Tumor removal - v upset, please advise (sorry, quite long)

I posted a topic last week about my French lop's large abscess we had found suddenly on his stomach. Well, following a 2nd visit to the vet, they whipped him in on Monday and removed it as it was a solid lump. After the op they phoned to say that it was a huge, very agressive tumor as it had grown so quickly and poor teddy now has a huge incission across the whole of his tummy with about 25 stitches in it. I was told that they weren't sure if it was all taken out as it had grown spurs and the vet was sure it was malignant. I asked for it to be sent off to be analysed (they weren't even going to bother as he was so sure) as i can't imagine how a vet can be sure of anything like that can he??

Anyway, poor old teddy has basically been give a death sentence saying that it will only grow back and he will probably have to be put down! The thing is Teddy is completely fine in himself, eating, drinking, pooing and what not and hopping about like normal. He is even back to normal with this huge wound on his tummy.

Has anyone ever experienced something like this? Should i change vets and get another opinion? I have also found an american website that deals with homeopathic medicine for bunnies with ones for tumors, do you think i would benefit from giving my french lop some of these treatments or do you think this may be a scam?

Please let me have your bunnified opinions, i am worried my vets are not sympathetic to bunny needs and have just written him off. Surely rabbits can undergo some kind of cancer treatment as people and dogs etc do if it turns out to be malignant?

Very worried and upset as Teddy is only 3 years old and wonderful

aaaawwww sorry to hear about your Teddy. Im afraid i havent had any experience with animals with tumours so cant advise.. Dont know of anyones animals having chemo tho.. i would think it would make a rabbit too ill knowing the side effects humans get anyways.
I'll keep my fingers crossed that it doesnt grow back and that he stays well

Oh poor Teddy! i have no experience of things like this but all fingers crossed for you XX

My old bunny Molly has "masses" in her abdomen and the vets and I have decided not to open her up to have a look. I am giving her this Essiac Tea tincture - don't know if it works but hey, I'll try anything

http://hwize.com/health_start/essiacinfoframe.html

she's still full of life so who can say......

I am a veterinary nurse and yes chemotherapy is available but it can only be used for certain types of tumours. Also, i have not had experience in chemo with bunnies so i`m not sure what sort of side effects would occur or whether it can be used in bunnies at all in the first place. If Teddy is happy in himself and does not seem to be in pain then i would not see why he would ned to be put to sleep at this stage. It`s always best to send tumours away for histopathology just to make sure, unless it is 100% that it is something like a fatty lump. You don`t seem to have much confidence in your vet at the moment so i would say that it might be an idea to go for a second opinion at a vets that has a keen interest in rabbits. I know of a fantastic lady in Cambrige but i`m not sure if this is too far for you. I also know of another rabbit vets in Romford, Essex. Good luck with Teddy and keep us posted on how he`s getting on.

I'm sorry to hear about Teddy. It sounds like he is very special to you.

Tumours vary in appearance so your vet can probably make a guess from experience about what type it is. Alot of owners don't bother with the extra expense of sending things away so this may be why your vet wasn't going to though they should perhaps have discussed it with you.

One of the reasons that this isn't done is that the treatment for a beign or melignant tumour is often the same - remove it and hope it doesn't spread. Unfortunately the human treatments such as chemo just aren't as practical on animals. I think it has been done on dogs/cats but as far as I know not rabbits. The side effects as something as delicate as a rabbit would probably mean they wouldn't make it through treatment. There is info on the net on chemo in dogs/cats if you want to read more. Chemo therepy is also expensive, I know most of us would go broke to save our pets but we're probably talking thousands.

You'll need to talk to your vet about where to go from now. It could be worth asking for a referal to a rabbit specialist just to give you piece of mind and also they'll be most knowledgable on providing support for bunnies.

Whilst he is happy there is no need for him to be put down. The tumour may end up being the reason for this having to be done in the end but it is possible you'll have many more happy months with him.

Best wishes,
Tamsin

Thanks for all your help, just wanted reassurance really that i wasn't getting the wrong info from my vet as i was a little shocked when they weren't going to send it off.

It wasn't my usual vet that did the op so probably why i lack confidence. Don't think i would want to put Teddy through chemo as i would rather him go off happy if it comes to that.

I live in West Sussex, so depending on what the vet says at his check up tomorrow i may investigate in seeing your person. Hoping that it may come back benign.

I also wondered about the antibiotics he is taking, Baytril which i have heard is a good one for bunnies, but it was suggested feeding him live yoghurt to help replace the bacteria in his stomach, do you think this is a good idea?

thanks

So sorry to hear about Teddy, but I'm glad he's feeling happy in himself.
I was told that with my Patch it was only a matter of time (she had osteomylitis), but she hung in for 6 months and was very happy, and I cherish the extra time we had with her.
Good luck at the vets.

