• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.

  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

Ultrasounds and rabbits

B

bunnylover177

Alpha Buck
A vet new to me advised an ultrasound to investigate Tiffany’s repeated gi statis. When he said scan I thought he meant a ct scan but when the bill came back it was an ultrasound scan. He didn’t find anything wrong with her apart from the statis. Anyone heard of these being used before? Long story short and a certain amount of ranting on my part, Tiffany was eventually x-rayed by the boss vet who diagnosed breathing difficulties caused by a large tumour in her thoracic cavity so we had her put to sleep. I’ve been to vet talks about rabbits and scans but don’t remember ultrasounds being discussed. Is this a new thing or was the vet just getting it wrong? He said it was better for seeing the organs functioning but he clearly didn’t spot a large tumour.
 
bunnylover177 said:
A vet new to me advised an ultrasound to investigate Tiffany’s repeated gi statis. When he said scan I thought he meant a ct scan but when the bill came back it was an ultrasound scan. He didn’t find anything wrong with her apart from the statis. Anyone heard of these being used before? Long story short and a certain amount of ranting on my part, Tiffany was eventually x-rayed by the boss vet who diagnosed breathing difficulties caused by a large tumour in her thoracic cavity so we had her put to sleep. I’ve been to vet talks about rabbits and scans but don’t remember ultrasounds being discussed. Is this a new thing or was the vet just getting it wrong? He said it was better for seeing the organs functioning but he clearly didn’t spot a large tumour.
Click to expand...

Normally, the first exam you do in case of stasis is an x-ray, to check if there is gas / a blockage. An ultrasound can be done, but it's generally a complementary exam to investigate the mobility and the possibility of a foreign body / tumor / ulcer inside the stomach.
So, not really off the mark but not the first exam that would come to mind, especially since it's less comprehensive than the x-ray.
 
I have been offered ultrasounds on rabbits before, but x-rays have generally been more useful, so I have never had one done. You would still need sedation, and you would need to know specifically what area you wanted to look at. Ultrasound would normally need them to be shaved as well, I think, which you don't need with x-rays. It would also take longer and may need a specialist to come in and do the procedure. My vet has someone he books to come in on request.

I have had an ultrasound exam done on a cat who had already had x-rays done.
 
Maya said:
Normally, the first exam you do in case of stasis is an x-ray, to check if there is gas / a blockage. An ultrasound can be done, but it's generally a complementary exam to investigate the mobility and the possibility of a foreign body / tumor / ulcer inside the stomach.
So, not really off the mark but not the first exam that would come to mind, especially since it's less comprehensive than the x-ray.
Click to expand...

Shimmer said:
I have been offered ultrasounds on rabbits before, but x-rays have generally been more useful, so I have never had one done. You would still need sedation, and you would need to know specifically what area you wanted to look at. Ultrasound would normally need them to be shaved as well, I think, which you don't need with x-rays. It would also take longer and may need a specialist to come in and do the procedure. My vet has someone he books to come in on request.

I have had an ultrasound exam done on a cat who had already had x-rays done.
Click to expand...

I agree with both Maya and Shimmer.

A bit more info here, you need to scroll half way down the page on the first link :

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Man/LagomorphOverviews/Imaging_Rabbits.htm

https://www.vettimes.co.uk/app/uplo...-for-exotics-effective-methods-of-working.pdf
 
bunnylover177 said:
A vet new to me advised an ultrasound to investigate Tiffany’s repeated gi statis. When he said scan I thought he meant a ct scan but when the bill came back it was an ultrasound scan. He didn’t find anything wrong with her apart from the statis. Anyone heard of these being used before? Long story short and a certain amount of ranting on my part, Tiffany was eventually x-rayed by the boss vet who diagnosed breathing difficulties caused by a large tumour in her thoracic cavity so we had her put to sleep. I’ve been to vet talks about rabbits and scans but don’t remember ultrasounds being discussed. Is this a new thing or was the vet just getting it wrong? He said it was better for seeing the organs functioning but he clearly didn’t spot a large tumour.
Click to expand...


Hi there

X-Ray is more commonly performed for bouts of stasis, but ultrasound can be useful when the vet has an idea in mind of what's causing it. Often used as complementary to X-Ray in my experience.

