Uterine tumors

What are uterine tumors?
Uterine adenocarcinomas are the most common tumors in rabbits. Researchers state that this type of tumor occurs in almost every intact female rabbit. Most animals develop this cancer before the age of 5 years and almost every intact female rabbit has this tumor before the age of 7 years.

How is this caused?
The tumors are hormonally induced, i.e. they are caused by the influence of hormones. The mucous membrane in the uterus of rabbits is very active and changes with age. These changes lead to the development of tumors. Multiple ovulations without the rabbit becoming pregnant can also lead to uterine cancer. These ovulations can be caused by the rabbit being repeatedly attacked by another rabbit (male or female) or by the presence of a male rabbit's scent.

What are the symptoms of uterine tumors in rabbits?

If growth is still small, you won't notice much in your rabbit. Only when the tumor grows can different symptoms appear;

• Blood in the urine

• Bloody discharge from the rabbit's vagina

• Lethargy

• You want to eat less (and lose weight as a result)

• Teeth grinding, which is usually a manifestation of pain

• Tightness or shortness of breath.

The latter can only be seen in this case with metastases in the lungs. Always go to the vet if your rabbit is constipated or short of breath!

How does the vet make the diagnosis?
This can be done by palpating the abdomen, but an ultrasound examination of the abdomen is much better. Sometimes an X-ray of the lungs is also needed to determine if there are metastases.

What can I do?
Tumors of the uterus metastasize relatively quickly in rabbits, so it is important to treat them quickly, or even better, prevent them. Neutering rabbits at a young age prevents them from developing uterine cancer later in life. Preferably, the rabbit is castrated at 4-6 months of age. Neutering can be done up to 2 years of age, as rabbits never develop uterine tumors before that age. The motto here is; the sooner the better.

If your rabbit already has uterine tumors, surgery can sometimes help. There should then be no metastases present. At this point surgery can no longer help and treatment is to support your rabbit. In some cases it may be better to opt for euthanasia.

This text was translated by a translation machine