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  • 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.

URGENT vet has found a large lump on my Benny....U/D IT'S CANCER.

I had the terrible news today that the lump they excised is cancer.

I would welcome any advice anyone has (esp any exotic vets??) on treatment of cancer in rabbits.

My vet said the lump was completely removed so there is a chance that that's it. But my reading tells me that it's very likely it will return in some shape or form.

I am going to vets Monday to discuss a scan to see if any masses are evident. Any other advice would be very welcome.

We are BEYOND devastated with the news. These little dudes are our life, they give us reason to smile..
 
Oh no I'm sorry to hear this. I have no experience of cancer in rabbits, so can offer no advice, but didn't want to read and run. Im glad the vet was able to remove all of the lump, and I'm sending a million vibes that further tests show no evidence of any more. Hugs for you xxxx
 
I’m so sorry:cry: I don’t have any advice, but I’m sending lots of vibes and hugs xx
 
I had the terrible news today that the lump they excised is cancer.

I would welcome any advice anyone has (esp any exotic vets??) on treatment of cancer in rabbits.

My vet said the lump was completely removed so there is a chance that that's it. But my reading tells me that it's very likely it will return in some shape or form.

I am going to vets Monday to discuss a scan to see if any masses are evident. Any other advice would be very welcome.

We are BEYOND devastated with the news. These little dudes are our life, they give us reason to smile..


Hi Mia

I am so sorry to hear that the lump is cancerous. I don't know whether there are any exotic vets on this Forum, but has your vet suggested any ongoing treatment?

I have had a rabbit with cancer, but the lump was not taken out because of where it was. My vet couldn't offer anything but I managed his condition as best I could.

Sending hugs and vibes x
 
Thankyou all so much for your replies.

Mightymax, I'm so sorry that there was nothing they could do for your bunny, how did you manage? Re your query, my vet has suggested a scan to see if there are any obvious masses internally.

There is an exotic vet that does a surgery fairly close to us, I'm sure some of you will have heard of him he is John Chitty, I think he is one of the few vets that is on the RWA gold approved list. I will definitely at the very least call him and ask for advice.

We are praying the lump they removed is the end of it.

Ps, you wouldn't know there was anything wrong with him at moment- he has just done a circle dance around his brother and tried to hump his face!!!! Scootsy took exception to it and chased him off, Benny went off like a rocket!
 
Thankyou all so much for your replies.

Mightymax, I'm so sorry that there was nothing they could do for your bunny, how did you manage? Re your query, my vet has suggested a scan to see if there are any obvious masses internally.

There is an exotic vet that does a surgery fairly close to us, I'm sure some of you will have heard of him he is John Chitty, I think he is one of the few vets that is on the RWA gold approved list. I will definitely at the very least call him and ask for advice.

We are praying the lump they removed is the end of it.

Ps, you wouldn't know there was anything wrong with him at moment- he has just done a circle dance around his brother and tried to hump his face!!!! Scootsy took exception to it and chased him off, Benny went off like a rocket!


This is good to hear :)

Try and focus on the positive. Benny doesn't know the diagnosis you've had for him. He's going along in blissful ignorance and whilst that's so, you can enjoy every day with him :) Rabbits don't put labels on themselves like we do on ourselves, so for him it's another sunny day and hopefully many many more.

I think it's a really good idea to get some scans done, and John Chitty is an excellent vet :D

Regarding my own rabbit, I managed to shrink the tumour, with the help of some very specialist treatment (all veterinary qualified :)) so we were lucky that there was no invasive surgery to cope with.
 
I had the terrible news today that the lump they excised is cancer.

I would welcome any advice anyone has (esp any exotic vets??) on treatment of cancer in rabbits.

My vet said the lump was completely removed so there is a chance that that's it. But my reading tells me that it's very likely it will return in some shape or form.

I am going to vets Monday to discuss a scan to see if any masses are evident. Any other advice would be very welcome.

We are BEYOND devastated with the news. These little dudes are our life, they give us reason to smile..

I am sorry to hear the news is not good :cry: Did the Vet say exactly what type of cancer it is as this would impact on possible further treatment options/prognosis. The Exotics Vets who do look at this forum are unable to post these days, for Professional reasons. Has your Vet suggested any further options such as a referral to an Exotics Specialist or an Oncologist ?

