Large hairball on xray-what to do?

Today Rupert had full body xrays and all looks well apart from a hairball. He's been very poorly and in considerable pain causing his eyes to bulge and him to shake. He has been off his food at times and ravenous at other times and has been toiletting OK. I have found some mis-shapen poos and some connected by hair, though no mucus, not tiny, not hard and not squidgy.
What can I do to get it out? It wasn't massive but in my non vet view seems too big to pass.
I know pineapple juice is seen as great by 50% of people and useless by 50%, but I've bought one anyway.
What should I/my vet do?
This week has been truly awful, Rupert's been in a terrible state and two vets told me I'd lose him so I need to get this sorted asap. Any thoughts would be very welcome. Thank you.

bunniesgalore said:

Today Rupert had full body xrays and all looks well apart from a hairball. He's been very poorly and in considerable pain causing his eyes to bulge and him to shake. He has been off his food at times and ravenous at other times and has been toiletting OK. I have found some mis-shapen poos and some connected by hair, though no mucus, not tiny, not hard and not squidgy.
What can I do to get it out? It wasn't massive but in my non vet view seems too big to pass.
I know pineapple juice is seen as great by 50% of people and useless by 50%, but I've bought one anyway.
What should I/my vet do?
This week has been truly awful, Rupert's been in a terrible state and two vets told me I'd lose him so I need to get this sorted asap. Any thoughts would be very welcome. Thank you.

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I'm a bit confused, as surely if the hairball is too large for your bunny to pass, then it would need to be surgically removed. This is what was done for a friends bunny a few weeks ago, with strict instructions afterwards to purchase a 'slicker brush' and to if possible, every day remove as much of the loose fur herself by brushing him so that he does not get in this condition again. I really don't think that it is an option to just leave it.

My understanding is that surgical removal is highly risky and doesn't have good results generally. I have found lots of references to pineapple juice breaking the hairball down so it can be passed and indeed my vet suggested it. But equally I've heard it can be dangerous as it can be too much sugar. Hence my question. Has anyone any experience of hairballs in bunnies and what was the treatment?
I'm not just 'leaving it'. Quite the contrary. I just don't know whether to try pineapple juice or something else?

bunniesgalore said:

My understanding is that surgical removal is highly risky and doesn't have good results generally. I have found lots of references to pineapple juice breaking the hairball down so it can be passed and indeed my vet suggested it. But equally I've heard it can be dangerous as it can be too much sugar. Hence my question. Has anyone any experience of hairballs in bunnies and what was the treatment?
I'm not just 'leaving it'. Quite the contrary. I just don't know whether to try pineapple juice or something else?

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Exactly where in the GI tract is the hairball ?

It looked quite high up, to the right-not obstructing, just sat there. Sorry, not very technical words. There was still plenty of space in his tummy.

bunniesgalore said:

My understanding is that surgical removal is highly risky and doesn't have good results generally. I have found lots of references to pineapple juice breaking the hairball down so it can be passed and indeed my vet suggested it. But equally I've heard it can be dangerous as it can be too much sugar. Hence my question. Has anyone any experience of hairballs in bunnies and what was the treatment?
I'm not just 'leaving it'. Quite the contrary. I just don't know whether to try pineapple juice or something else?

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Oh right didn't realise that. My vet is a highly specialised bunny vet and only works with bunnies, and when my friend took her bun to him, he had a look inside with a camera first and took a biopsy, which showed it was a large quantity of fur, and then it was removed and she improved dramatically almost immediately with it gone and has been fine since. So that is my own experience, or rather that of my friends and that was the treatment. Seemed a relatively straight forward procedure to Simon and didn't present any undue concerns, and so wasn't aware that it was supposedly high risk.

Yes whereabouts is it? Often, hair balls are not actually the cause of the problem, but the result of it. If the gut slows down for another reason (e.g. Pain somewhere else in the body such as teeth) then it can result in an accumulation of stomach contents into an impacted ball. One of the most important things for this is hydration, as bunnies suck moisture out of their guts to keep themselves hydrated, and this effectively turns the hairball into concrete. So fluids are often essential to rehydrate the gut and start to free up the hairball. The way the fluid is given (iv, sc, by mouth etc) will depend on the severity and what the vet thinks is the best route. The other very important thing is pain relief. A bunny in pain won't eat and his guts will slow down, causing hair balls and/or preventing them from passing, so strong pain relief is absolutely essential to keep bunny comfy and to maximise the chances of recovery. Injected pain relief is usually best if bunny is not eating, otherwise it is unlikely to get absorbed properly anyway.

Some blockages do need surgical removal but some don't, either way I would suggest fluids and pain relief ASAP while your vet works out the most appropriate treatment. Some vets seem to use a blood glucose level as an indicator as to whether surgery is the necessary option.

Good luck x x

I'm no expert, it's just what I've read, but stomach surgery is bound to be hard on the bun. My vet isn't a bunny expert, but the other vet is an ex referral and may be willing to tackle it, but it would be better if there was another way. Oddly, Rupert has been pooing and weeing fine, his tummy isn't distended, no gas etc.

bunniesgalore said:

It looked quite high up, to the right-not obstructing, just sat there. Sorry, not very technical words. There was still plenty of space in his tummy.

