Bun Tums 101

[jerseygirl]

I’ve learned something new.  On reading an article yesterday on ‘Nursing your rabbit through GI stasis’ I was left intrigued by this line:

Get your vet to show you where a rabbits stomach is.  It may not be where you think it is.

So I tried to find some anatomy pictures.  Turns out the stomach is actually up underneath the lower ribs.  Best I could find were these x-rays.  Check them out.   1st is view from top.  2nd is side view.   Left of screen is head end it can look sorta confusing!

http://www.medirabbit.com/Radiography/X_ray/Radio_abdomen_top.pdf

http://www.medirabbit.com/Radiography/X_ray/Abdomen_sideb.pdf

When I’ve massaged the tummy to help Jersey relieve gas, I think I’ve actually massaged the colon and cecum.  I don’t know, maybe that helps too.  I’ll often put her on her back and push her hind feet forward gently.  Sort of like an ab crunch.  This has always seemed to have helped so now I figure it pushed other organs forward, putting pressure on her stomach enough to relieve the gas.  That’s my theory anyway.

Has anyone had their vet actually show you where the stomach is? 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I’m not sure that’s wrong though!! When we get ‘tummy’ aches it’s actually our digestive tracts. If a rabbit were in GI stasis and you give a tummy massage, I’d think you aren’t really trying to tub the stomache but the digestive tracts to stimulate them into moving. Sooo I’d think what you did is right? It’d be hard to rub the tummy under ribs anyways so?

[jerseygirl]

I know. I flipped her over just before to “look”. The massage I’ve always done helps anyway. In one of the x rays, it actually shows a gas pocket in the cecum too, so yeah, guess a generally massage is beneficial.

[RabbitPam]

That’s what I was thinking. If you massage the gas in the cecum, you push along the entire tract and make room for movement from the stomach and intestines. Gas pain can be anywhere, and stimulation will force a blockage at any point. (or pop the gas bubbles.) When you massage, do you get noises or farts after? (Hey, you brought it up. “) )

I love these xrays! I just love learning about anatomy. I was looking for the ovaries since Sammy is getting spayed soon, but they weren’t marked. (Was this a boy?)

[Beka27]

those are really cool xrays! thanks for posting!

[bunnytowne]

That is certainly good to know.  I thought the stomache was further back.   Like you I have rubbed the other areas and bun had some relief when I put him down.

[jerseygirl]

Pam, I don’t know if it is male or female. The other x rays don’t show ovaries either but likely they are more visible on an ultrasound.

As to…..

When you massage, do you get noises or farts after? (Hey, you brought it up. “) )
 

W—ell!…..Jersey is a Lady, so the answer to your er…delicate question… is of course “No.” ~ lol !

[KatnipCrzy]

Pam-

 I don’t think that you can see a normal uterus or ovaries on x-ray- they are actually pretty tiny expecially when the pet (cat or dog) is not in heat.

I am not even sure how well a healthy uterus and ovaries would show on ultrasound- I am sure they would be visible to a vet with specialized training maybe.  I think the only sure fire way to determine if a bun is spayed is exploratory surgery.  Now if the belly is shaved and a scar is seen- then it is very likely the bun/cat/dog is spayed- and it is assumed unless the pet shows signs of going into heat/reproductive behavior.

Or some resue groups now put some tattoo ink on the spay incision and it heals fine- but leaves a visible mark of spaying- and that is nice because then it is easy to confirm a spay.

Abnormal things- like a uterine infection or maybe large cysts on the ovary might show on ultrasound.

[Sarita]

I’m not sure about the ovaries either – I did have one female who was x-rayed that we know was spayed because this vet did it and it had some little clamp type things or something that he mentioned.

Actually the vet almost had a heart attack when he looked at the x-rays – this little Netherland Dwarf (she was SO CUTE) had had many litters before she came to me but apparently one of the litters was born outside the tubes (well they were never born since they had been mummified inside her little body) – there were 3 of them. When he did the surgery to take them out they were just like stones but on the x-rays you could see the little skeletons of the babies – the one closest to the womb was the largest and the smallest was further up her body.

When I spoke with the office manager before I went to see the vet she had told me that the vet had felt something in the sternum and wanted to take an x-ray so I said of course – I really couldn’t figure out until I got to the office what was going on with her.

But apparently this may not be as unusual as it sounds since I’ve heard of similar things from other rabbit people.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

so the answer to your er…delicate question… is of course “No.” ~ lol

LOL Totally agreed!!

Ufnortunately it’s much easier to tell if a male is neutered, then a female spayed…youd think when somewhen went to the trouble they’d pass on the vet records!

Sarita OMG how sad!! I’ve heard of that happening with people before-how sad Binky free little babies

[LittlePuffyTail]

Oh, my goodness. That’s terrible.

[bunnytowne]

OH my your poor little ND must have felt miserable .   Glad she is doing better.    I didn’t think rabbits could uh … well….er… pass gas.

[bunnytowne]

watch cause I said that my buns will be busy passing loud gasses hehehe.

[Beka27]

Sarita, that’s crazy! I’ve also heard of that happening in people, but buns are so delicate, I’d think the mom would not have survived that. How can a small creature be so delicate and so resilient at the same time?

[RabbitPam]

BT, they absolutely CAN.

Spockie, like many old men (and women I regret to say) was King of the SBDs.

I’ve heard of that with babies – she must be much better now that she was helped.

[Author]

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