Pet Information > ASK Experts > Exotic Pets > Rabbits > bleeding ,wrong vet diagnosis?

bleeding ,wrong vet diagnosis?

22 10:27:34

Question
Hi Dana,

my male (1 y/o) rabbit has been bleeding from the cavity around his genital. The vet said the bleeding was from a constipation and that she could feel the pellets inside his system. So she gave me paraffin oil to give 3x daily which i did yesterday and today.

but my rabbit hasn't stopped bleeding (the blood is quite diluted and the vet said it should be just an abrassion because its painful constipation). He also refused to eat or drink. I feed him diluted yoghurt and rabbit milk and he seems fine. He still cleans himself and walk around, just as active.

So today I went to the vet and she said the other possibility is it has developed internal infection, so she gave the rabbit antibiotic injection, as well as some for me to give at home 2x daily. I just started giving it.

However, as he was walking around I spotted a blood clot, it's a jelly like clot but not so dark as female's mens, almost as diluted as the blood.

What happens to my bunny?? Please help me asap, I don't know anymore what I should do...!

Shirley

Answer
Dear Shirley,

The first thing I must ask is:  are you 100% certain that your bunny is a male?  The signs you describe are consistent with a female suffering from a uterine problem such as hyperplasia and/or uterine cancer.  It is rather unusual for a male rabbit to produce blood from the vent.

If this *is* a male, then there are two possible sources:  the intestine or the urinary tract.  There are various things that can cause urinary tract bleeding, from bladder stones to infection, and you can read more here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/urinary.html

If the blood is coming from the intestine, there could be rectal polyps that are bleeding, or there could be something more serious.  But trauma or infection would be my first thoughts on this.   Some intestinal parasites also can cause bleeding of the intestine.  Please see:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html

I would certainly find another vet who can give you a second opinion, and perferably a vet who is very experienced with rabbits.  You should be able to find one here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I hope this helps.

Dana