Poor Teddy, I would say that as long as he is happy and healthy keep going It may be that they got all of the tumour out and they are just being on the safe side.

My rabbit Princess had mammary lumps when I got her (I was fostering her for the rescue I work at - it was expected that she would only live for a few months). They were the beginnings of cancer, another reason we couldn't rehome her. Well she has come on in leaps and bounds and her lumps have shrunk to literally the size of a pea! The vet is very pleased and I have now adopted her Of course these lumps were much smaller than your Teddy's lump, but just showing you that miracles do happen!

With regards to supplements, I would give a probiotic as many people don't feel that live yoghurt should be given to rabbits. You can get Bio Lapis from your vets - mine gives this routinely now, and you can also purchase bigger pots on the internet. I have purchased AviPro which is very good, I give this to Princess most nights, as she also had gut stasis just over a month ago.

Hope Teddy feels better soon.

Nicola

Our lovely Tilly-Mint has a tumour around her liver - it was diagnosed in January of this year - it has now spread to three quarters of her abdomen and is pushing up to her chest She refuses to give in - she has bad days but other than that, and the fact that she is so thin, she is a happy little girl - she is enjoying the sunshine and it's doing her the world of good. We know that it is only a matter of time with her but while she is fighting, we fight with her
I hope that Teddy gets a long time yet and that he is painfree and happy - go with your own feelings as you know your bun better than anyone - he sounds adorable

I hope you have many more happy memories with all the poorly buns out there.

awwwwwww good luck to teddy hope he gets better soon

Good luck to Teddy and as Jay mentioned here you know your bunny better than anyone and sounds like the Bunny Specialist might be an idea worth trying.

Sending your special boy a snuggle.

Paws and fingers crossed this end tooxx

I feel for you I really do, because I know what you must be going through - I lost my beloved Jasper (pictured) yesterday, after nearly a week of myself and the vets trying everything we could to help him through. He was only 3 years old too, that was one of the worst things about it.

All I can say is to do your research and go with your gut feeling. He's your baby, don't let the vet's neglect the situation. If you feel so strongly about the procedure of the vet, I would ask to see your normal one and/or seek advice from another vet who has an interest in rabbits.

Thinking of you...

Vianne, Lilly and the late Jasper xxx

Sorry to hear about teddy as I lost a bunny 3weeks ago to a tumour, she had uterine cancer and it was found purely by accident, I had taken her to the Vets back in Nov 04 for excessive drinking (600mls a day) after various tests an Xray showed a grey area so my vets opened her up and took the tumour away. Unfortunately the original symptoms didn't go away and I was refered to a specialist. To cut a long story short, she had to have her routine xray to see about the tumour back in March which actually showed that it had come back and spread to the chest and lungs, I personally knew that she was on borrowed time and just wanted her to live her life as happy as she could as I had rescued her 2years previous. My Vet couldn't believe the results of the Xray as she had never looked better and we also thought the same. Good luck and thinking of you and teddy.
kay

Hi,

Sorry to hear about Teddy, there is a very good rabbit vet in Watford called Guy Carter and if you want his details PM me and I will give then to you.

He is a bit far for me to go regularly but I go to him when I require a real expert.

Best wishes to you and Teddy


Maureen

Sorry to hear about Teddy, wishing you all the luck in the world. xxx

Thanks for your advice and well wishes, the vet is pleased with the progress of his op wound etc so at least that is something, having his stiches out next week.

Thanks for letting me know about Avipro, i've ordered some, so hopefully it will arrive fairly soon and we can get him started on it.

I'll let you know how we get on.

Hiya so sorry not to have posted before now, but have been tied up with things here in the Sanctuary and a poorly Grandmother.
I just wanted to send you lots of love and hugs, and say that there is always hope, even when things seem dire :wink:
We had a bunny who had a massive tumour removed from her stomach and it was thought she would not survive the op let alone anything else.
We do not know whether it was cancer or not, as we did not get the tumour tested, as we felt it needed to be removed whatever the tumour type.
The Bunny survived for another 7 years and died peacefully of old age.

Please hang on to hope and keep positive for Teddy, it is making each and every day special that counts, not just how many days of life you have.
You sound such a wonderful and caring Bunny Mummy, Teddy is so lucky to know you and that you love him, this is all he needs to know

I would definately consider visiting a Vet Specialist, as they may be able to advise further.
In the meantime, the special tea mentionned in a post above is used quite successfully by humans and pet owners alike.

Cuddles for Teddy, he is a brave Bunny, bless him