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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Rabbit has enlarged kidney, About, Help?

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    • Starla
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        So I went to the doctor thinking my rabbit had GI Stasis. The doctor listened to her stomach and felt around. She thought that it was a good diagnosis. However, she asked if we wanted to do a x ray to make sure (have to add she didn’t pressure us to at all). We went in saying we wouldn’t do a x ray but something told me to. 

        Thankfully I did!! Her kidney is huge. The doctor did feel the large mass before the x ray but never thought it was going to be her kidney. 

        Both the doctor and us were shocked. I just got her spayed 3 weeks ago and they didn’t say a word about any lump during the wellness or surgery. SO we assume it wasn’t there when they did the surgery. The doctor said it could of resulted from the spay, be a tumor, or be harmless. How would it be a result of a spay? Let me answer the best I can. She says it is possible when they clipped the tubes shut that they accidentally clipped the tube that goes to her bladder. Causing the bladder to fill up. 

        She said that the enlarged kidney could of caused GI Stasis. She gave us appetite meds and antibiotics. No pain meds sadly, because she doesn’t want to give it to her until we get the blood results tomorrow. If the blood work comes back good, Severus will also have pain meds.

        Anyways, has anyone ever had this happen to their bun or ever hear of it? (She only has the symptoms of GI Stasis right now, nothing more). Any advice? Stories?

        (Note: doctor=vet)

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      • jerseygirl
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          Apparently yes! It can happen as result of spay. I wasn’t aware of this until I just started looking into it. The condition is known as hydronephrosis. So basically the urine is obstructed from flowing out of the kidney in the normal way. It could be that a kidney stone has obstructed the ureter, possibly tumour (or cyst?) causing obstruction or, as you said, a ureter accidentally being tied off during surgery. Very unfortunate if it was due to her spay surgery. If Im reading things right, hydronephritis as result of spay is usually the reason more in ferrets, less so in rabbits. Im not sure why that is. But given your girl is 3 weeks post spay, I can see why your vet would be inclined to think that most likely the reason. 

          I wonder whether scar tissue adhesions could affect the ureters also?

          It might be an idea to have an ultrasound done to get a better idea of what’s going on. It may show the ureter also to check if upper portion is enlarged and where there may be a possible obstruction.

          {{{Vibes}}} for Severus!


        • jerseygirl
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            This is a biological study and involves experiments on rabbits. What I find interesting is the description of the changes after 1, 2 and 3 weeks after the urether is tied off. I didn’t read the whole thing. Im not terribly well versed with the terminology!

            SUZUKI,
            JOHNSON and others found that after 1 week’s ligation the cortex was
            thinner in the portion lateral to the sinus than elsewhere and that the
            collecting tubules were dilated everywhere.
            After 2 weeks the hydronephrotic changes were considerable. The ureter
            and the renal pelvis were markedly dilated and the parenchyma was
            reduced (SUZUKI 1912).
            In hydronephrosis of about 3 weeks’ duration the atrophy of the
            proximal convoluted tubules and dilatation of the collecting tubules were
            pronounced.
            http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/00016925609171433


          • Starla
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              Thanks for the input, the vet said that if it was caused from her spay that it is very rare for it to happen but any vet (good or bad)  can make the mistake. We asked about any stones, and she said that the x-ray didn’t show any. She showed us where the stones would appear in the x-ray. 

              The vet that spayed her wasn’t able to see her today so that’s why we went to this vet (they treated Severus for ear mites prior). So this vet who saw her couldn’t prove that the spay from the other vet did it without an ultrasound. 

              However, when the vet that spayed her was called about her being sick, they agreed to see her for free. So I’m hoping when they see her for free, that they also give her a free ultra sound to see if it was their accident (the accident can only be seen by ultrasound). Hopefully, if they do a free ultrasound they will be kind enough to look at her kidney to make sure there isn’t a tumor in there. Which I imagine they will. Since they are looking if it’s from the spay they did, I don’t see why they wouldn’t look at the kidney while looking at the possible mistake. I think we may go to their vet tomorrow. We left a voicemail after the we heard the news, the vet that spayed her only knows about her GI Stasis symptoms not the kidney yet.

