Mass in abdomen of breeding rabbit

Ainsleys_mommy · Jan 22, 2013

I brought Bethany home yesterday after her breeder was unable to get any kits from her. She was bred for the first time I think at 8 months. She gave birth after 2 weeks of being bred to tiny stillborns, but she still felt something in there so she gave her the nestbox at day 28. I think she pulled a little fur, but that was it. She went off of feed for a bit, but when she went back on, she rebred her. Again, pulled fur, but no kits. Rebred again, pulled fur, no kits. I brought her home yesterday and she has a mass just below her ribs that is about the size of a tangerine. I gave her a Pen G injection. Does anyone know what this could be or what to do about it? If the Pen G doesn't work, I'll take her to the vet.

tonyshuman · Jan 22, 2013

Lots of possibilities. Pyometra comes to mind first, then retained kits, tumor. I agree that the vet should be consulted if there's no improvement from the Pen G. Any bloody discharge/looks like blood in urine?

Ainsleys_mommy · Jan 22, 2013

I haven't noticed anything abnormal in her pan. Maybe I should give her a nest box and see if it encourages her to push? I'm thinking retained kit because it's rock hard. Only thing that confuses me is that it's up near her ribs, and not in her uterus.

LakeCondo · Jan 22, 2013

Definitely, see a vet situation.

tonyshuman · Jan 22, 2013

That is more concerning. Could it be her stomach that is rock hard? That could be bloat. It wouldn't be related to the breeding problems, but could have been caused by the stress of being moved? Bloat is an emergency situation that only a vet can treat.

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f22/bloat-gas-10385/

Ainsleys_mommy · Jan 22, 2013

If it were bloat, she wouldn't be producing normal stool, would she?

woahlookitsme · Jan 22, 2013

It could be a tumor. Agree that a vet needs to palpate and possibly perform ultrasound or radiographs

tonyshuman · Jan 22, 2013

It would be unlikely that she'd be pooping normally if it were bloat, that's true. Bloat usually shuts down the whole digestive pipeline. It's possible, though, that she's pooping what's in her intestines and the stopped up stomach isn't affecting that part yet. Do any of the other bloat symptoms seem to be there? A bunny with bloat will not eat and will be very abnormal in behavior, showing signs of pain, etc.

Ainsleys_mommy · Jan 22, 2013

She acted like she didn't feel well last night. I gave her some papaya because I was afraid of bloat at first. I had a rabbit with it last Feb and her swelling was in the same area. The difference is with Peneloppy, her mass was softer, very hot, and she screamed when I tried to touch it. Bethany's is very hard, not hot, and she doesn't act like it bothers her and I've pushed all over it. Tonight Bethany has been playing with her toys. Her appetite is definitely not affected. She's eaten two large handfuls of hay and 1/2 cup of pellets today.

missyscove · Jan 22, 2013

Well it does sound like she has a normal appetite. I would have it checked out by a vet for sure.

tonyshuman · Jan 23, 2013

I would not guess bloat from your description of her behavior. It sound like maybe Peneloppy had an abscess near the skin or infected mammary gland or something of that sort. For Bethany, it sounds like it's deeper in the body and/or not infection. It could still be an infection of the uterus (pyometra). It's probably not emergency-urgent but definitely is serious.