nowt so queer as folks.

[/quote]

Some people will always pay to hear what they want to hear. Or to absolve themselves of responsibility (i.e. until a vet says 'we should PTS')

Re: Rabbit renal failure

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 16:29:24 GMT

[quote user="Gareth Dowdeswell"]the owner isn't more willing to spend the money. [/quote]

but

[quote user="Gareth Dowdeswell"]Owner's decided to get a second opinion from another vet[/quote]

Nowt so queer as folks.

Re: Rabbit renal failure

Gareth Dowdeswell — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:43:07 GMT

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like the rabbit definitely needs further work-up, pity the owner isn't more willing to spend the money. Owner's decided to get a second opinion from another vet so suspect won't be seeing the rabbit again, but if the owner does let us do any further investigation I'll update the thread!

Re: Rabbit renal failure

Marie Kubiak — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 14:41:14 GMT

That's pretty normal for a rabbit USG and a trace protein again is not abnormal.Bloodwork can definitely help but often is less useful in renal evaluation than carnivores.

Worth working out if truly PU/PD or just altered urination patterns. I would be looking for reasons for altered urination (PU/PD, altered posture, nephroliths, EC/other causes of neuropathy etc etc) rather than assuming renal compromise for the moment. Weak hindlimbs alone will often cause urine soiling, loss of house training and overflow leakage as normal urination posture can't be achieved.

Marie

Re: Rabbit renal failure

Matt Hilary — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 14:37:45 GMT

Definitely consider E. cuniculi as a differential - can cause renal disease (usually mild) as well as incontinence and would definitely explain the HL symptoms.

Re: Rabbit renal failure

Kate Richardson — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 10:39:23 GMT

From memory I think rabbits USG can be hugely variable and you can't diagnose renal failure based on SG alone, so you will need bloods as you would in any other animal. I also recall that E.cuniculi is a major differential of PUPD in rabbits. Hopefully someone with more bunny knowledge than me will come along and give some more advice!