Female Rabbit – blood in urine

[binky_bunny]

<header class=”message-attribution message-attribution–split”>Hi, I have a 1 year 9 months old female rabbit. She is unspayed. She has been losing blood since yesterday morning. The discharged blood also has clots. We took her to a vet. At first, they said that she might have some infection / growth in her bladder – but later said that it is not because of the bladder, but her uterus. The vet said that she could have some lesions and but wasn’t sure of any growth and that surgery to remove her uterus would be the best treatment option. I wanted to know whether this course of treatment and assessment makes sense? If yes, how risky is this surgery (please note that here in India we have very few rabbit savvy vets)? We didnt get her spayed when she was young because the same vet said it’s a very high-risk surgery (30-40%+). Now the same doctor is saying it only has 10-12% risk. Wanted to get a second opinion before getting her surgery done. Is this the best course of action? Please let us know what you think – thanks a lot in advance!

</header>

[DanaNM]

I’m sorry you are going through this. 🙁 It does sound like uterine cancer, which is very common in unspayed rabbits. Spaying (removing the uterus and ovaries) is the recommended treatment, and if caught early will usually remove all of the cancerous tissue. How many spays does this vet do? If they are not rabbit savvy, could you potentially find another vet? Spaying is generally very safe if done by a savvy vet.

Even with the odds the vet gave you, the cancer will kill her and it seems to be progressing quickly if she’s already bleeding, so spaying will be your only option to save her.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[LBJ10]

Considering her age, it could be an infection in the uterus. Cancer is also a possibility. Either way, the best course of action is to have her spayed. I realize that there are not many rabbit savvy vets there. If finding one with more experience isn’t possible, then I agree with Dana that attempting the surgery is better than not treating it at all.

[binky_bunny]

Thanks, Dana and LBJ! We have been looking for a vet who understands rabbits ever since we got her but have had little luck so far. this vet is the best we have come across in the last 2 years, so unlikely that we will find someone better / more experienced.

[Bam]

It could be a endometrial aneurysm thats causing the bleed. It should be considered as a differential in young unspayed does that presents with bleeding from the uterus. My rabbit savvy vet held a lecture for our rabbit wellfare society in November 2021 where she mentioned this.

A full spay is curative if its about venous malformations in the uterus. If it is cancer, a full spay is also often curative, since uterine cancer is slow-growing.

Nowadays the risks with spaying are a lot lower than they used to be.

 

 

[binky_bunny]

Thank you all! We have scheduled her surgery for tomorrow. Thank you for your advice and suggestions – it was very helpful!

[DanaNM]

I think that is for the best, let us know how it goes!

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Ana William]

Having a female rabbit that is unspayed and bleeding with clots can be a concerning symptom and should be evaluated by a veterinarian. The fact that the bleeding is coming from the uterus suggests that there may be a uterine problem such as a uterine tumor, uterine infection, or hormonal imbalances. In this case, removing the uterus (spaying) is a common treatment option to address these conditions, and it is the standard of care for many rabbit practitioners.

The risk of any surgery depends on various factors such as the health and age of the rabbit, the experience of the veterinarian, and the specific details of the procedure. While the risk of spaying can vary, generally, the risk is considered low (10-12%) if the surgery is performed by an experienced rabbit veterinarian.

In conclusion, based on the information provided, spaying appears to be a reasonable treatment option, but you should consult with a veterinarian who has experience in treating rabbits to get a definitive diagnosis and a better idea of the specific risks associated with your pet’s condition and the procedure.

[Author]

Messages