CONTRIBUTOR(S): Claire Speight, Rebecca Macmillan,
Thoracic auscultation
Thoracic (chest) auscultation is when your veterinarian uses a stethoscope to listen to your rabbit’s heart and lungs. It is used regularly during clinical examinations and can be used to diagnose potential heart or lung problems your rabbit may have.
Auscultation of the lung fields of a rabbit with severe tachypnea ©Stephen Hernandez-Divers
Why is thoracic auscultation performed?
Thoracic auscultation is performed as part of a clinical examination. This can be if your rabbit is taken to the veterinary clinic for a routine appointment, such as for a vaccination, or if your rabbit is ill. It is helpful, as it can not only show if something is wrong, but also if everything is normal, and your rabbit’s heart and lungs are healthy.
How is it performed?
Your veterinarian will use a stethoscope – this amplifies the sounds from the lungs and heart.
The procedure is completely painless and is best performed in a quiet and stress-free area. Stress can increase the heart and respiratory rate, which would give your veterinarian a false reading.
The veterinarian will place the diaphragm of the stethoscope gently onto the rabbit’s chest, and the earpieces into their ears, so they can listen. They will hold the diaphragm in place for several seconds and move it around, covering both sides of the chest so they can listen fully to the chambers of the heart and lungs.
What problems can be detected?
When listening to your rabbit’s chest, your veterinarian will check their heart rate to see how quickly it is beating. An overly slow or fast heart rate can be abnormal. They will also listen for any heart murmurs, missing or extra heartbeats, a heartbeat that speeds up and slows down, and how loud the heart sounds.
They will also listen to your rabbit’s lungs on both sides for any crackling or wheezing, or any areas of dullness where the sound is not the same. This can indicate an infection in the lungs, such as pneumonia, which can be a consequence of some respiratory conditions such as rabbit snuffles.
What happens if something abnormal is heard?
If your veterinarian detects anything abnormal, they will discuss this with you as well as what might need to happen next. It may be something that can be monitored to see if there is further development or it may require further diagnostics, such as an ECG, blood pressure monitoring, blood tests, x-rays or ultrasound. If stress could have played a part, your veterinarian may advise coming back another day, so the thoracic auscultation can be repeated to double check their findings.
Are some breeds more prone to heart problems?
Like dogs, large and giant rabbit breeds seem to be more prone to certain cardiac (heart) diseases. For all rabbits it is vital to make sure they do not become overweight, which can put more strain on the heart, as well as their joints. This is especially true with giant rabbit breeds.