Barium Swallow

[lucciolato]

Is a barium swallow safe for my bunny? I can't really find any info about it. Has anyone had to have it done to their rabbit?

Thanks!

 

[lucciolato]

Pumpkin had his barium test done today and all went well. They put the barium on a banana and he ate it. On the flip side, we still don't know what's wrong.

 

[squidpop]

I've never heard of this test being done on a rabbit. So what problem was he having?

 

[bright_eyes]

Yes, radiographs during a barium series is primarily to detect intestinal blockages. I have assisted with a couple.

Generally it doesn't hurt the bun, but the liquid does not taste good.

 

[lucciolato]

His test was to see if he had a diaphragmatic hernia. Although the test show his stomach and intestines are in the right place, they think he may still have one and that his liver is poking through.

 

[lucciolato]

He didn't have a diaphragmatic hernia. It ended up being a collapsed lung. But we got him through it and he is perfectly healthy now and his lung has re-inflated.