{"id":6476,"date":"2021-12-01T15:15:45","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T15:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aercmn.com\/?p=6476"},"modified":"2021-12-01T15:15:45","modified_gmt":"2021-12-01T15:15:45","slug":"fur-tunately-stories-of-animal-survival-episode-vii-the-er-tale-of-ed-the-rabbit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/fur-tunately-stories-of-animal-survival-episode-vii-the-er-tale-of-ed-the-rabbit\/","title":{"rendered":"Fur-Tunately: Stories of Animal Survival | Episode VII | The ER Tale of Ed the Rabbit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Fur-Tunately,<\/h4>\n

CHAPT<\/span>E<\/span>R ONE<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

O<\/span><\/b>nce upon a time,\u00a0there was a\u00a0kind-hearted\u00a0rabbit named Ed. This four-year-old Holland Lop had quite the adventure at Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota\u2019s emergency room with an unlikely hero\u00a0that reminds\u00a0us\u00a0all\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0magical\u00a0power of diagnostic\u00a0testing.\u00a0But\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0getting ahead of ourselves! Young Ed\u2019s\u00a0tale\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0begin in our ER.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One day, Ed\u2019s human noticed he wasn\u2019t his usual, hoppy self. He wasn\u2019t active and he was barely eating. Ed\u2019s human was knowledgeable enough to know that these are typical signs of Rabbit Gastrointestinal Syndrome (RGIS). Treatment involves syringe-feeding, so Ed\u2019s human attempted syringe-feeding Ed at home – but alas, Ed resisted \u2013 prompting Brave Ed\u2019s quest to regain his health! His quest would take him on an arduous journey through the faraway land of emergency medicine.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

CHAPTER TWO<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

A<\/span><\/b>s Ed arrived at the emergency room, our ER team gallantly\u00a0took\u00a0charge<\/span>. Ed’s illness had left him dehydrated, and his belly was painful. The magical power of x-rays revealed the handsome bun\u2019s stomach was bloated with food and gas, but the source of Ed\u2019s illness still lay hidden from view. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And then, galloping in on a white horse, comes the unlikely and humble hero \u2013 bloodwork! In a true fairy tale, Ed would be able to talk on his own. Since this is real life, Ed\u2019s bloodwork results told the tale for him: courageous Ed\u2019s liver values and white blood cell count weren\u2019t normal! Which could only mean one thing: a plot twist!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

CHAPTER T<\/span>HREE<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

T<\/span><\/span><\/strong>he combination of\u00a0<\/span>high<\/span>\u00a0liver values and abdominal pain\u00a0<\/span>put\u00a0<\/span>our team<\/span>\u00a0on\u00a0<\/span>high-alert<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Could it be?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Only an\u00a0<\/span>abdominal\u00a0<\/span>ultrasound could confirm<\/span>\u2026<\/span>and t<\/span>hat\u2019s how Dr. Nevins, one of our board-certified veterinary radiologists, discovered exactly what was wrong with Ed the Rabbit<\/span>. Charming Ed was facing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>fearsome\u00a0<\/span>right<\/span>-sided liver lobe torsion!\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"rabbit,<\/p>\n

CHAPTER\u00a0<\/span>FOUR<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

F<\/span><\/b>airy tales aside for a moment, for\u00a0those unfamiliar,\u00a0liver lobe torsion (also known as hepatic lobe torsion or hepatic infarction)\u00a0happens\u00a0when a portion of the liver twists. The twist\u00a0cuts\u00a0off blood supply to that lobe and causes\u00a0the\u00a0tissue to die.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While the exact cause of liver lobe torsion is unknown, it can\u00a0be\u00a0related to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n