Differential Diagnosis for Ileus in Rabbits

(also termed bowel obstruction, stasis)

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Type

Causes

Serum electrolyte abnormalities:	Hypokalemia
	Hyponatremia
	Hypomagnesemia
	Hypermaganesemia

Bacterial causes:	Bacterial disbiosis of “friendly” bacteria in the intestine
	Sepsis
	Necrotizing enterocolitis
	Pneumonia
	Nephrolithiasis, Cholecystitis, Pancreatitis, Perforated Duodenal Ulcer

Fungal causes:

Actinomycosis

Parasitic causes:

Presence of parasitic intestinal worms, e.g., pinworms. During the phase of overgrowth, the amount of worms can cause painful ileus-like symptoms. This cycle repeats every 4 to 6 weeks.

Hormonal causes:

Hypothyroidism

Mechanical causes:	Bezoar, or bowel obstruction
	Dental problems, presence of spurs, molar overgrowth
	Pyloric stenosis
	Intestinal stenosis
	Presence of gallstones in the intestinal lumen
	Presence of parasitic worms
	Malrotation
	Post-surgical adhesions
	Volvulus, a surgical emergency. It can cause ischemia of the intestine, leading to shock and death.
	Incarcerated hernia (higher risk of strangulation)
	Anorectal abnormalities

Neoplasm:	Gastric, colon, pancreatic or ovarian cancer
	Colonic polyps

Skeletal causes:	Trauma
	Rib fracture
	Vertebral fracture (most frequent in rabbit: lumbar fracture)

Nervous causes:	Aganglionosis
	Stress
	Pain

Medication causes:	Barium
	Narcotics
	Phenothiazines
	Diltiazem or Verapamil
	Anticholinergic Medications

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