Surgery on an older rabbit

[chompsky]

We have a 9 year old but still quite energetic Dutch rabbit who lives in the house with us. Last year he developed a lump on his rump which a vet said was unlikely to be cancerous. We've simply been keeping an eye on it. It has since ulcerated, and we must make a decision whether or not to have it surgically removed. Naturally we're quite concerned about surgery/anesthesia on an older rabbit; weighing that against the reality of this is proving difficult.

His behaviour is fine; in fact he almost seems to be going through a second childhood (kit-hood?), binkying and running about. In other words, happy and healthy - except for that angry looking lump, and the fact that his droppings haven't been normal, which I assume is unrelated, but I might as well mention it. They start small in the mornings, then end up OK later in the day.

It's up to us to decide what to do, but any thoughts welcome.

 

[Shimmer]

As the mass has ulcerated, I would be looking at sugical removal if it was my rabbit. Some things just don't sort themselves out, but I would sort out why his poo isn't right first. Rabbits need to be in the best shape they can be before a GA (general anaesthetic), especially as there's a chance of GI stasis afterwards - so you don't want them going in for an operation with a pre-existing GI issue.

Age in itself isn't a reason to avoid a necessary GA. You can mitigate some risks, eg get routine bloods done beforehand to check organ function, getting gut issues sorted & weight stable, and using a vet that is experienced with rabbit surgery & GA.

 

[chompsky]

I would sort out why his poo isn't right first.

The vet has been scratching her head over that. His diet is almost all hay, some greens, a very small amount of nuggets. Easy to ditch the nuggets; we're currently trying to decide about greens (he's very fond of pak choi, and loves sweet pepper, though we don't let him OD on it). Have been wondering if age alone has affected his gut motility. He's also been leaving a few cecos in his tray in the mornings, which he hasn't done since he was a youngster.

Jokey video from a few years ago:

 

[Shimmer]

He may have some arthritis which is stopping him eating his cecos. Has this been considered? Maybe ask about a short course of eg metacam to see if it resolves any of the current issues.

They are not an essential part of the diet, but I find it useful to feed a small amount of daily nuggets as it gives an indication that they are eating normally (leftover nuggets ring alarm bells), can be used as bribes / treats, and are useful if they stop eating other things. They can also be soaked / mushed up and syringe fed if they stop eating. Mine get a small handful (each) a day, but that could easily be cut down by half.

Does he have access to the same space overnight as he does during the day? Activity helps with digestion and passing poo, plus rabbits are naturally more active at dusk and dawn. If his space is restricted at night (or for any other significant length of time), it might partly explain the smaller poo (especially if there's some arthritis as well).

 

[chompsky]

He doesn't appear to have any problems bending over - we still see him eating cecos and doing his usual full body grooming. And as I mentioned, he's quite active. He has the whole house to run around day and night, with no period of confinement. A correction to my post above: the size of his poops actually gets better in the morning rather than later in the day, it's just that they always start out small.

leftover nuggets ring alarm bells

Why is that?

 

[bunny momma]

His poo size may depend on when he eats his greens which makes them more hydrated and larger. If he gets greens once a day, try dividing them so half morning and half night.
I have had surgery on bunnies who were his age or a little older without incident, yet would want blood work too.
Sending vibes.

 

[chompsky]

Funnily enough the vet advised stopping the greens and going to hay alone, which concerned me because he's been eating them almost all his life (morning and evening), and because of the hydration they provide.

 

[Omi]

Just to add to the good advice and comments you've had already, I think if it were my bunny I would want to know what the lump was, before putting him through an operation. You said that your vet said it was unlikely to be cancerous. Was that opinion based on any diagnostics or only observation. I think I would ask for a small biopsy to be taken to confirm what it is and likely prognosis.

Best of luck with whatever you decide too.

 

[Shimmer]

Funnily enough the vet advised stopping the greens and going to hay alone, which concerned me because he's been eating them almost all his life (morning and evening), and because of the hydration they provide.

That's actually pretty good advice generally. It takes the diet right back to basics.
Grass is as good as hay, and has more moisture in it - so poo would become darker rather than golden from hay alone.
Water is best provided in a bowl rather than a bottle as they can drink more with less effort. Use a heavy ceramic one - like a dog bowl - to prevent it being tipped over.

You asked about why left over pellets are a cause for concern: I don't feed many, and they are basically used as bribes. They normally disappear within a few minutes on an evening, so any that remain uneaten by morning mean that something definitely isn't right and it needs investigating, especially if it happens over more than one night. It could, for example, be the start of GI stasis or a dental issue. It's much easier to monitor than the amount of hay eaten as there's always piles of that available and it's not always obvious as to who has eaten how much. The other thing to keep an eye on is the poo, and note any changes in size, quantity, colour, shape, etc - as changes from normal also indicates that something is wrong. It should be plentiful, round, consistent size, and crumbly and golden if fed mainly on hay.