Hernias in rabbits

Question
QUESTION: Hi Dana, you've given me very valuable advise regarding my little doe before. Unfortunately it's with great regret that I have to ask for your advise following her sudden death.

Little Pip came home with us when she was 9 weeks old from a breeder on 3rd March. She's a mini lop. I was concerned from day 1 as she was smaller than I expected her to be and she produced excessive 'soft' droppings that she didn't consume. I contacted the breeder and was advised that it was probably due to stress and not to worry if her appetite was good and she was also producing normal droppings.  I also took her to my vet and was told she was healthy, and not to worry.

As the months went on, this improved and she grew and became very hyperactive, digging and mounting her bonded mate, Humphrey. At 6 months she was spayed (28th June to be exact), as I'm aware of the likelihood of cancer in unspayed does and also to ease her of her hormonal behaviour.

The spay, I was told, was a success, and soon after surgery she was eating and (hyper)active once again.  Her post-op check up a week later was good, the nurse said she had healed very well, and that the only way you could tell that she had been spayed was by the 'packing' that you could feel under the skin.

Exactly 6 weeks later she died on the operating table from a massive hernia which had strangled part of her intestines. She never woke up from the anesthetic.

Four weeks after she was spayed her eyes started to run.  There was no sign of infection, but she was treated with eye drops (from the vet). The drops, it seemed, were useless as her eyes kept running.
 
So, 10 days later, we went back to the vets, expecting to have her tear ducts flushed. The vet found the lump near her 'belly button'. It was a shock to say the least.  She was eating and active that very morning, but I knew when I got home to take her to the vets that lunchtime that she wasn't well, as she wouldn't eat her treat (carrot) and wouldn't hop out from her hutch. It looked like she had also wet the hutch as there were patches of pale yellow wetness on the newspaper and a yellowish jelly-like substance in the corner of the hutch.  She was always very clean and well litter trained.

The vet gave her an antibiotic injection and also gave us some antibiotics to give orally for the next few days. He wanted to see her again in 48 hours but to come back the next day if she got any worse.

I was on the phone to the vets first thing the next day as she was listless, not eating or drinking and obviously in pain.  Her mate, Humphrey came to see her in the hutch when we got home,he started stamping his feet and making grunting noises and we knew then that she wasn't going to survive.  

We had to give her every chance to life though and she was operated on that morning. We also had to know what the lump was. The vet told us he was worried and to prepare for the worst, but I knew we wouldn't be seeing her again.  Two hours later, she had gone.

The next day we went to collect her carrier and pay the bill (we couldn't face going back to the vets that day). I wanted to speak to the vet but she was off that day, but the nurse to me that it was a large hernia and that part of the intestine was dead. They completed the operation but Pip just didn't wake up.  The nurse told me she was suprised that such a healthy looking rabbit on the outside was such a mess on the inside.

I don't blame the vets, but I still have unanswered questions.  

Could the spay have played a part in the formation of the hernia? The lump was close to where the incision was made for the spay.

Could her having the excessive 'soft' droppings when she was young have anything to do with the hernia?

Is it common for rabbits to suffer with hernia's?  She was a very active rabbit, digging in anything we could give her! Could her digging have contributed to the hernia?

I just feel so awful that I didn't pick up the lump any sooner but both of our houserabbits dislike being picked up and I don't like to stress them.  Apart from the runny eyes, she gave us no sign that she was unwell, she had a great appetite and was active.  Her droppings were normal too.

It was a huge shock when she had gone, she was a small rabbit but her character and spirit were huge.  The house is very quiet without her, but I'm thankful that she only seemed to suffer for her last 24 hours.  She will never be forgotten.

As always, I appreciate your help.

Regards

Samantha Garbutt


ANSWER: Dear Samantha,

I am so terribly sorry about this tragic loss.  

Hernias are not common, but they do occur, usually hiatal (at or near the site of the umbilicus), and in males you'll rarely get an inguinal hernia post-neuter, if the intestines bloop out the inguinal canal opening (which should be closed by the veterinarian).

The suture along the bunny's midline, like the suture along ours, is a weak point, and there can be congenital malformations that eventually open up, allowing intestine to pop through.

Often, this is benign.  We've known of bunnies with abdominal hernias that you could gently pop back into the abdomen, and the bunny never suffered a complication.  But there is always the risk of a terrible complication such as the one your bunny suffered.  

It's possible that the hernia occurred at the site of her surgery, but you would have to ask the vet about that.  I would hope they'd tell you if that was the case.

I don't think this was mishandled, because hernias don't usually become an acute and deadly problem like this.  The vet was just being cautious, and avoiding unnecessary surgery, trying medical things first.  I think I would have agreed to the same cautious approach.  There is no way to know that a hernia is going to become deadly, but when it does, it happens quickly.

It's possible that her soft droppings were related to pain from the hernia, but not possible to know for sure.  Please see:

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

Cecal dysbiosis (mushy cecotropes are the main sign) can be caused by *many* different things.

Again, I'm so sorry about your loss.  This would go under the category of Very Rare but Tragic Occurrence.  I am glad she didn't suffer long, and that though her life was too short, Pip had you to love her and care for her and give her a wonderful life.

Take care,
Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks once again Dana, I was always concerned about Pips 'poo' from when we brought her home, so maybe there was a weakness there from the start?

Unfortunately, Pip is the second companion that our neutered male Humphrey has lost in the last year.  The first doe turned very aggressive and I felt I had no choice but to return her to the rehoming centre, and of course he's just lost little Pip.

It took a long time for Humphrey to accept Pip, we patiently waited for about two months before they were firm friends, but it was worth it. Their bond briefly broke again when she had been spayed, but were friends again soon after.

I still don't like the idea of him being a single bunny, as both myself and my husband work, but do rabbits recover from losing their mates?  It's been a very hard knock losing Pip so quickly and no other rabbit can ever replace her.  It also took a long time for Humphrey to accept her, but could that perhaps of been because he knew she wasn't a well rabbit?

Basically, what I'm asking is, would it be beneficial to Humphrey to find him another companion?  We're moving house in two weeks time, so it would have to be after then, but I'm not sure if he would cope if we suddenly brought another doe home.  If we do bring home another doe, we'll rehome a rabbit from our local RSPCA, I think I'll stay clear of breeders from now on, this really wasn't an experience I want to go through again.

Many thanks
Samantha Garbutt


Answer
Dear Samantha,

Humphrey is lucky to have such a caring "mom".  Yes, I do think it will be beneficial for him to be able to choose a new mate.   It's important to let *him* do the choosing from among the fosters at your local rabbit rescuer's foster home or the RSPCA, as this will dramatically improve the chances of a good bonding without fighting.  You can contact your local Rabbit Welfare Association here:

http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/  

to find out where to bring Humphrey for some "blind dates" with available foster bunnies who are already spayed.

If you are moving soon, that will be the ideal time to start the bonding process, since he will be less territorial in a new home.  The rescuer can help you find just the right match and I hope that the third time is a charm.  :)

Good luck, and many healing thoughts are still coming to you and Humphrey.

Take care,

Dana