title: Uterine disorders in 50 pet rabbits.
abstract: Although the incidence of uterine disorders in pet rabbits is high there are only a few retrospective studies and case reports on genital tract disease in female rabbits. Uterine disorders were assessed in 50 pet rabbits. In 31 pet rabbits with suspected clinical uterine disease, medical records were further reviewed regarding clinical signs, diagnostic workup, treatment as well as the outcome itself. Uterine adenocarcinoma (54%) was most frequently diagnosed, followed by endometrial hyperplasia (26%). Serosanguineous vaginal discharge was the predominant clinical sign observed by the rabbit owners. In approximately 50% of the rabbits with suspected uterine disorders, abdominal palpation revealed enlarged and/or irregular masses in the caudoventral abdomen indicating uterine lesions. Out of 23 rabbits undergoing ovariohysterectomy, four were either euthanized or died shortly after surgery because they were clinically unstable. Overall, 80% of the ovariohysterectomized animals were still alive 6 mo after surgery. In female pet rabbits that are not breeding, either ovariohysterectomy should be performed at an early age or routine checks including ultrasonography of the abdomen are recommended on a regular basis.
authors.affiliation: From the Clinic of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases (F.K., S.S.), Clinic for Diagnostic Imaging (J.H.), Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology (P.B.), Institute of Pathology and Forensic Medicine (A.F-B.), and Institute of Medical Physics and Biostatistics, Department of Natural Science (A.T.), University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria; Veterinary Practice Eggenberg, Graz, Austria (P.G.).
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Künzel
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grinninger
authors.forename: Sarina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shibly
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tichy
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berghold
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuchs-Baumgartinger
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D055112:Pyometra / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D011817:Rabbits; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*