Some info here:

http://www.animal-clinic.co.uk/pet-factsheets/Factsheets/Otherpets/24_286516.shtml

https://www.vin.com/apputil/content...33767&id=4516368&ind=156&objTypeID=17&print=1
 
Thank you everyone - this helps me understand what just happened. Jane I am in AWE of your ability to dig out just the right document to help answer a question.
Tiffany was eating on and off and producing tiny poos so we knew she was not entirely blocked which I guess is why the vet favoured an ultra sound scan. From the information these scans do sound really useful but I am guessing interpreting what you are seeing is not easy. I still don't see why the vet who did it failed to spot the large lump in her thoracic cavity which was pressing on her lungs almost preventing her breathing. He wanted to send her home with a diagnosis of statis which would have prolonged her suffering. I wasn't happy with his conclusion as I felt we needed to know why Tiffany was in statis which is why I got the boss vet involved.
He diagnosed Tiffany's problem with an x-ray and we put her to sleep.
I'm not really interested in blame here but I do want to learn from the experience so my questions is about the next time a vet discusses ultrasounds or x-rays - which is likely to be better for a rabbit with an unknown problem (her bloods were Ok btw)? Are ultrasounds harder to interpret than x-rays or does it just depend on the training of the individual vet in which case I might ask for an x-ray if I think the vet is inexperienced with rabbits... I will try to discuss this with the senior vet when my buns are in for their vaccinations in a few weeks but I know he gets defensive so I might not get a straight answer.
 
bunnylover177 said:
Thank you everyone - this helps me understand what just happened. Jane I am in AWE of your ability to dig out just the right document to help answer a question.
Tiffany was eating on and off and producing tiny poos so we knew she was not entirely blocked which I guess is why the vet favoured an ultra sound scan. From the information these scans do sound really useful but I am guessing interpreting what you are seeing is not easy. I still don't see why the vet who did it failed to spot the large lump in her thoracic cavity which was pressing on her lungs almost preventing her breathing. He wanted to send her home with a diagnosis of statis which would have prolonged her suffering. I wasn't happy with his conclusion as I felt we needed to know why Tiffany was in statis which is why I got the boss vet involved.
He diagnosed Tiffany's problem with an x-ray and we put her to sleep.
I'm not really interested in blame here but I do want to learn from the experience so my questions is about the next time a vet discusses ultrasounds or x-rays - which is likely to be better for a rabbit with an unknown problem (her bloods were Ok btw)? Are ultrasounds harder to interpret than x-rays or does it just depend on the training of the individual vet in which case I might ask for an x-ray if I think the vet is inexperienced with rabbits... I will try to discuss this with the senior vet when my buns are in for their vaccinations in a few weeks but I know he gets defensive so I might not get a straight answer.
Click to expand...

It's more about the usefulness depending on what they are looking for. A vet once told me that ultrasound isn't a lot of use with stasis if they think it's a gastro-intestinal problem as gas doesn't show up very well (or was that they they couldn't see very well because of the gas!) either way USS isn't the best for looking for blockages etc.

I have had USS done on some of my rabbits for example when the vet could feel 'something' regarding liver and USS was used and it was deemed he had a tumour, however it turned out to be a liver torsion - a different vet more experienced with rabbits may well have recognised what it was. Another rabbit had a ultrasound when she was going for surgery for a fatty mass (huge) on the side of her body and the vet wanted to know exactly what she was dealing with before starting the surgery - they found a hole in her abdominal wall and a hernia.

I'm wondering if the vet in your case didn't see the large lump in her thoracic cavity simply because he wasn't looking in that area but the abdomen. The radiology department at the local hospital informed us that a relative had a tumour in her spine but didn't report on another in her uterus - it was there on her scan (CT) but they were reporting on back pain so it was only later they re-looked at the scan they could see it (shocking but there you are), it seems sometimes you will only see what you are looking for.
 
