2018 RABBIT JAW ABSCESS
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Monday, December 21, 2020
3944. A Singapore rabbit has a large jaw abscess in 2018.
Sunday, December 20, 2020
3943. A Yangon rabbit has a bloated abdomen
Rabbit bloat is life threatening as it will kill your rabbit if you do not seek veterinary attention promptly.
The main options for treatment once at the vet include emergency surgery to relieve the obstruction or high levels of fluid therapy and pain relief (as well as other supportive treatments).
Spasmogesic, enema, big dog's urinary catheter to release the gas
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BLOAT AND GASTROINTESTINAL BLOCKAGE IN RABBITS
1. What causes bloat and obstruction?
2. Why is bloat a serious condition?
3. What does bloat look like in a rabbit?
4. How does your vet treat bloat?
5. Follow up care
2. Why is bloat a serious condition?
3. What does bloat look like in a rabbit?
4. How does your vet treat bloat?
5. Follow up care
6. Prevention
BLOAT AND GASTROINTESTINAL BLOCKAGE IN RABBITS
1. What causes bloat and obstruction?
Bloat is the distension of the stomach and intestines with gas and fluid. A very serious health problem of rabbits.
Causes
1. In many cases, a mat of fur ball. Long-haired rabbits or those housed with long-haired rabbits have a higher risk of getting this problem.
2. Inadequate dietary fibre.
3. Sudden change of diet.
4. Ingestion of foreign material like carpet, cloth fibers, rubber or plastic which block the gut.
2. Why is bloat a serious condition?
The rabbit cannot vomit or belch. So the stomach cannot empty. It fills with saliva and stomach secretions, dilating the stomach till it prevents blood flow to vital organs like the kidneys.
Gastrointestinal obstruction is the most common cause of sudden unexpected death in healthy rabbits. Death occur rapidly without treatment.
Unless the condition is caught early, the prognosis is guarded, even with medical care.
3. What does bloat look like in a rabbit?
Suddenly stop eating and defaecating. Very tired or lethargic.
Progressing to hunched posture, tooth grinding, weaker, not moving, lying down often in a stretched out position.
4. How does your vet treat bloat?
Laboratory tests
Abdominal X-rays or multiple X-rays to see if the obstruction is moving
Aggressive supportive care including powerful pain medication and fluid therapy to get the obstruction to pass.
Abdominal X-rays or multiple X-rays to see if the obstruction is moving
Aggressive supportive care including powerful pain medication and fluid therapy to get the obstruction to pass.
Most rabbits require exploratory surgery.
5. Follow up care
Post surgery - need to monitor the rabbit very closely to make sure the gut begins to move. Stethoscope to listen to the rabbit's intestinal tract for movement sounds, palpate the belly gently. Observe appetite and faecal output. Recovery after 3 days appear to have a good prognosis for a complete recovery.
6. Prevention
A diet with appropriate fiber levels, maximise hay and minimise pellets to move the fur balls.
Regular grooming and hair clipping of long-haired rabbits.
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Rabbits have a complex gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly when compared to other species like dogs
and cats. A rabbit’s GI system has been designed so that they are able to get the maximum amount of
nutrients they can out of any of the foods they eat. They even re-eat some of their faeces (a process
known as caecotrophy) to allow them to re-process nutrients that weren’t absorbed the first time
through!
Unfortunately, due to the complexity of their GI system they are prone to developing problems. Many of
these are easily treatable however some are life-threatening.
Today’s article looks at one of the most
serious conditions that rabbits suffer from – gastrointestinal bloat.
What is it?
Gastrointestinal bloat generally occurs when there is a blockage in the GI tract, most commonly in the
early intestine. Rabbits are unable to vomit or eructate (burp) effectively meaning that the only way that
food (and other items ingested) can leave the stomach is through the intestines.
When food is broken
down in the stomach both gas and different types of liquid are produced, leading to more stomach
contents than just the food that was first ingested.
When an intestinal blockage occurs, this process
keeps continuing leading to the stomach becoming enlarged or bloated.
If a blockage occurs in the
intestines there is now nowhere for the
stomach contents to go, which leads to the
stomach becoming enlarged or bloated.
In some cases the stomach can become so
enlarged that your rabbit’s whole abdomen
looks and feels like there is a large balloon
inside of it.
