My rabbit has a hard lump under its ribs. Is it just a full stomach?

We don't normally have parasites that get large enough to palpate/feel through the stomach or feel them move, so if the lump itself is moving I would be inclined to suspect pregnancy. If you take your bunny to a vet, they may be able to palpate the abdomen and determine if she is pregnant.

Lumps and bump can certainly be scary, especially since we usually don't have any idea what they are. As long as it is not effective Poppy's ability to urinate and defecate, and as long as she is eating / drinking / having a good energy level, there is not absolute rush to have her seen. However, I would definitely get her to the vet to have that area examined as soon as it is financially feasible to do so. It is in an area of the body where if the size increases, the mass could certain become problematic. It is best to deal with it sooner than later. If the area starts to grown in size by even 10%, I would not wait until the insurance kicks in and just get her somewhere to be examined. While I realize this isn't ideal, rabbits are very sensitive to changes in their health and have the ability to crash quickly if things are not hastily dealt with. If you have any others concerns, don't hesitate to contact me. Hope this helps!

Hello. I am sorry for such a long wait for an answer, but something is really amiss with your bunnies. To have obvious muscle loss along with an expanding belly indicates some disease process is ongoing. The swelling in the belly can be due to fluid buildup or enlargement of some of the abdominal orgas, called organomegaly. This is really something that requires a hands on exam & possibly some diagnostic tests run as well as a good overview of your husbandry practices. I hope all is well soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for reaching out about Butter and including a photo. Gastrointestinal (stomach) upset is common in rabbits and can have many causes: ingested foreign body, infection, parasites, pain, dental disease, metabolic disorders (liver, renal), stress and more. If this is persistent, a veterinary visit is recommended, sooner than later. Keep diet consistent and try to limit sugars and carbohydrates. The more hay they eat the better. Good luck.

Hello. It sounds like your rabbit may have signs of gastrointestinal stasis, which means the GI tract has slowed down, usually as a result of a rabbit that stops eating. Rabbits will stop eating for a number of reasons - their teeth may be overgrown, their tooth roots may be infected, they could also have any other systemic disease (respiratory, urinary, infection, etc). As you can see, the causes are many and its impossible to say what is the underlying cause for sure without an exam and testing (usually radiographs, blood work, etc). Regardless of the cause, GI stasis is potentially fatal if left untreated. Therefore, I would urge you to get veterinary care ASAP. In the meantime, syringe feed Hobie with a liquid hay diet, ideally Oxbow herbivore critical care if you can get some, or soak the hay pellets in warm water to make a slurry. The best thing to keep the GI tract healthy is fiber and hydration, so hay is the foundation of health. I see in the first picture a pellet mix with maybe some oats, corn, and/or seeds mixed with the pellets. This is not an appropriate diet for rabbits as they are selective feeders and usually pick out the concentrates. These pellet mixes significantly increase the incidence of dental disease and obesity. I recommend a 100% timothy hay pellet, ideally Oxbow brand. Feed 1/4 cup timothy hay pellets, free choice grass hay, and 2 cups fresh greens a day with fresh water available in a bowl and sipper.

Hi there. It would be easier for me to help you if you could post a photo of the bulge. One way that may help you determine if it is fat or an actual problem is symmetry. Is this bulge directly in the middle of his neck or off to the side? If it is off to one side it is more likely to be an infection, tumor, etc. Without a photo my best guess is that he has an abscess (infection) which is fairly common for rabbits to get. I would suggest you have him examined by a veterinarian that is used to treating rabbits. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

This kind of lump/growth needs to be ideally assessed by your veterinarian to have a definitive and specific answer. Usually there are two ways your vet can do that a part from examining it directly during physical examination. A biopsy can be taken under local or general anesthetic, otherwise a smaller sample through a fine needle can be aspirated (this technique is called FNA= fine needle aspiration). Differentials include skin cysts, infections, benign or more sinister type of tumors. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.