Last edited:
bunnylover177 said:
Thank you everyone - this helps me understand what just happened. Jane I am in AWE of your ability to dig out just the right document to help answer a question.
Tiffany was eating on and off and producing tiny poos so we knew she was not entirely blocked which I guess is why the vet favoured an ultra sound scan. From the information these scans do sound really useful but I am guessing interpreting what you are seeing is not easy. I still don't see why the vet who did it failed to spot the large lump in her thoracic cavity which was pressing on her lungs almost preventing her breathing. He wanted to send her home with a diagnosis of statis which would have prolonged her suffering. I wasn't happy with his conclusion as I felt we needed to know why Tiffany was in statis which is why I got the boss vet involved.
He diagnosed Tiffany's problem with an x-ray and we put her to sleep.
I'm not really interested in blame here but I do want to learn from the experience so my questions is about the next time a vet discusses ultrasounds or x-rays - which is likely to be better for a rabbit with an unknown problem (her bloods were Ok btw)? Are ultrasounds harder to interpret than x-rays or does it just depend on the training of the individual vet in which case I might ask for an x-ray if I think the vet is inexperienced with rabbits... I will try to discuss this with the senior vet when my buns are in for their vaccinations in a few weeks but I know he gets defensive so I might not get a straight answer.
Click to expand...


I am glad the information was useful but I am very sorry to hear of Tiffany's passing :cry:

Bunny Buddy said:
It's more about the usefulness depending on what they are looking for. A vet once told me that ultrasound isn't a lot of use with stasis if they think it's a gastro-intestinal problem as gas doesn't show up very well (or was that they they couldn't see very well because of the gas!) either way USS isn't the best for looking for blockages etc.

I have had USS done on some of my rabbits for example when the vet could feel 'something' regarding liver and USS was used and it was deemed he had a tumour, however it turned out to be a liver torsion - a different vet more experienced with rabbits may well have recognised what it was. Another rabbit had a ultrasound when she was going for surgery for a fatty mass (huge) on the side of her body and the vet wanted to know exactly what she was dealing with before starting the surgery - they found a hole in her abdominal wall and a hernia.

I'm wondering if the vet in your case didn't see the large lump in her thoracic cavity simply because he wasn't looking in that area but the abdomen. The radiology department at the local hospital informed us that a relative had a tumour in her spine but didn't report on another in her uterus - it was there on her scan (CT) but they were reporting on back pain so it was only later they re-looked at the scan they could see it (shocking but there you are), it seems sometimes you will only see what you are looking for.
Click to expand...

BB has raised some pertinent points re what diagnostic tools are used, when and why xx
 
Last edited:
bunnylover177 said:
Thank you everyone - this helps me understand what just happened. Jane I am in AWE of your ability to dig out just the right document to help answer a question.
Tiffany was eating on and off and producing tiny poos so we knew she was not entirely blocked which I guess is why the vet favoured an ultra sound scan. From the information these scans do sound really useful but I am guessing interpreting what you are seeing is not easy. I still don't see why the vet who did it failed to spot the large lump in her thoracic cavity which was pressing on her lungs almost preventing her breathing. He wanted to send her home with a diagnosis of statis which would have prolonged her suffering. I wasn't happy with his conclusion as I felt we needed to know why Tiffany was in statis which is why I got the boss vet involved.
He diagnosed Tiffany's problem with an x-ray and we put her to sleep.
I'm not really interested in blame here but I do want to learn from the experience so my questions is about the next time a vet discusses ultrasounds or x-rays - which is likely to be better for a rabbit with an unknown problem (her bloods were Ok btw)? Are ultrasounds harder to interpret than x-rays or does it just depend on the training of the individual vet in which case I might ask for an x-ray if I think the vet is inexperienced with rabbits... I will try to discuss this with the senior vet when my buns are in for their vaccinations in a few weeks but I know he gets defensive so I might not get a straight answer.
Click to expand...


You're very welcome :)

Regards usefulness my vet would not normally do an ultrasound for stasis but it really depends on what they are looking for, as per my earlier post.
 
thank you everyone - this is so helpful.
It is that thing isn't it when one of your beautiful rabbits dies and you are not sure if the right thing was done and what could have been done differently. Tiffany was not herself a few months ago but a vet exam and bloods revealed nothing wrong and her mild weight loss stopped. My vets are not very pro-active or curious or instinctive round rabbits. If only I had made a fuss then and insisted on more tests..:cry:
These vets are the best I can find in my area of Northumberland where we have been living for a few years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

ActuallyARabbit
Strange Abdomen bloat help!
Replies
16
Views
393
bunny momma
bunny momma
L
**UPDATE***Cleo losing weight - Now gaining :)
Replies
6
Views
136
InspectorMorse
InspectorMorse
Zigzag
Winnie again
Replies
13
Views
1K
bunny momma
bunny momma
Back
Top