As the stomach enlarges it
compresses a number of blood vessels which
lead to your rabbits blood supply network
being disrupted which can become life threatening very quickly. The stomach also
can get so large that it ruptures.
What is it caused by?
In most cases the blockage is caused by a combination of hair and food that has been ingested by your
rabbit.
This hair/food combination forms together to form a small ball that is called a trichobezoar.
Other foreign items can also be ingested by your rabbit and cause blockages; in one of the cases we
have seen a small pebble was to blame for the obstruction. Carpet fibres, plastic can cause this obstruction.
What are the signs to watch out for?
Rabbits that have a complete gastrointestinal blockage will generally go from being perfectly normal to
very sick and not wanting to move within a few hours.
They generally won’t want to eat anything, will not be moving much (often sitting in a hunched position) and their abdomen will feel
bloated and painful.
If your rabbit is showing any of these signs getting them to your
nearest rabbit vet as quickly as possible is very important.
How is it diagnosed?
In many cases your vet will be
able to have a fair idea that your
rabbit may be bloated from
examining them and palpating
their abdomen.
In most cases
radiographs (x-rays) will be taken
to assess the severity and
treatment options. Taking a
blood glucose measurement
(which involves taking a small
amount of blood from your
rabbit) can also often help to
confirm the blockage.
Is it treatable?
This condition is life threatening
and in many cases it will kill your rabbit if you do not seek veterinary attention promptly.
The main
options for treatment once at the vet include emergency surgery to relieve the obstruction or high levels
of fluid therapy and pain relief (as well as other supportive treatments).
How do I prevent it from occurring?
This condition is difficult to prevent completely. However ensure that your rabbit has a good diet with at least 70% hay and less pellets and that
they are regularly brushed or shaved (to minimize hair ingestion) does help to minimize their risk.
long-haired rabbits to be brushed daily
rabbits staying with long haired rabbits to clean the environment of hairs.
long-haired rabbits to be brushed daily
rabbits staying with long haired rabbits to clean the environment of hairs.
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Sheep bloat
It’s important to know
that sheep can bloat on hay too, especially risky is a sudden change to hay
that is heavy with alfalfa and/or clover. In making any changes to sheeps’
diets, always make the changes slowly and gradually.
The only thing different
about the bloated ewe’s environment that day was that it was early May; she was
not on pasture and her hay had not changed. The temperatures had been in the
40s with rain. That day the temperature had suddenly soared to the 80s and the
sun came out. I believe it was the stress of the sudden heat wave that
put her rumen into distress.
genetic proponent to
bloat.
n readily fermentable
carbohydrates as is found in grain concentrates. Occasionally, it can happen
when animals are changed to lush pasture after being on over-grazed pastures.”
(Lawson, pg 121)
Treating Sheep Bloat
Treatment of bloating sheep consists of measures that will stop the
formation of additional gas and will assist in the removal of the gases already
present.
I keep on hand bottles of “Bloat Gard” that I purchase commercially.
This is one that I like the best because it’s ready to use and all I have to do
is catch the suffering sheep and get them to swallow the bloat remedy-giving
them the entire bottle.
There is also another product that requires pre-mixing before
administering. And there are also many different home remedies for treating
bloat. Be sure to consult your sheep books or your veterinarian. They will
recommend other methods that may include forcing a hose down the gullet and in
extreme emergency situations, a hole can be made in the rumen to let gases
escape.
Mike Neary, Extension Sheep Specialist at Purdue University published an
article that is on the internet at http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/sheep/articles/pasbloat.html. He recommends the
following:
“Treat bloated sheep with care. The build-up of pressure in the rumen
can actually cause a partial collapse of the lungs. Furthermore, blood from the
body is forced out of the body cavity to the extremities and can cause a form
of acidosis. Thus, stressing these animals complicates the situation.
“If animals can be caught, use a stomach tube to help release free
ruminal gas. Also, mild agitation of ruminal contents can aid in the release of
the trapped gas bubbles. Mineral or vegetable oils can be used as antifoaming
agents and help release gas. Treatment with commercially available
anti-bloating agents can also be done at this time.
“Some people will actually use a rumenotomy (puncturing the
rumen-located high on the left side of the lumbar region in severe bloat cases)
in severe, life-threatening situations. This procedure is not for the weak
stomached, as the pressure will result in the expulsion of a significant amount
of the rumen contents. Also, the area will need to be cleaned and sutured after
the rumenotomy is performed.”
