Update on Phoenix's Spay... :(

[holtzchick]

Okay, Just got a call from the vet. From what I know, he has now told me she is about 3 1/2 years of age and that the surgery went well... he also mentioned that she had cystic ovaries... does that mean she already has cancer. She hasn't been showing any symptoms except for the fact that the past week or so she's had red urine although I didn't think for there to be blood in there but it was fairly bright.

He didn't give me much detail since he said he would call me in another 30 minutes since we have some things to "discuss" .... I am SO paranoid I love Phoenix and the fact that she is the sweetest bunny I have ever come across makes hearing this so much harder! She even gave me nose kisses as I dropped her off this morning ....

Does anyone have any advice for me on this matter or what the cystic ovaries mean? I would highly appreciate it and will update when the vet calls me back...

 

[audrinasmommy88]

I dont think ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer are the same thing. I could be wrong so dont quote me on it. I mean, I have cysts on my ovaries but I dont have cancer. I hope that everything is ok and I hope you keep us updated

 

[JBun]

With him saying the surgery went well, I would think that Phoenix is ok. I think if there had been signs of cancer he would have said something. Maybe she just needs some extra care after you bring her home and that's what he wanted to discuss with you.

 

[gmas rabbit]

from what I have read on the subject the uterus in older female rabbits can change and thicken, resulting in polps and cysts, which in turn leads to red urine, loss of weight and inactivity. I don't get the impression that they are cancerous but certainly left unattended can develop into that.

 

[agnesthelion]

I agree with everyone else. This doesn't sound like cancer, just cysts. Much like humans can get too. If anything, this should confirm that you did the EXACT right thing by getting her spayed it stopped things from possibly progressing worse.

I'd be interested in how he could tell how old she was? I have never heard of that before. To estimate it to 3.5 years....if you are so inclined, ask him. I would love to hear the answer

But anyway, I am so glad the surgery went well and I think she will end up being just fine. Keep us updated!!!

 

[holtzchick]

Okay just talked to the vet again. Phoenix is on her way to a full recovery, she is already eating! Thank you all for your warm wishes. As for her cysts, he said they were small as in ones that would have just developed (which could potentially be blood in the urine that I have noticed only in the past week although i didn't think it to be blood) or ones that would result in older rabbits. He said he didn't think it was anything too serious but i insisted on sending it to the lab to make sure and he said hopefully it is nothing.

He said the specialist as well as himself have guessed that she is 3 1/2 or 4 years o age. I forgot to ask how he came to that conclusion as I myself was curious but I'm going to assume it was by the teeth as I asked him to check those before surgery. I'm not sure if it works the same for rabbits or not but in other animals the more translucent the teeth are further up to the gum the older the animal. I'm so happy to hear that I just prolonged her life!

As for the cancer scare I apologize for my assumptions as I am simply uneducated in health issues lol. Thank you all again for the support!

 

[JBun]

Glad to hear everything is ok and she's doing well after her surgery.

 

[missyscove]

You can't really use the condition of the teeth to age rabbits like you can with other pets because rabbit teeth always grow. I'm also curious as to how they decided on 3.5.

 

[JBun]

You can tell a horse's age by it's teeth and their teeth grow. So it's not the same for rabbits?

 

[agnesthelion]

JBun wrote:

You can tell a horse's age by it's teeth and their teeth grow. So it's not the same for rabbits?

No, from what I've always read, once a rabbit reaches sexual maturity it is very difficult to tell their age. I'm not sure why you can for horses and you cant for rabbits (I know nothing about horses though) but I've heard that rabbits fast growing teeth and varying chewing habits make it nearly impossible to estimate.

I'd love to hear if there is a way, though, because I adopted a stray and it would be great to be able to estimate age somehow.....

 

[agnesthelion]

Aah, I just googled the horse thing because I'm a research NUT

The reason why you can identify a horse's age by teeth vs a rabbit is because a horses amount of teeth and their tooth growth changes with age whereas a rabbits doesn't.

Interesting, I learned something new today

 

[holtzchick]

Ah cool well in any case I will ask him how they aged her when I go in for her follow up exam... Then I will post away

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Glad to hear all is well.

 

[audrinasmommy88]

Cant the amount of veins in a rabbits ears be an indicator of how old they may be? I have heard that somewhere, dont know if its true.

 

[holtzchick]

Thank you!
I just checked on her myself. Poor thing seems sore but she sure has a mighty appetite, she is also staying hydrated

 

[JBun]

Yeah, my doe was really sore too. Poor thing could barely hop around. It took her a few days to get back to her onery old self .

 

[Imbrium]

I'm so glad her surgery went well and she's eating/drinking normally already!

 

[HEM]

We are glad that everything went well and nothing too serious was wrong
We are hoping for a speedy recovery!!

 

[holtzchick]

Thank you once again! She is doing very well today, seems to have a lot of energy. I gave her some metacam this morning and am giving her baytril twice a day for the week to help prevent any unwanted infections. she is getting lots of love and pets from everyone to help her recover

I am awaiting the results from the lab to see what those cysts we're because I am curious. Also if I wanted to rule out any potential health problems should I eventually get bloodwork done? I'm just a super paranoid person and it would make me feel better to know. Even my vet says I am paranoid, I constantly worry about everything lol

 

[Ilovemyrabbit]

So happy that she recovered :biggrin:!

I'm gonna have to neuter my rabbit soon.