A member of RU, username 'parsnipbun' had a Rabbit (Parsley) who underwent a rather revolutionary treatment for Melanoma. This was done at The Animal Health Trust in Cambridge

http://www.aht.org.uk/cms-display/ahtreferrals.html?app=cms&ns=display&ref=vet_professionals


Some old RU threads about Parsley :

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...lanomas-Anyone-tried-to-treat-one-on-a-rabbit

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...omorrow-morning-wish-us-well&highlight=cancer

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...ter-specialist-clinic-and-op&highlight=cancer

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...DAY-U-D-post-17-nasty-scare!&highlight=cancer

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...ing-UD-and-photo-posts-12-20&highlight=cancer

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...y-had-had-3rd-Cancer-Vaccine&highlight=cancer

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...more-for-6-months-!!!-YAY!!!&highlight=cancer

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...more-for-6-months-!!!-YAY!!!&highlight=cancer

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...scan-today-UB-Post-7-results&highlight=cancer

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...sley-s-various-health-issues&highlight=cancer

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...lla-operation-UPDATE-Post-23&highlight=cancer

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...-s-latest-experimental-drug!&highlight=cancer

'parsnipbun' also had another Rabbit who was diagnosed with Lymphoma and this thread relates to the Chemotherapy used

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...-Syndrome-in-Rabbits&highlight=chemo+lymphoma

After a cancer diagnosis what treatment options that there may be will depend on many things- the type of cancer, it's location/stage, the ethical aspects (how far does one go with regards to treatment), whether the Rabbit is not currently in pain and able to enjoy day to day life.etc.....etc.
There will be no one size fits all with regards to what decisions are made and each case needs to be judged individually.

Whilst any cancer diagnosis is devastating it is not always an immediate end, sometimes the rate of progression of the disease can be slowed down with various treatments, even if a total cure is not possible.

Maybe you could have a long discussion with your Vet about your Rabbit's exact type of Cancer and if your Vet is unable to offer any further options then you could ask to be referred to a Specialist. Even after a referral it may still be the case that the only option is palliative care. It may be that any aggressive treatment would not be appropriate in your Rabbit's specific case. But at least you would know that you had looked into it all.

I really do wish your Bunny well and I hope that he can remain comfortable for as long as possible.
 
I had the terrible news today that the lump they excised is cancer.

I would welcome any advice anyone has (esp any exotic vets??) on treatment of cancer in rabbits.

My vet said the lump was completely removed so there is a chance that that's it. But my reading tells me that it's very likely it will return in some shape or form.

I am going to vets Monday to discuss a scan to see if any masses are evident. Any other advice would be very welcome.

We are BEYOND devastated with the news. These little dudes are our life, they give us reason to smile..


Mia,
I am sorry you did not get better news. That being said, the location, type, stage, and ability of the surgeon to get good margins can vary significantly from case to case.
In my decades of having pet bunnies; I have dealt with several bunnies who had cancer and most had a good quality of life for years after their initial diagnosis.
Sending you some positive vibes for a good outcome.
 
I am sorry that the news was not better. As others have advised it is important to know the type of cancer that has been identified (as with a diagnosis of cancer in a human), as that will be an important indicator of the prognosis and treatment options available.

John Chitty is a very well regarded vet.

Sending lots of vibes for Benny. I hope with more information you and your vet will decide a treatment plan, which will enable him to remain comfortable for as long as possible.
 
I can't thank you enough for all your support and advice.

I had the report from the lab sent to me, and they advise it's a soft tissue sarcoma. They also advise it MAY have metastatic potential and cancer staging is important.

I intend to do as much as possible, but the moment he begins to suffer is when I stop. I read about a rabbit going thru chemotherapy in the book "rabbit health in the 21st century" and I thought the treatment sounded very invasive.

I also have to think of his brother, Scootsy, as at the moment wherever Benny goes, Scootsy does. It must be stressful for him too. Obviously that's an aside at the moment but it does cause me a concern.

If for once, luck shines on us and the lump taken out is all there is then great, but I have to prepare myself for more bad news.
 
I can't thank you enough for all your support and advice.

I had the report from the lab sent to me, and they advise it's a soft tissue sarcoma. They also advise it MAY have metastatic potential and cancer staging is important.

I intend to do as much as possible, but the moment he begins to suffer is when I stop. I read about a rabbit going thru chemotherapy in the book "rabbit health in the 21st century" and I thought the treatment sounded very invasive.

I also have to think of his brother, Scootsy, as at the moment wherever Benny goes, Scootsy does. It must be stressful for him too. Obviously that's an aside at the moment but it does cause me a concern.

If for once, luck shines on us and the lump taken out is all there is then great, but I have to prepare myself for more bad news.


Yes I have that book and I know the part that you mention ...

I do hope they got the whole lump x
 
Another question guys..

I've been bringing Scootsy, his brother to the examinations and he also went along to the op. I've had experience of bonded pairs fighting after just one went to vets (when I was alot more inexperienced with bunnies) and we all know the pros in keeping pairs together.

