Strange Abdomen bloat help!

[ActuallyARabbit]

Hello, I have a situation I really need some advice. I have a (4yo/spayed/female) rabbit named Bianca, we have been to 3 vets and have no answers I don’t know what to do! I’ve also never been in this situation with a pet before so general advice would be appreciated as well. Also hoping my situation can help any others going through the same thing.
This started the month of December we noticed our girl was gaining weight, looking round but otherwise normal, so we weren’t too worried. We left her with my sister the week of Christmas to visit my mom and she was fine just started having some strange poops. The week we came back we got her in to our normal rabbit vet on the 3rd. We got an xray and she had a large amount of fluid built up and her organs were like pushed to the side from all the fluid.
Same day we were referred to another vet that could do an ultrasound (we were there for 12 hours it was exhausting) they did blood work, ultrasound and drained most of the fluid off. They showed us the fluid, it was really clear. We had that fluid analyzed as well. At this point still no clear answers.
This past Friday we drove 2 hours to see a cardiologist for a heart ultrasound and consult. He found a slight murmur but nothing significant that would cause all the fluid.
We still have no answers. Our local vet is now planning to send us over 3 hours away for a possible expensive CT scan. Maybe another ultrasound.
Am I missing something? Am I not asking the right questions? Is my girl just a medial anomaly? I really hate to have her in the car that long and stress her out for the trip.
Right now she is behaving/eating/drinking/pooping normally. She’s currently on Furosemide twice a day.
Thank you to anyone who read all this. I really am so worried for her, she’s such a good girl

 

[InspectorMorse]

Cardiac and renal problems are often the primary cause of oedema.Ascites are associated with liver disease and some advanced/recurring cancers. It sounds as though the Vets are considering all of these possibilities. You don’t mention exactly what her blood test results were, especially relating to her liver and renal function ?

A CT scan with contrast dye would be very useful and able to give a more detailed imaging profile. But it might not offer any information to enable a Vet to prescribe any curative treatment options. It might, however, enable a Vet to prescribe medications to manage a chronic condition. Personally if it were a possibility and the travelling would not be profoundly detrimental to the Rabbit I would want to get it done.

As an aside, what breed is your Rabbit ? Is she a Rex or a Rex cross breed ?

 

[ActuallyARabbit]

The cardiologist found a slight murmur but nothing he saw explained the fluid buildup. They didn’t seem to find anything abnormal about her blood results, slightly low protein levels but not alarmingly low.
If this were cancer would they be able to detect it from the blood test or see it on an ultrasound? Would it be worth it to take an X-ray instead now that most of the fluid is gone?

She is not a Rex, we got her at a local rescue. I don’t know exactly what breed but she is a large bun, her usual weight is 11.6lbs

 

[InspectorMorse]

Giant Rabbits are more prone to heart disease, as are Rexes hence my question about her breed type.

A CT scan would be far more useful than just an X-ray. Also, an ECG to check the electrical activity in the heart.

There might be some indications of some types of cancer that could be seen from a full blood profile. But certainly not all cancers.

If she were my Bunny I would opt for a CT with contrast dye rather than any other type of imaging x

 

[ActuallyARabbit]

Giant Rabbits are more prone to heart disease, as are Rexes hence my question about her breed type.

A CT scan would be far more useful than just an X-ray. Also, an ECG to check the electrical activity in the heart.

There might be some indications of some types of cancer that could be seen from a full blood profile. But certainly not all cancers.

If she were my Bunny I would opt for a CT with contrast dye rather than any other type of imaging x

Okay, thank you so much for your input. I’m really just worried we’ll do the CT scan and just find nothing significant like everything else we’ve done so far. We will make the trip probably this weekend.
The cardiologist mentioned the possibility of needing a ECG, but didn’t end up suggesting it or doing it. He sounded not very worried about her heart.

 

[InspectorMorse]

Okay, thank you so much for your input. I’m really just worried we’ll do the CT scan and just find nothing significant like everything else we’ve done so far. We will make the trip probably this weekend.
The cardiologist mentioned the possibility of needing a ECG, but didn’t end up suggesting it or doing it. He sounded not very worried about her heart.

The heart can look normal on US but an US can’t evaluate the electrical activity of the heart. That said, I am not a Vet and I am sure a specialist cardiologist is much better placed to advise you about the ECG

Unfortunately there is no guarantee that the CT scan will provide the Vet with any more information. But it’s still something I would want to do as it is a very useful diagnostic tool.

 

[ActuallyARabbit]

Giant Rabbits are more prone to heart disease, as are Rexes hence my question about her breed type.

A CT scan would be far more useful than just an X-ray. Also, an ECG to check the electrical activity in the heart.

There might be some indications of some types of cancer that could be seen from a full blood profile. But certainly not all cancers.

If she were my Bunny I would opt for a CT with contrast dye rather than any other type of imaging

This may be something I will ask the vet today as well, but what would happen if we held off on the CT? Last I talked to my vet she was making it sound like she wanted us to get in as soon as possible. Would I be so horrible to take a break and manage her with her medication as long as everything with her is normal? Like would in the worst case she may need more fluid drained again before we take the CT?

 

[InspectorMorse]

This may be something I will ask the vet today as well, but what would happen if we held off on the CT? Last I talked to my vet she was making it sound like she wanted us to get in as soon as possible. Would I be so horrible to take a break and manage her with her medication as long as everything with her is normal? Like would in the worst case she may need more fluid drained again before we take the CT?

As she will need sedation for the CT scan I would prefer to get it done whilst she is ‘well within herself’ rather than at a time when she has worrying symptoms. Sedation at a time like that might be more risky. I would discuss all of this with the Vet

 

[bunny momma]

I do not have experience with this issue; plus you already got good advice from IM, so I am sending you positive vibes for your bunny.

 

[ActuallyARabbit]

As she will need sedation for the CT scan I would prefer to get it done whilst she is ‘well within herself’ rather than at a time when she has worrying symptoms. Sedation at a time like that might be more risky. I would discuss all of this with the Vet

I just wanted to post here with an update. Little girl did great for her CT. Turns out she had a massive fluid filled tumor on her liver and she’s getting surgery tomorrow. Thank you for the advice and the well wishes

 

[InspectorMorse]

I just wanted to post here with an update. Little girl did great for her CT. Turns out she had a massive fluid filled tumor on her liver and she’s getting surgery tomorrow. Thank you for the advice and the well wishes

Oh bless her. I do hope that the surgery will be successful and that the mass is not malignant.

 

[bunny momma]

Sending you and your bunny lots of positive vibes for your bunny's surgery and recovery.

 

[MimzMum]

All good vibes for your bunny's surgery and recovery.

 

[bunniemum]

Fingers crossed the op has gone well for her.

 

[ActuallyARabbit]

All went well! She is in recovery right now but her surgeon said it went as well as she was hoping! If all goes smoothly recovery wise we can bring her home tomorrow! Thank you all!

 

[InspectorMorse]

All went well! She is in recovery right now but her surgeon said it went as well as she was hoping! If all goes smoothly recovery wise we can bring her home tomorrow! Thank you all!

That’s sounding to be very positive news so far I hope she can make a good recovery and that there isn’t any malignancy involved x

 

[bunny momma]

Sending lots of vibes that she will soon be home with you.