anemic bunny

Hello!

My friend's bun just had blood work done & have a very low blood count. He started with stasis on Saturday & hasn't recovered. He's been seeing a rabbit savvy vet each day. Given sub q, pain meds, motility drugs, & home care. He developed weakness in the leg. Now home again tonight after the blood result. Vet will be doing ultra sound tomorrow.

Has anyone had a similar situation & what follow steps have you taken?

Thanks!

I'm so sorry about your friends rabbit being sick.

It's possible the anemia is due to an ulcer forming from the stasis and meds, or it could be there is an underlying health problem that lead to the stasis occurring and is the cause of the anemia. An ulcer would be a possibility I would be concerned about due to the stasis. Has the vet looked into this possibility and is the rabbit on any acid reducing medication? But it really depends on the type of anemia(regenerative or non regenerative) and if there are any other abnormalities in the blood test as well. Further testing will probably be needed though, to determine what exactly is causing this.

With the leg weakness, it's possible it may be due to the anemia.
"Any disease that causes a rabbit to feel weak can cause hind limb weakness and can be confused with a true neurological disease. Bunnies who are anemic or have heart disease, for instance, will not be able to get enough oxygen to their brain or muscle tissue and may appear weak and wobbly, particularly after exercise."
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=490

Here is some further info on anemia.
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Hematology/Differentials/anemia.htm
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/circulatory_system/anemia/overview_of_anemia.html

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Man/LagomorphOverviews/Clinical%20Pathology_Rabbits.htm
Regenerative anaemia

• Anisocytosis, polychromasia, nucleated RBCs, Howell-Jolly bodies present; these can also be seen in normal rabbits. (B603.2.w2, J213.2.w3)
• Regenerative anaemia may be associated with acute blood loss such as wounds, liver or spleen rupture due to trauma (seen after 2-3 days), or chronic blood loss, as seen with heavy flea burdens or chronic intermittent bleeding (e.g. uterine endometrial aneurism, uterine adenocarcinoma, urolithiasis, chronic bleeding from the gut). (B600.6.w6, B603.2.w2, J29.16.w6, J60.13.w2)
• Lead Poisoning. Presence of nucleated red blood cells, poikilocytosis, hypochromasia and basophilic cytoplasmic stippling. (B600.6.w6, B603.2.w2, J29.16.w6)
• Neutrophilia may occur with haemolytic or haemorrhagic anaemia. (B603.2.w2)
• Bleeding disorders, including haemolyic anaemia associated with thymoma and lymphosarcoma. (B603.2.w2)

Non-regenerative anaemia

• May be seen with lymphoma or chronic renal disease. (B600.6.w6, J60.13.w2)
• Mild non-regenerative anaemia with chronic diseases. (B600.6.w6, J29.16.w6, J60.13.w2, J213.2.w3)
• Acute blood loss (initial).

I really hope the vet is able to quickly determine what is wrong and that your friends bun is feeling better soon.