I have a medically compromised free range house rabbit named Ninja. We’ve been through five bouts of GI stasis, a broken toe, three nails snapped off at the base, a dislocated toe, deafness, nearly complete blindness caused by E. Cuniculi related cataracts, three rounds of E. Cuniculi treatments, spaying, upper respiratory infections, diarrhea, eye infections, incontinence, and aggressive behavior. 

Several months ago she was diagnosed with a thymoma. Not just any thymoma, a thymoma large enough that it’s taking up 80% of her chest, compressing her lungs, and it’s caused her heart to move off to the far right side of her chest cavity. We’re treating the thymoma with steroids. They helped for a few months, but five days ago she showed signs of respiratory distress, so we doubled the steroids. In the five days since, I haven’t seen much improvement of the respiratory distress. Weirdly, though, that’s not my current issue. 

Ninja is going through GI stasis. The second worst case I’ve ever nursed her through. The first time it was this bad, I massaged her abdomen in order to help the GI tract move things along. I’d like to do the same thing now, but with such a large thymoma, and a small 3 lb rabbit, I don’t know whether I’d be massaging intestines, thymoma, or both. 

I read somewhere that thymomas can rupture from pressure. I don’t remember where I read it, or even if it was a reputable source. I’ve searched for the last hour online, trying to find this information, and I’ve had no luck. I know thymomas in humans can rupture spontaneously, so the question is, can thymomas in rabbits rupture from outside pressure like abdominal massage? 

Any help would be appreciated. Quick help would be even more appreciated!