Endometrial aneurysm

An endometrial venous aneurysm can rupture and bleed into the uterus causing blood to pass out of the urogenital opening and cause anaemia in the rabbit. Venous aneurysm’s form along a weakened part of the vein wall, these can then rupture causing bleeding, endometrial venous aneurysms are considered a congenital defect in unneutered female rabbits.

A female rabbit may become lethargic and anorexic and may pass blood in her urine or a vaginal discharge, these symptoms may be intermittent. The rabbit may also have a distended abdomen and seem disinterested in her surroundings.

Your veterinarian will give your rabbit a full physical exam including urinalysis to confirm blood in the urine, blood testing – endometrial venous aneurysm bleed intermittently and may cause anemia. They will then perform an ultrasound and/or take x-rays to check for an enlarged uterus. The veterinarian will also palpate the abdomen as they may be able to feel a mass.

The standard treatment for endometrial venous aneurysm is an ovariohysterectomy – this is surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries. If the rabbit is anemic it will need to have intravenous fluid therapy to stabilize it before surgery, if the anemia is severe the rabbit may need a blood transfusion.

As long as the rabbit isn’t severely anemic, she should recover well from surgery and the prognosis is good. After the surgery the rabbit will be fed using a recovery food until she is able to eat independently, and given pain medications, she may even be able to go home on the same day.

If the anemia is severe the rabbit may not respond so well to surgery and the risks and outcomes will be explained by the veterinarian.

If a female rabbit is neutered it cannot suffer from an endometrial venous aneurysm, so neutering is the best prevention.