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CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE
This Week’s Sticky Case (August 3 – 7)
GI Stasis… or Something More?
Patient
4-year-old Neutered Male Mini Lop Rabbit
Presenting Complaint
Acute anorexia and decreased fecal production for the past 18 hours.
History
The owner reports that “Biscuit” has always been healthy but suddenly stopped eating overnight. He has produced only a few small fecal pellets since yesterday afternoon and has remained hunched in the corner of his enclosure.
Additional history includes:
- Indoor rabbit
- Fed timothy hay, pellets, and fresh greens
- No recent dietary changes
- No known toxin exposure
- No history of dental disease
- No trauma observed
- Progressive lethargy throughout the morning
The owner attempted syringe-feeding Critical Care® but Biscuit resisted and appeared painful when handled.a
Physical Examination
- Quiet but responsive
- Body Condition Score: 5/9
- Temperature: 99.3°F
- Heart Rate: 245 bpm
- Respiratory Rate: 68 bpm
- Moderate dehydration (approximately 6%)
- Bruxism noted during examination
- Marked cranial abdominal discomfort
- Reduced gastrointestinal sounds
- Mildly pale mucous membranes
Diagnostics
CBC
- Mild regenerative anemia (PCV 28%)
- Mild neutrophilia
- Mild monocytosis
Chemistry Panel
- ALT mildly elevated
- AST moderately elevated
- Total bilirubin mildly elevated
- Blood glucose: 310 mg/dL
Abdominal Radiographs
- Moderate gas throughout the stomach and cecum
- Mild gastric distention
- No obvious gastrointestinal obstruction
Abdominal Ultrasound
- One liver lobe appears enlarged and heterogenous
- Rounded margins
- Minimal Doppler blood flow identified
- Small volume of abdominal effusion
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