              If it is from the spay, I’m sure that the vet that spayed her would fix the problem for free! Because we wouldn’t be able to afford the fix from that vet since they don’t take care credit, ugh!! Luckily the vet we saw today did, so we were able to do the tests we thought she needed without worrying if we had the cash.

              It’s so strange that this is really what is wrong with my girl . But she is starting to nibble on hay!! So yay!!


            • jerseygirl
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                I really hope they will treat free of charge.
                How stressful for you though, regardless!

                It must be a relief to see her starting to eat. Is she on pain meds now?


              • Starla
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                  She is not on pain meds atm, the vet wanted to get her blood work first. She is on an antibiotic (for GI Stasis or any other infection that may be going on) and a hunger medication. Once the blood work comes in, if the vet thinks its okay for Sev to be on pain meds, we will get them. The vet planned on giving them to us until she saw Sev’s kidney. Luckily the meds she is on is helping her eat. If Sev is able to take pain meds without damaging anything, I will rush to the vet and get them. 


                • jerseygirl
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                    I had thought if she was now on them, that may be why she was beginning to eat. So, it’s great that she is doing so without pain meds yet!!


                  • Starla
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                      Yes, I’m super happy! I think its the hunger medication! I have to give it to her 3 times a day. Just gave her the last dose of the night and was actually able to get the whole dose in at once after getting the syringe in her mouth! My rabbit is impossible to force feed but maybe I found out the way to do it or my rabbit maybe deep inside wants it. The vet gave her the first dose of her meds at the vet but I tried their method (holding the spot where theres no teeth to get her mouth open) and Sev just but me. Luckily the spot where she has no teeth worked just now (it never has for the multiple attempts I’ve tried)  so I can try both ways for now one. I’m just happy that the vet was able to orally give her meds and I just was! Yay! Things are started to make me feel better. I finally gave her meds (which this dose was bigger than the pan meds from the spay) without her getting most of it all of over me instead of her swallowing it.


                    • Starla
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                        Posted By jerseygirl on 3/02/2017 11:20 PM

                        I had thought if she was now on them, that may be why she was beginning to eat. So, it’s great that she is doing so without pain meds yet!!

                        Any thoughts on that being her kidney????


                      • Michael Alfes
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                          Enlarged kidneys together with sudden loss of appetite and visible lethargy can be very serious sign
                          and should be considered as a life-threatening emergency.

                          Our almost 7 years old (one month short) boy lionhead (Hawaiian) bunny Honey died two days ago due to both kidneys failure.

                          We got him in November 2010 when he was 6 weeks old and not neutralized him.

                          He was always healthy and funny and enjoyed his life.

                          The last 1-2 months (maybe longer) he had enlarged kidney which we confused with “fat butt”.
                          We only got worried when he stopped eating and got visibly apathetic.
                          The next day we brought him to vet (that we usually brought him for regular check-up).

                          X-ray and Chemistry Panel showed significant kidneys enlargement with a mass inside.

                          We could not afford hospitalization ($600 per a day) and took him back home with prescribed medication.

                          Doctors advised us that most probably it was too late.

                          Honey died on the way back home.


                        • Starla
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                            So sorry to hear about your bun ! ((( The doctor gave us a bunch of meds and I’m not sure if that is what helped or not.. But Sev had a visit to the vet 3-4 weeks ago and the vet who felt the large mass before said she did not believe that her kidney was enlarged anymore!! Luckily it was only one kidney to begin with. She did end up getting her appetite back a week after the whole ordeal. She seems to be eating the same or even more and has been drinking sooo much more water!! 

                            Again, sorry for your loss and best wishes to you and your family. I plan on doing regular checks on her at the vet to avoid any mishap! 

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                        Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Rabbit has enlarged kidney, About, Help?