I would never wish any shepherd to experience the
death of a beloved (or not so beloved) sheep from bloat. I hope that you never
have to see what bloat looks like. But do try to recognize the symptoms of
healthy ruminating sheep so that you are able to also recognize signs of
ruminant distress. And keep on hand some remedies so if an emergency should arrive,
you can quickly react and hopefully save an animal.
20 Dec 2020. SUDDEN DIETARY CHANGE can cause bloat in rabbits
. A Yangon rabbit has gastrointestinal bloat---Dietary change. One week ago, somebody recommended a better brand of rabbit food. The owner switched to the new brand immediately.
Her 30-month-old male rabbit's abdomen swelled up like a balloon. He was hunched in pain, lethargic and had a high fever (40.1 degrees C). X-rays showed the intestines filled with gas and some bubbly fluid in the large intestines.
Diagnosis is gastrointestinal bloat due to a sudden change of diet. This is a life-threatening condition. Dr Thein Tun Aung of the Royal Asia Veterinary Surgery, Yangon discussed this life-threatening case with me.
I advised a small dosage of Spasmogesic (0.1 ml
in 1 ml of normal saline), to alleviate the gastrointestinal cramping. Give
subcutaneious fluid therapy and antibioitcs. An enema (of soap and water or
other types) via a catheter. To aspirate the contents from the rectum via the
catheter or forceps to reduce the faecal and hair impaction in the rectal area.
Video link of rabbit after 30 minutes
after SC Spasmogesic injection. https://youtu.be/2a3tEunh0Qw The video shows the rabbit with less bloat and pain after
one Spasmogesic injection. It had more energy and wanted to hop off the table.
21 Dec 2020.
Update 48 hours after the Spasmogesic
injection. The rabbit was active. Passed out watery stools with no occult
blood.
The owner who surfed the internet, found
Royal Asia Veterinary Surgery for a second opinion as her rabbit had a much
distended abdomen. Now she is very happy with the outcome.
Spasmogesic is effective in relieving
stomach and intestinal cramps especially in race horses from my experience at
the Singapore Turf Club. It relieves intestinal cramp and brings down the fever
in horses within half an hour in impaction colic .
MORE INFORMATION and X-RAYS ARE AT: https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2020/12/3943-yangon-rabbit-has-bloated-abdomen.html
VIDEO LINK: Rabbit gastro intestinal
bloat due to sudden change of diet Video link https://youtu.be/2a3tEunh0Qw
Rabbit gastro intestinal bloat due to sudden change of diet
Video link
.
Saturday, December 19, 2020
3945. Stray cats - The drooling stray cat
19 Dec 2020. HISTORY OF STRAY CATS IN SINGAPORE. MID 1990s To 2020. Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow).
Singapore has a group that cares or the stray cats. They put food out for them to eat and clear the leftovers later. When the cats are sick, they are brought to the vet for treatment. In the 1980s, stray cats were commonly seen, usually at food courts and hawker centres. Some people would feed them left over cooked food and fish. Some cats would get a fish bone stuck in their throats.
Over the past 10 years, intensive culling by the town councils using pest control companies and a trap-neuter release (TNR) program run by the Cat Welfare Society and individuals have had led to an absence of any stray cat seen at food courts. More rats thrive instead.
Stray cats are rare nowadays. This 12-year-old stray cat would be one of the last of its kind in the neighbourhoods of Singapore. A kind lady brought him in to Toa Payoh Vets for treatment. Dental work and antibiotics stopped his drooling. He was back on the streets. I hope he succeeds in evading capture by the town councils and the pest control companies.
Friday, December 18, 2020
3944. Nature Story. Be Prepared at all time. Butterfly visit to Toa Payoh Vets on Thursday 17 Dec 2020. Papilio demoleus malayanus
Thursday, 17 Dec 2020. NATURE STORIES by Dr Sing Kong Yuen. BE PREPARED. An attractive butterfly visited the lime plant outside Toa Payoh Vets today but, just for today, I left my camera in my car. Hsu sprinted to get it as time was of the essence.
I got two good images this time, thanks to Hsu. All three butterflies fluttered and flew away within 2 minutes. Their appearance was to tell me to always "be prepared" if I wish to be successful in my butterfly photography.
