Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Not sure if these have already been highlighted. Definitely worth a listen if you are interested
http://thewebinarvet.com/supreme-rabbit-webinars/
http://thewebinarvet.com/supreme-rabbit-webinars/
Thanks for the link. :wave: I haven't got time to listen atm but will do so later.
If you don't mind, the link will probably be a good one to add to the Useful Topics thread in Health too.
That's great - thank you - listening to the calcium one now. :wave:
Yes, I dont know how long the link will work for as I guess it will depend on how long it remains active on the Webinar Site :?
I think yesterday's lecture about Rabbit Anesthesia will be available soon too.
I need to re-listen to the urinary tract one so I take in all the information and to listen completely to the GI one, when I get a chance.
One interesting thing I picked up from the bladder sludge issues - Molly Vagra isn't keen on the use of diuretics for helping with bladder sludge issues (making them wee more but can't remember technical term), but FHB has believed it has been key to helping Artie and he's still on it despite his kidney stone issue). Molly V believes that it's more likely to cause the calcium to stay behind
Oh the joys of Veterinary Medicine !! Even the experts have opposing opinions. Us lot dont stand a chance :lol:
Oooh - and just remembered . . although it did not affect Teasal - we did discover that one of the major inputs of calcium in a rabbit diet in certain areas of the country (East Anglia especially) can be tap water and she does not emtnion water - just food!!!
That's interesting! Can it be removed with a water filter? :wave:
Again my comments only based on my own experiences but here goes:
Teasal (housebun and my soul mate) had chronic bladder sludge and NONE of the external signs that she lists - only sign was the sludge he produced on weeing and the xrays - which meant that we had the sludge expressed about avery 6 weeks.. we did originally have him cathetered each time - but he had to have it s frequently we ended up having his manually expressed instead
He also had none of the predisposing factors she lists:
When put on an almost totally calcium free diet (no pellets at all, no green foods with moderate/high calcium etc etc) for three years nothing changed . . . . and we ended up so concerned about him having not enough calcium we gave up and let him eat what he wanted to again! The frequency of his sludge formation remained he same.
He was not overweight, not immobile, drank water normally, etc etc -
we concluded having looked at all this that it was a physiological thing to him in particular (ie that whatever level of calcium he took in he created sludge with it) and I do wonder if more rabbits have this than is widely recognised; and the calcium is blamed on other (dietary etc) factors.
Interesting that she does not place more emphasis on the probable role of EC in calcium change in kidneys. I have had 3 buns where EC has definitely been implicated in kidney calcification (not incl. Teasal). She only mentions it as an aspect of mobility - mine had no mobility problems but had EC related granulations
Again though, overall comment is that it was a very interesting lecture. Felt there were more relevant xrays on this one!
Artie doesn't seem to have the predisposing factors either. Since his cystotomy 2.25 years ago FHB has been very happy with his weight, he's an active rabbit, always has been. He's always drunk a lot as well, though had a bottle until 3 years ago when I started giving him a bowl. I've never know Artie suffer from EC and he's been here since 11 weeks old, he has been EC tested but I don't know the results yet.
With Artie there is most likely a physiological reason for his calcium retention too. There is a line shows up on x-ray on his bladder that FHB doesn't understand, she's seen it on other x-rays since but doesn't know what it is. She believes he doesn't empty his bladder fully so the sediment stays in there instead of emptying with the fluid - the line on the x-ray *could* be some abnormality in his bladder. He's not had high calcium foods in 2.25 years and yet went on to get kidney stones. It is fascinating to piece together, just wish we had the answers :?