27/06/2026
🥕🌟 Horatio 🌟🥕
This is Horatio, a dear little bunny who came into us recently as he was a bit off colour. He wasn't eating much, which is a major concern in a rabbit, and was quiet and lethargic. Vet Laura diagnosed him with ileus, a condition where the digestive tract slows right down or stops completely, which can prove a life threatening condition if not resolved quickly. Horatio was given medication to help improve his gut motility and booked in for a recheck the next day.
Unfortunately, Horatio didn't improve much overnight, so Laura performed an ultrasound which revealed a bladder stone (urolith)! Vet Claire then performed a cystotomy on Horatio, incising into the bladder to remove the stone, which proved to be extremely spiky - no wonder the poor boy wasn't feeling himself!
Bladder stones form in certain individuals due when the rabbit has higher levels of certain minerals, often calcium, which is excreted through the urinary tract. The minerals can form crystals in the bladder, which in time can clump together and form a stone. Various factors can contribute to a stone forming, including obesity, dehydration, or in Horatios case, just being an older, more sedentary gentleman!
We are pleased to say that Horatio has made a full recovery and is back at home with his best friend, munching away again! (On a low calcium diet!) 🐰🍀🥬