The butterflies are common in many countries. They are called Papilio demoleus malayanus in Singapore and Malaysia.
Actually, they were depositing eggs on the leaves of the lime plant speedily from leaf to leaf. The lime or Citrus species of trees is its host plant.
MORE INFORMATION AT:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2020/12/3944-nature-story-be-prepared-at-all.html
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Is the above a lime butterfly as it is attracted to the lime plant?
Papilio demoleus is a common and widespread swallowtail butterfly. The butterfly is also known as the lime butterfly,[1][2] lemon butterfly, lime swallowtail, and chequered swallowtail.[2] These common names refer to their host plants, which are usually citrus species such as the cultivated lime. Unlike most swallowtail butterflies, it does not have a prominent tail. The butterfly is a pest and invasive species, found from Asia to Australia.[1][2] The butterfly has spread to Hispaniola island (Dominican Republic) in the Western Hemisphere,[3] and to Mahé, Seychelles.[4]
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Papilio demoleus malayanus
Details
Family : Papilionidae
Subfamily : Papilioninae
Genus : Papilio
Common Name : Lime Butterfly, 达摩凤蝶
Wingspan : 80-90mm
Hostplant(s) : Citrus sp (Citrus plants)
Status In Singapore : Common
Description
The butterfly is black with large yellow markings on the uppersides. The underside is predominantly yellow with black markings.
Habitat & Habits
The Lime Butterfly is a common butterfly in Singapore, and can be found as often around urban areas as well as parks, gardens and on the fringes of the nature areas. Anywhere there is a Lime Bush (Citrus), it is quite likely that one can find this butterfly near by.
Other Observations
The common Lime or Kalamansi is cultivated by many Singaporeans as a garnish to the local cuisine. The plant can therefore be found in many gardens and apartments. Where pesticides are not used, it is quite likely that the Lime Butterfly will lay her eggs on the Citrus plant.
Early Stages
Eggs are laid singly on the Citrus leaves and the young larvae resemble bird's droppings. At the later instars, the larvae become green. The pupa resembles that of the Common and Great Mormons and is attached upright and supported with a silken girdle.
Details
Family : Papilionidae
Subfamily : Papilioninae
Genus : Papilio
Common Name : Lime Butterfly, 达摩凤蝶
Wingspan : 80-90mm
Hostplant(s) : Citrus sp (Citrus plants)
Status In Singapore : Common
Description
The butterfly is black with large yellow markings on the uppersides. The underside is predominantly yellow with black markings.
Habitat & Habits
The Lime Butterfly is a common butterfly in Singapore, and can be found as often around urban areas as well as parks, gardens and on the fringes of the nature areas. Anywhere there is a Lime Bush (Citrus), it is quite likely that one can find this butterfly near by.
Other Observations
The common Lime or Kalamansi is cultivated by many Singaporeans as a garnish to the local cuisine. The plant can therefore be found in many gardens and apartments. Where pesticides are not used, it is quite likely that the Lime Butterfly will lay her eggs on the Citrus plant.
Early Stages
Eggs are laid singly on the Citrus leaves and the young larvae resemble bird's droppings. At the later instars, the larvae become green. The pupa resembles that of the Common and Great Mormons and is attached upright and supported with a silken girdle.
See:
Lime butterflies
UPDATES ON BLOG:
https://www.deviantart.com/inckurei/art/Lime-Butterfly-290609-un-127660187
Papilio demoleus malayanus
Details
Family : Papilionidae
Subfamily : Papilioninae
Genus : Papilio
Common Name : Lime Butterfly, 达摩凤蝶
Wingspan : 80-90mm
Hostplant(s) : Citrus sp (Citrus plants)
Status In Singapore : Common
Details
Family : Papilionidae
Subfamily : Papilioninae
Genus : Papilio
Common Name : Lime Butterfly, 达摩凤蝶
Wingspan : 80-90mm
Hostplant(s) : Citrus sp (Citrus plants)
Status In Singapore : Common
3943. A 2-month-old red-eared slider stopped eating. Why
17 Dec 2020. MOUTH AND TAIL ULCERATIONS AND WHITE SPOTS IN A YOUNG RED-EARED SLIDER. Image 1/3
Young healthy red-eared sliders have good appetite. But this owner's two young ones stopped eating. One died two weeks ago. The other one is now an inpatient with Toa Payoh Vets.
