Rabbit with dramatic weight loss

RE: Rabbit with dramatic weight loss

Louise Smith — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 12:44:50 GMT

You are right Silvia, I didn't get dental x rays. I don't have the clients consent for sedation or a GA but that may change if we arent getting anywhere. The urine looked clear and pale yellow.

RE: Rabbit with dramatic weight loss

Silvia Maldonado — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 00:11:44 GMT

I guess the xray did not include his head, then... Did the urine also look sludge?

RE: Rabbit with dramatic weight loss

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:07:35 GMT

I look inside the conscious rabbit's mouth with a large aural speculum and provided its not full of food can generally get a very good view and evaluation of the cheek teeth.

RE: Rabbit with dramatic weight loss

Louise Smith — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 20:33:37 GMT

Thanks very much, I will get the faecal samples and go for a free catch urine too. Good point about the cysto, I did only try once under US guidance and felt quite nervous!

RE: Rabbit with dramatic weight loss

CatherineThomas — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 19:38:41 GMT

I think the first thing i'd want to rule in or out is coccidia by sending a pooled faecal sample to the lab. I don't like doing cystos in rabbits because of the risk of accidentally puncturing the guts. I'd either get a free catch sample by keeping him on a non-absorbant clean floor and collecting from the puddle or catheterise. I'd probably do free catch first to check if there is any blood or protein and then you could catheterise under sedation if a sterile sample is needed for culture. I think it's possible that any kind of inflammatory focus could cause weight loss, so worth checking for cystitis.