Today’s case is in the non-domestic animal category. It’s an 8-year-old male neutered rabbit with lethargy. See what you think and post your findings in the comments section.
8 year old rabbit
Teaching and learning about veterinary diagnostic imaging.
Abdomen:
I don’t have much experience with rabbit’s x-rays, but I am concerned that I almost can’t see the intestines at all, and there is poor peritoneal details. These will probably indicate free peritoneal fluid. Reasons for that can be rupture of the bladder, bleeding, severe peritonits, heart failure etc.
On the lateral view there is also an elongated mineral opacity in the area of the urinary bladder. I can’t see that on the VD.
thorax:
The heart seems to be enlarged and there is also an elevation of the trachea. Also diffuse pulmonary interstitial to alveolar infiltrates. The infiltrates can indicate pulmonary edema vs a diffuse respiratory disease
My guess would be for this rabbit- heart failure?
I would think hairball problems. Abdominal detail is about right for a rabbit. The bladder material is normal and the heart does not seem to enlarged to me.
In this case, there is a mass effect within the abdomen. The cecum is displaced ventrally and the mid-abdomen does not contain any small intestine. What opacity is this mass?
The heart is normal for a rabbit. They have a small thorax and it often seems to occupy a larger proportion of the thoracic volume compared to dogs and cats.
I think it’s not clear in the abdomen.
That looks like fluid or maybe Large mass. Palpation will help in different diagnosis!
Please tell me, what ‘s wrong the rabbit?
You’re right. There is a mass effect in the abdomen since the intestines are displaced ventrally.
Hi Dr. Z,
Since calcium salts and “sludgy” urine are normal in rabbit bladders, how do bladder stones (usually calcium carbonate) appear in rads?