CONTRIBUTOR(S): Claire Speight, Caroline Blake,
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis refers to inflammation of the pancreas, and although rare in rabbits, it is a condition that can affect them.
©Howard Senton / Pexels
What is the function of the pancreas?
The pancreas produces hormones to regulate glucose levels in the blood. Insulin is released when blood glucose levels are high, and reduces it, and when blood glucose levels are low, the pancreas produces glucagon to increase the glucose levels.
Why does it occur?
Pancreatitis occurs in rabbits as a spontaneous disease, with no apparent cause. Rabbits who are overweight, especially those who are obese, are deemed to be more are risk.
How common is it in rabbits?
Although pancreatitis has been reported in pet rabbits, and cases have been confirmed, it remains a rare condition.
What are the signs?
Although rare in rabbits, pancreatitis should be a differential as one of the potential underlying causes with rabbits suffering from gastrointestinal stasis, especially if they are exhibiting signs of pain and discomfort in the front (anterior) abdomen (near to the stomach, which is where the pancreas is located). Other signs that may be noted include:
- A quiet and often unresponsive rabbit.
- Not eating.
- Reduced or absent fecal droppings being passed.
- Painful grinding of the teeth.
What happens with pancreatitis?
The pancreas, often with no obvious cause, becomes inflamed, causing fat within the mesentery (a continuous set of tissues located in the abdomen which attach the intestines to the wall of the abdomen) to necrose (die off due to lack of a blood supply). This rapidly leads to peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of the inner wall of the abdomen) – this can be rapidly fatal.
How is it diagnosed?
In dogs and cats, pancreatitis can be diagnosed by blood sampling. This is often inconclusive in rabbits and surgery may be required to perform an exploratory laparotomy to visualize the pancreas and see if there is evidence of inflammation. It may be possible to take a sample of the pancreas and send this for histological examination to aid a diagnosis. Sadly, if your rabbit passes away, and a post-mortem is performed, a diagnosis can be made this way also.
What is the treatment?
Treatment is not straight forward, since ideally allowing the pancreas to ‘rest’ by withholding food, or feeding a low-fat diet, would be advised, but withholding food is not possible with rabbits and gastrointestinal stasis is a serious complication of the disease. If treatment is attempted, then ensuring the rabbit’s pain is controlled is vital. Your rabbit will need to be hospitalized for this. Syringe feeding, intravenous fluids and medications to keep the gastrointestinal tract moving (prokinetics) are required. Treatment may be required for days or even weeks, and many rabbits will sadly not survive.
How can I prevent it happening to my rabbits?
The condition doesn’t have any identifiable causes, and appears to be spontaneous, so how to prevent it occurring to your rabbits is not possible to fully advise. However, making sure your rabbits eat a suitable diet, which consists of 85-90% hay and/or fresh grass, a small amount of good quality rabbit pellets / nuggets and a healthy variety of suitable greens and herbs daily is essential. You need to ensure your rabbits do not become overweight and have plenty of opportunities to exercise and exhibit natural behaviors, including having a bonded companion. These steps will help to keep your rabbits healthy.