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I understand now (sorry for being so dim!!) Molly's hairball WAS obstructing the entrance to the stomach, and Simon did some blood/glucose tests which would show if Moll was already in shock or likely to go into shock, and she was in shock and it was done as an emergency. I know what you mean with the sugar content in pineapple, and if it is not obstructing, would additional fluids not do the job of softening it enough to shift it by itself, and obviously lots of pain relief on board to keep him as comfortable as possible. Maybe massaging might help as well because of keeping the stomach nicely soft and relaxed.

Thank you everyone. It's been so awful this week.
Rupert is eating, though a bit off food. He's eating dry food and plenty of veg-dandelions, plantain, sow thistle, groundsel, pak choi, herbs, carrot tops, spring greens and trays of grass.
His tummy had food in it and fluids.
He's on panacur and 2ml loxicom at night currently. The panacur was because of his symptoms and one vet saw a white spot behind one eye. But no usual EC signs-he's jumping, hopping, running, no head tilt, runs straight etc.
Sorry to be such a pain. It's been so hard trying to figure out what's wrong.

RogerRabbit999 said:

I understand now (sorry for being so dim!!) Molly's hairball WAS obstructing the entrance to the stomach, and Simon did some blood/glucose tests which would show if Moll was already in shock or likely to go into shock, and she was in shock and it was done as an emergency. I know what you mean with the sugar content in pineapple, and if it is not obstructing, would additional fluids not do the job of softening it enough to shift it by itself, and obviously lots of pain relief on board to keep him as comfortable as possible. Maybe massaging might help as well because of keeping the stomach nicely soft and relaxed.

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Not dim at all-it's just so horribly confusing and I'm struggling to explain it all. I think if it was causing a blockage that's an emergency, but it definitely wasn't low or blocking anything, just a sort of mass sat there but my vet said definitely a hairball and not a growth or similar.

Sorry I have only just seen this. From your message I thought Rupert had cherry eye which I know nothing about. I didn't realise he had a gut problem. My thoughts for what they are worth would be pain relief and SC fluids and re xray after 24 hours.

I hope he is feeling much better soon and that you got my text Tuesday morning. Hopefully that helps you a little this week x

Hugo's There said:

Sorry I have only just seen this. From your message I thought Rupert had cherry eye which I know nothing about. I didn't realise he had a gut problem. My thoughts for what they are worth would be pain relief and SC fluids and re xray after 24 hours.

I hope he is feeling much better soon and that you got my text Tuesday morning. Hopefully that helps you a little this week x

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Sorry Liz. Tuesday was absolutely horrendous with Rupert and I did spot your text on Wed and then completely forgot about it. The vets have sent off the Petplan forms. I am sorry, I really am grateful. Re: symptoms, we've had everything under the sun this week. Just terrifying. Poor Rupert. Milly's recovered really well though and is being a super nurse. Thank you. xx

bunniesgalore said:

Sorry Liz. Tuesday was absolutely horrendous with Rupert and I did spot your text on Wed and then completely forgot about it. The vets have sent off the Petplan forms. I am sorry, I really am grateful. Re: symptoms, we've had everything under the sun this week. Just terrifying. Poor Rupert. Milly's recovered really well though and is being a super nurse. Thank you. xx

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Is Rupert insured? Are you ok for Rupert?

I've texted Liz-thank you. All my guys are insured. Petplan is practically a member of our family!

bunniesgalore said:

Not dim at all-it's just so horribly confusing and I'm struggling to explain it all. I think if it was causing a blockage that's an emergency, but it definitely wasn't low or blocking anything, just a sort of mass sat there but my vet said definitely a hairball and not a growth or similar.

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Well that's good then. I hope you don't mind me saying and it may be something to possibly bear in mind if things have to be rethought, but the reason my vet went in with the camera first to obtain a biopsy, is because on x-rays, yes it will show you a mass if you like, but not what the mass actually is, although the hairball has no doubt got to be the first consideration. Just wondered if that was worth mentioning. I really hope your bunny starts to feel better soon. It is such a terrible worry isn't it, and I really feel for those going through difficult times with their buns. Lots of cuddles and nose rubs to him from all my bunnies by the way.

bunniesgalore said:

I've texted Liz-thank you. All my guys are insured. Petplan is practically a member of our family!

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Well at least you don't have to worry about the bill now, it's all sorted xx

Hugo's There said:

Well at least you don't have to worry about the bill now, it's all sorted xx

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You're an Angel Liz, thanks. I really am incredibly grateful. One major worry removed-thank you. xx
P.S. The 'Vet bill Angel'!!

bunniesgalore said:

You're an Angel Liz, thanks. I really am incredibly grateful. One major worry removed-thank you. xx
P.S. The 'Vet bill Angel'!!

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No worries, your vet is cheap. I was expecting it to be at least double the amount!