prolapse

Question
i picked my rabbit up from a small animal boarding and was told that my rabbit has a prolapse. she is 9yrs old and 6 months ago suffered a small stroke which she made a very good recovery. she recently had dental work done and was checked by the vets just over a week and a half ago and they never mentioned or saw it. i was told by the lady who looked after my rabbit. my rabbit cannot go through another operation due to her age. how can i tell if she has a prolapse. thank you


Answer
UPDATE

Hi Paula, jut to let you know the vet would HAVE to give her post op antibiotics and pain meds for 3-5 days to keep her out of pain and eating and drinking.  IF they would not do this they are not a good rabbit vet and do not understand how important pain management is in rabbits.

END UPDATE


Hi Paula,

a rectal prolapse is where part of the rectum (for whatever reason) loses its ligament 'attachment' to the pelvis and can slip or fall out of place.  It could partially prolapse (early stages) or completely prolapse.  All this means is that at times, part of the rectum may be seen outside the anus (partial) or all of it (complete).  You would only be able to tell visually.

Now it probably will go back in depending on what position or activity the rabbit is doing.  But it does require surgical repair to take care of the problem.  In people they have two ways of doing it: through the abdomen (healthy people); perinially - between the genitals/anus area(for older/weaker people who can't be under general anesthetic).  I would imagine that these two ways are also done for rabbits, depending on different factors.  The difference is that in both cases the rabbit would be under general anesthetic.  I would think perinially, the rabbit would be under less time as it probably goes faster and is less invasive.

Do you know if she was fed some hay that was off?  Mycotoxins given off by moldy hay has been known to cause rectal prolapse (among many other things).

If your rabbit is otherwise healthy, she could handle surgery.  9 1/2 is older but if she is otherwise in good shape and has good strength reserves, she will pull through with an excellent rabbit surgeon.  That is the key for any rabbit surgery.  An excellent rabbit vet with a great track record for the procedure being done.  I would certainly get another good rabbit vet's opinion and have them evaluate your gal's potential for surgery.  To find another good rabbit vet around you, go to:

www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

So first determine if she really does have a problem.  If so, get a second good rabbit vet's opinion.  Write back anytime.

Lee