You can see the generalised white spots on the carapace and plastron indicating shell rot. White spots are ulcerations of the shell, usually caused by bacterial infection.
Two ulcers in the right lip area and vent are painful. Hence the slider has stopped eating from 8 pellets a day to none. The slider
Treatment is by oral antibiotics and ensuring good quality water and hygiene. It will take a few days to heal the ulcers in the right lip commissure and vent.
Update at Video and blog:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2020/12/3943-2-month-old-red-eared-slider.html
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17 Dec 2020. The other sibling red-eared slider died 2 weeks ago. This slider stopped eating yesterday. Left lip commissure had a large necrotic wound. The vent had inflamed area as evident in the video.
This slider had been with the owner for 1.5 months as a hatchling but weighed only 10 g. It ate 8 pellets a day (4 feedings of 2 pellets/day into two broken halves), but had not grown much. The boyfriend had purchased a UV light 3 days ago, exposing it to 12 hours of lighting. Earlier, the left eye was closed and the slider was gasping.
So what was the cause of anorexia? Multiple causes. Poor husbandry like too much anti-chlorine drops, calcium block, insufficient basking space, immersion in the water for long hours leading to generalised shell rot on the carapace. Unclean fingers breaking the pellets into two halves as the slider could not eat the long pellet in one piece. No water filter. Changing of water every day as the slider did not eat in a separate place.
The left lip commissure necrosis was melting tissue and must be very painful to open to eat. Hence, the anorexia today.
The slider is warded at Toa Payoh Vets for treatment with antibiotic and shell rot treatment for the next 3 days.
Update at Video and blog:
Video 1. https://youtu.be/grdU2HtsOmk (consultation)
Video 2. 2 days after inpatient treatment, the slider ate and its mouth sore had reduced in size. Click below.
Video 2. Inpatient recovery on Day 2.
This blog address is;
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2020/12/3943-2-month-old-red-eared-slider.html
Thursday, December 17, 2020
3942. A young rabbit has a large golf-ball lump on his back area. What is it? Encapsulated abscess.
16 Dec 2020.
BE KIND TO PETS VETERINARY STORIES. Image 1/4
How
to effectively treat an encapsulated abscess in a rabbit
Dr
Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow).
In
this Yangon rabbit with a golf-ball sized lump above its thoracic
spine, an X-ray shows clearly the capsule and the caseous (like
cheese) pus inside an encapsulated abscess. The vet aspirated pus
from the abscess using an 18G needle and noted it was cheesy
(video).
An abscess is a collection of pus. Incision and
drainage is the usual treatment in abscesses in dogs and cats. They
make liquid pus, but the rabbit's abscess contains caseous pus.
Hence, incision and drainage will lead to recurrence of the abscess a
few weeks later.
Blunt dissection and removal of the capsule
with pus inside will the treatment of choice.
MORE
INFORMATION IS AT:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2020/12/3942-young-rabbit-has-large-golf-ball.html
INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/toapayohvets/
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f you see a bump or lump on your bunny's cheeks, take him to the vet for a diagnosis. It could be fairly innocuous, or evidence of a life-threatening condition. Let your vet know if your rabbit displays any symptoms of illness, such as lack of appetite or lethargy, which might help pinpoint your pet's problem.
Abscesses
While abscesses in other animals -- and people -- usually burst and drain, that's not true of bunnies. The infection inside a rabbit's abscess, that is a lump of pus underneath his skin, has a thicker consistency than in other mammals, similar to toothpaste. Since rabbit abscesses often result from dental disease, you'll notice a tender, painful swelling on the cheek.
Treatment
Your vet examines the rabbit's mouth for signs of disease, as well as taking a sample of the abscess to determine the type of bacteria inside it. While your vet might prescribe antibiotics for smaller, less invasive abscesses, larger abscesses might require surgical removal.
While abscesses are lanced in other animals, that doesn't always work with bunnies. If the abscess is lanced, it might continue to require regular surgical draining along with long-term antibiotic therapy.
The dental issues causing the abscess also require veterinary attention.
A constant supply of timothy or grass hay usually provides sufficient fiber to wear down the teeth and prevent dental disease.
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