Mini-lop not doing well - tumor?

rk54 · Jan 12, 2013

Hello,

I have a 5-6 year old mini-lop bunny who in the past 3 weeks seems to have a developed a large lump on the side of his stomach. It's causing him to lay stretched out and its affecting his ability to stand up. He eats if you put food directly in front of him but doesn't or cant move his back legs to function very well. He has lost a lot of weight and it almost seems like his stomach is on his side and not underneath him.

What am I up against here? Obviously a trip to the vet is in order but I can't spend a fortune and these conditions are serious I'm sure.

Cancer, Tumor , Stomach blockage?

Advice would be helpful.

wendymac · Jan 12, 2013

It could be an abscess. Is there any heat to it? Is the lump hard and firm? Or more pliable and "moveable"?

tonyshuman · Jan 14, 2013

It could even be bloat, where the stomach is full of gas. If this has happened suddenly, it is probably bloat which is an emergency situation.
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f22/bloat-gas-10385/

I doubt it is a blockage because those are usually more abdominal (intestinal) than by the stomach. Plus if there is a blockage of that size the rabbit would not eat. The stomach doesn't get blocked except in the case of bloat. If it has come about more slowly, it could be an abscess or tumor. It could be a benign tumor, like a fatty deposit, or cyst (liquid filled) that can be drained. If it is a solid cancerous tumor, it may be simple to remove and the faster you do that the more likely you are to have complete recovery without it spreading. In any case, it should be seen by a vet soon if it is causing him mobility issues. If it is something you cannot have healed or cannot afford to have healed, the vet could at least prescribe pain medication and/or appetite stimulants so that he can move and eat normally, or have him humanely put to sleep. I really hope it is one of the simpler issues, but only a vet will be able to tell how serious it is.

wendymac · Jan 14, 2013

Did you get him to the vet yet?

HEM · Jan 14, 2013

I would get him to a vet ASAP
Hopefully everything will be alright
We will be thinking of you

rk54 · Jan 17, 2013

Hi all,

Dango has passed away this morning, i went back and looked at his paperwork and he was actually 8 1/2 years old. I called an exotic animals vet and they couldn't see him until Friday unless I wanted to pay an emergency after hours fee. This issue came on so suddenly and started as a small lump and then quickly grew to softball size, I can't believe his quality of life diminished so quickly.

@ TonyShuman - i wish I had seen that link to the "bloat" diagnosis more quickly. Those x-ray photos look exactly like where the problem had occurred. Enlarged, hardened area to the side...

Thanks everyone for the feedback, it looks like I didn't recognize the problem fast enough.

Ryan.