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Veterinary textbook related to internal
medicine mention dysautomia with the following
terms:
·
constipation,
·
colonic weakness,
·
neuromuscular weakness/disease,
·
megacolon,
In case of traumatic origin:
·
bilateral pelvic nerve damage.
If the problem becomes chronic with time,
nerve damage may be ruled out and other causes should be looked for, among
others:
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Viral causes
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Inflammation due to the presence of Cytomegaloviruses,
Coronaviruses
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Bacterial causes
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Lack of proper bacterial flora
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Parasitic causes
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Coccidiosis
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Giardiasis
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Presence of the flagellate Trypanosoma
cruzi (this parasite was experimentally
inoculated in rabbits and found to cause severe damage on heart and
intestine, leading to megacolon),
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Parasitic roundworms or tapeworm. Their presence has been linked to intestinal
or cecal impaction, accompanied by stasis, severe
pain and gas formation, this independently from the type of worm: pinworm
or tapeworm.
Treatment of pinworms is done by administration of benzimidazoles, more specifically fenbendazole or thiabendazole. Piperazine is
reported efficient too, while ivermectin does not affect the Passalurus roundworm. Treatment of tapeworm is
done with praziquantel.
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Mechanical
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Stenosis
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Muscular
disturbance of the colonic smooth muscle,
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Nerve injury
or damage
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Presence of
tumors, polyps
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Neurological
causes
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Nerve injury
or damage
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Metabolic causes
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Inflammation due to the presence of Cytomegaloviruses,
Coronaviruses
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Pharmacological causes
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Overmedication
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Hormonal causes
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Hypothyroidism
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Environmental causes
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Behavior
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Diagnosis tools
include X-ray, barium test, ultrasound, eventually a neurological examination, serum profile probably will indicate colonic
weakness in rabbits, as in other animals. If true megacolon is diagnosed, the
rabbit shows a constant (and not chronic) leakage of mucus/watery stuff via
the anus and hyponatremia (blood sodium level under
average).
For reference
blood biochemistry values in rabbits: click
here.
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