• Trichobezoars

Previously trichobezoars (hairballs) were believed to be due to excessive grooming and ingestion of fur as in the cat. The presence of fur within the stomach is a relatively common finding, and is present through natural grooming. The fur becomes a problem when gut motility is reduced, which leads to gradual dehydration of the ingesta and a fur mass that can no longer be passed. Any GI disturbance can lead to changes in motility (even stasis) and hydration of the gut contents. The hairball is merely seen to be a secondary phenomenon, and the rabbit is depressed, anorectic, and shows obvious signs of discomfort. Trichobezoars (hairballs) usually require medical not surgical management including aggressive fluid therapy, force-feeding (syringe feeding or via a nasogastric tube) and a high fibre diet - in sufficient fibre seems to play a role in the condition.

• Foreign bodies

Foreign bodies such as ingesta mixed with hair, carpet threads, pieces of plastic and rubber, clay based litters have the potential to occlude the gastrointestinal lumen and restrict normal movement of the gut contents. Common sites are the junction of the pylorus and duodenum and the ileocaecocolonic junction. Obstruction is often confused with ileus, but whereas ileus is characterised by a gradual onset of signs, obstruction is characterised by the rapid change from a happy healthy animal on one day to a severely depressed anorectic, producing no faeces the next. The animal often presents in shock, with moderate to severe hydration and so fluid therapy is required immediately. Contrast radiography can confirm obstruction and differentiate the masses. The stomach and section of the tract above the obstruction appears grossly distended with air (most commonly in the upper duodenum or pylorus, occasionally at the ileocaecocolonic junction) and fluid below - the caecum can become severely distended with fluid. This can be differentiated from the gastric stasis patients where there is a distinct halo of air surrounding the food bolus, and much less fluid. If the stomach is huge and filled with gas, and not just a gas halo around the ingesta, it may indicate the pylorus is obstructed, and decompression should be attempted using a naso- or oro-gastric tube.

• Caecal Impaction

An dysbiosis within the caecum, dehydration of the caecal contents, or reduced caecal motility may result in material remaining within the caecum and not being discharged into the colon as per normal. This may result in a mass obstructing the caecum. Radiography will show distension. Where dehydrated contents are believed to be the cause aggressive rehydration is required. Other types of obstructions may require immediate surgery, and the prognosis is poor.

Russel Rabbit 

Common Gastrointestinal Disease

Loss of Gut Motility