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Liver lobe torsion in pet rabbits: clinical consequences, diagnosis, and treatment
Jennifer Graham1, Jessica Basseches2
1Department of Zoological Companion Animal Medicine, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA; Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Abstract:
This article reviews diagnosis and management of liver lobe torsion in rabbits. Practitioners should recommend initial diagnostics including radiographs and blood work on rabbits presenting with nonspecific signs of gastrointestinal (GI) stasis to better determine possible etiology and make the best treatment recommendations. If hepatic enzyme elevation is found in a rabbit with GI stasis, abdominal ultrasound is recommended to rule out liver lobe torsion. Prompt diagnosis and liver lobectomy are recommended for best outcome in rabbits with liver lobe torsion.
