My bunny might have cancer

[Mary-jane]

Hei,
Hope someone might have some advice, words of comfort.
I'm Marianne, my best friend is a 5 year old buck called Nus. Many months ago he suddenly got gas sounds (went to the vet, they gave him primperan and said must have eaten something wrong). Few weeks later he suddenly got diarrhea so back to vet, took stool sample (I'm in finland and they send it to Germany), x-ray, urine sample all looked ok.
Started him on fenoflox and later on nystatin and also probiotics.
He didn't get better, his diarrhea became once a day (only eating hay and vetcare sticks). So back to the vet, blood exam shows hypercalcaemia, but for the rest nothing super noticeable.
Now besides diarrhea once a day he also starts to lose sensory function in his tail, can't control Blatter that well and has lost quite some weight.
We are starting to suspect cancer... I'm devastated he's always near me. He's still eating very well, not as active but no signs of pain. Vets are expensive here and not really heavily familiarised with this mystery.
Is there anything I could/should do? I love him to bits. Currently I'm still waiting new stool exam, had to call to microbiologist to actually organise a bacterial panel for bunnies.
Sincerely,
Marianne and nusje

 

[Maki_p29]

I’m so sorry to hear that your fuzzy bunny friend Nus hasn’t been feeling well and experiencing distressing symptoms without answers . Maybe they have a problem with bladder sludge or kidney issue? I wonder what is causing them to have a high level of calcium? Hopefully the new testing will give more answers.... if it was cancer I think it would of showed on the x-ray. It may be some other condition they are experiencing.

 

[Mary-jane]

Hei ,
Thanks for your answer the x-ray was done few months ago. Which the vet said ooh his intestinal system is filled with food.
They did a urine test then as well, with clean results, nothing found.
Hypercalcaemia was now in blood value, other kidney specific values were normal. With vet saying nothing remarkable.
It's been a struggle for real answers, but months without any improvement of diarrhea/ weightloss/sudden paralysis in tail last week/nerve issues in bladder. Hope it's just kidney issues but these issues (paralysis of tail and incontence) have just started. I will ask the vet for the x-ray and the urine test results.
As back then we were more screening for a resolution of the diarrhea and weightloss.
Thank you for the tip.

 

[Lucas the Bun 💕🐇]

Hei ,
Thanks for your answer the x-ray was done few months ago. Which the vet said ooh his intestinal system is filled with food.
They did a urine test then as well, with clean results, nothing found.
Hypercalcaemia was now in blood value, other kidney specific values were normal. With vet saying nothing remarkable.
It's been a struggle for real answers, but months without any improvement of diarrhea/ weightloss/sudden paralysis in tail last week/nerve issues in bladder. Hope it's just kidney issues but these issues (paralysis of tail and incontence) have just started. I will ask the vet for the x-ray and the urine test results.
As back then we were more screening for a resolution of the diarrhea and weightloss.
Thank you for the tip.

Do you have a rabbit savy vet if your not impressed by your current vet you may want to switch
I’ll keep your bun in my prayers
I hope you can figure out what’s happening

 

[Mary-jane]

The first vet I went I believe wasn't a good one, who only gave fluids and primperan and send me on my marry way.
The one who did take the x-ray, stool samples, urine and blood check I believe is, this is my current one in Finland. Did check reviews and been going quite a lot to her now.
My best friend in Belgium (I'm original from Belgium) is a vet and both have been checking his results, with actually agreeing on all the treatments so far/conclusions.
It is a lot easier in Belgium to find a specialist, even a stool sample is easier there (they sent his to Germany now). However there is sadly covid and travelling with a sick bunny...
In ideal situation I would go for a biopsy, however he is weakened (lost lot of weight) and for that I would have to find a specialist and he would need to be sedated.
We did a proprioception test and he has no sensory feeling in legs. So something is getting progressively worse. Diarrhea wasn't there months ago, now it's daily. Nerve loss wasn't there this only started a week ago.
At some point my friend has mentioned to enjoy the time that's left.

 

[Lucas the Bun 💕🐇]

I’m sorry to hear that @JBun is really knowledgeable she might have some ideas.

 

[JBun]

Does he still have use of his hind legs? Any possible accident recently that might have caused a spinal injury that could account for the incontinence and nerve issues in the hind end? Or have you noticed any stiffness in his hopping lately?

Have you noticed any other odd symptoms lately like abnormal protrusion of the third eyelid, rough fur coat, fur loss, dandruff or scaly skin, increased respiratory effort(heavy breathing) or increased respirations? Is he neutered?

 

[Mary-jane]

I'm somewhere in between everything. I love him so much, I live with him. On one side I really wanna keep fighting/trying treatmens (so far antibiotics, anti fungal, different dietary , different probiotics, nothing has resolved the diarrhea and weightloss) on the other side, I took my holiday to be with him and enjoy as much as I can. Any tips are welcome (my mind has gone to many places). Thank you for the replies and thoughts.

 

[Mary-jane]

He still has use of his hind legs, he can jump. Just not as sensitive as he used to, the sensory test was neg so no reflex there to where he is spaced. He is free roaming but hasn't made a fall. I hope it's not mechanical damage, the vet checked his tail and wasn't broken.
None of the other symptoms match, his fur isn't the shiniest but other than that no breathing issues.
He isn't neutered. Was potty trained, never sprayed, so didn't wanna put him under.
He still has diarrhea and gas sounds with a soft belly.

 

[JBun]

Did the vet ever do a e. cuniculi blood titer?

 

[Mary-jane]

It has crossed my mind as well and asked my friend about it. He doesn't have any of the typical symptoms (imbalance, headtilt). She said unlikely but could discuss it with my vet here.