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Arthritis

keletkezes

keletkezes

Wise Old Thumper
This is doing the rounds on Twitter today: it's an old (2012) paper but this link is to the not-paywalled article: https://www.nature.com/articles/lab...ZFXvbW_CZaIi1f666avbzvCIoWcb-HWBYbPdsNu4Pig==

Summarised by Dr. Naomi Harvey thusly:

Of 187 pet rabbits showing no signs of lameness, osteoarthritis (OA) detected by x-ray was highly prevalent: 12% aged 1-3
30% aged 3-6
45% aged 6-9
70% aged 9+
Mostly in knee & hip joints.

This is an *underestimate* as no lame rabbits & x-ray can't reveal earliest OA
Click to expand...

From https://twitter.com/Naomi_D_Harvey/status/1269971061640134659.

I don't think Lopsy is using the high-sided litter tray as much, I think he's using the two lower ones by preference. He's otherwise fine, still clean and unmatted, and bounding everywhere, throwing himself off things, but at his age (7) I wouldn't rule out a bit of arthritis. Even before reading this I was thinking it might be! I'll add it to my (very short and I hope it stays that way!) List of Issues to discuss next time they're at the vets.
 
keletkezes said:
This is doing the rounds on Twitter today: it's an old (2012) paper but this link is to the not-paywalled article: https://www.nature.com/articles/lab...ZFXvbW_CZaIi1f666avbzvCIoWcb-HWBYbPdsNu4Pig==

Summarised by Dr. Naomi Harvey thusly:



From https://twitter.com/Naomi_D_Harvey/status/1269971061640134659.

I don't think Lopsy is using the high-sided litter tray as much, I think he's using the two lower ones by preference. He's otherwise fine, still clean and unmatted, and bounding everywhere, throwing himself off things, but at his age (7) I wouldn't rule out a bit of arthritis. Even before reading this I was thinking it might be! I'll add it to my (very short and I hope it stays that way!) List of Issues to discuss next time they're at the vets.
Click to expand...

Interesting article. I have had Rabbits as young as 1 diagnosed with 'early onset arthritis', Endeavour being one of them. IME in the early stages of an arthritic condition the signs can be really subtle. So like you say, not hopping into high sided litter trays, but still being able to binky. Sometimes repeated episodes of gut stasis can be a sign as can the development of sore hocks and/or gunky ears. Changes in urination habits too, sometimes Bunny does not empty their bladder fully and this may lead to episodes of UTIs/bladder sludge.
 
I haven't read that paper, but isn't the gist of it " rabbits make great subjects for expirements on arthritis " :(
 
Stator said:
I haven't read that paper, but isn't the gist of it " rabbits make great subjects for expirements on arthritis " :(
Click to expand...
No, it's a veterinary paper. It was conducted by veterinarians not medics: the letters after the names are generally DVM and similar. You can't make progress in treatment without researching your subjects :)
 
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