BUT I can't help but think I am putting Scootsy thru undue stress, although there are plenty of reasons why it's good to keep them together.

What do you guys do when you have one of a pair who has a serious illness?
 
Another question guys..

I've been bringing Scootsy, his brother to the examinations and he also went along to the op. I've had experience of bonded pairs fighting after just one went to vets (when I was alot more inexperienced with bunnies) and we all know the pros in keeping pairs together.

BUT I can't help but think I am putting Scootsy thru undue stress, although there are plenty of reasons why it's good to keep them together.

What do you guys do when you have one of a pair who has a serious illness?[/QUOTE]

This very much depends on how stressed the non-poorly rabbit gets when travelling to the vets and how seriously ill the poorly rabbit is. Plus I consider how stable I consider the bond to be.

So, if the poorly rabbit is very poorly and thus needs support from its partner to assist in recovery I would always try to take it.

On the other hand if the vet visit is just for a vaccination plus the partner rabbit gets extremely stressed by travelling and I consider the bond to be stable, I would take the rabbit alone for its vaccination.
 
Ok so I have now registered with John Chitty. My vet has just said that John advised he will need to do a CT scan.

When i asked how often John Chitty has dealt with this apparently I am the first one :shock: This does not fill me with hope. Plus, if he DOES find some sort of mass - what on earth are they going to do with them?? Am I putting him thru the stress of long journeys for nothing?

Also doing some research, I couldn't find any rabbit oncologists. Are there any? I am in the Southampton area.

Sorry guys I am feeling really despondent
 
Ok so I have now registered with John Chitty. My vet has just said that John advised he will need to do a CT scan.

When i asked how often John Chitty has dealt with this apparently I am the first one :shock: This does not fill me with hope. Plus, if he DOES find some sort of mass - what on earth are they going to do with them?? Am I putting him thru the stress of long journeys for nothing?

Also doing some research, I couldn't find any rabbit oncologists. Are there any? I am in the Southampton area.

Sorry guys I am feeling really despondent

Sending hugs. The situation must be very distresing :(

I would be very surprised if John Chitty had not treated a Sarcoma in a rabbit before. I would not have thought they were that uncommon.

I am fairly confident that there would be vets specialising in oncology, although possibly not specifically for rabbits. Googling identified Nerys Lau in Fareham https://www.companioncare.co.uk/fin...-care-vets-fareham-collingwood/meet-the-team/. However, I know nothing about her or the veterinary practice.

John Chitty has a very good reputation and I would feel confident that he would give good advice and if necessary refer you to an oncologist. Perhaps initially just have an in-depth discussion with him, outlining your concerns.
 
Ok so I have now registered with John Chitty. My vet has just said that John advised he will need to do a CT scan.

When i asked how often John Chitty has dealt with this apparently I am the first one :shock: This does not fill me with hope. Plus, if he DOES find some sort of mass - what on earth are they going to do with them?? Am I putting him thru the stress of long journeys for nothing?

Also doing some research, I couldn't find any rabbit oncologists. Are there any? I am in the Southampton area.

Sorry guys I am feeling really despondent


Hi Mia

I came up against exactly the same sort of problem when my rabbit had cancer. I visited several vets before I decided on a course of action. It's good to get opinions to be able to form your own on. My own vet had not seen this kind of thing before either :(

I should take it one step at a time, and give yourself a breather to think about the next step. It may be that you decide to settle on palliative care. It's difficult, but I hope you and John Chitty will come to some sort of agreement as to what to do.

Hugs xx
 
Sending hugs. The situation must be very distresing :(

I would be very surprised if John Chitty had not treated a Sarcoma in a rabbit before. I would not have thought they were that uncommon.

I am fairly confident that there would be vets specialising in oncology, although possibly not specifically for rabbits. Googling identified Nerys Lau in Fareham https://www.companioncare.co.uk/fin...-care-vets-fareham-collingwood/meet-the-team/. However, I know nothing about her or the veterinary practice.

John Chitty has a very good reputation and I would feel confident that he would give good advice and if necessary refer you to an oncologist. Perhaps initially just have an in-depth discussion with him, outlining your concerns.

I agree with Omi, even if JC has not dealt with your Bunny's particular type of cancer he will have good contacts within the field of Veterinary Oncology to whom he can refer you. As Omi has stated, JC has an excellent reputation and I would be very confident in consulting him in your situation. Very best wishes for whatever course of action you decide on xx
 
Mia,

I just want to send you and your bunnies some more positive vibes. I understand how scary it is to hear the 'C' word. All you can do is educate yourself and then make a decision that you deem best for your bunny and yourself.
 
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